Kelp Knot

I have started a new project, to make another 3-D art piece, from one of my photos. I printed the knot of dried kelp onto 4 pieces of 8 x 11 fabric, with my home computer. I always increase the contrast and saturation in Photoshop, when printing on fabric, especially since this one is so monotone. I trimmed and then fused the 4 sections together. Thread painting was done before the batting was added, so I could have detail stitching on the tubes, but still trapunto them so they would stand up and look more dimensional. I machine free motion stitch with rayon threads, I used cream, yellow, yellow/gold and rusty orange, also tan, medium brown and dark brown in the background. I added an extra layer of batting to 3 of the largest tubes, then the rest was quilted and the results are lots of texture.

I began embellishing with shells and seed beads, but only a little at a time, as my hands hurt too much, to do more than a little hand work at a time. I want to add some sand dollars, but I think real ones are too fragile, so I'm thinking of scanning a couple and doing them in fabric. I am also debating with myself, about adding bottle caps, or bits of plastic. Our textile arts group, Fyber Cafe, has a challenge now for "Free Floating Flabbergast" and I think this fits the theme wonderfully, and bits of plastic and stuff would be good, but I also like "pretty" and think of just using shells and beads.

This is the cartoon, that inspired our challenge, I hope you can read the words, it did not scan well. I'm debating titles for this also, Free Floating Sea Wrack, Kelp Knot, Kelp Macrame, Flotsam and Jetsam.

I am linking this to Nina-Marie's "Off the Wall Friday" click on the badge in the right hand column to see what other wonderful textile artists are creating.