Project continued.

10x12 inches.

I honestly don't know where the idea for this project came from, I suppose it brought together my current interest in drawing, doodling and trying out more block printing. I found it satisfying because I could  do a little at a time ,with the machine set up with black thread I could  draw onto the fabric when I felt in the mood. 
Use zentagel patterns as inspiration for free machining:

Here are a few more photos and the outcome as I decided to make the piece into an album which will probably be used to hold stitch samples. I made it up like a book cover and added some pieces of recycled card to stiffen the 'covers'. 

If I had thought it out a bit more I could have added some pockets to hold the samples; I could I suppose still  add these by hand stitching.
I hope you have a go and send me any links to your work.

New Year Project.

This is a small project for the New Year. You could have a go at this if you are stuck for inspiration. Take a selection of small pieces of fabric in a colour way or theme of your choice; I used whites and creams, bits of felt, lace, silk etc.. I wove them together without stitching and then put them onto a background of wadding, I used some 505 fabric spray to hold them in place.

I printed shapes cut into a soft cut block and coloured with Speedball water based block printing ink for fabric.

Each day I added some stitching, in places I used patterns on the machine and even some needle felting,but in the end I stuck to drawing with the machine using a large headed darning foot. I was surprised at how easily it coped with the layers of lace and varied thicknesses of fabric. I doodled into the background adding line drawing as I fancied. Stuck for shapes, have a look at some zentangles on YouTube, and adapt them.

To be continued .......

Words

This is one way to build up layers of words and writing on both paper and fabric; I have shown some examples in my sketchbook video.

So you can work on either fabric or paper whichever you fancy or both. Taping the edges with masking tape makes a nice edge to your work. Work on a smooth surfaced fabric such as calico or poplin.

Write some words at varied angles on the surface using a permanent ink.

Stencil over areas where you have words using acrylic matt medium.

Allow to dry and then paint over acrylic paint , I used Craft Acrylics; before the paint is thoroughly dry wipe it away, using baby wipes, in the areas which you have stencilled with acrylic medium, the medium will act as a resist.

Add some masks in areas (freezer paper works well for this) and then add another colour of contrasting paint. In the areas that you mask out you can add some more words.

Using varied scales of words adds to the overall effect; if you have a letter stamp trying using that in places.

Add some large scale writing using a Sharpie Marker or similar. Swipe some areas of pearlescent/ iridescent paint in areas using an old plastic card or pallet knife.

~Do this just for fun or make up the fabric for items such as book covers, wallets etc.Add some free machining for another layer of 'writing'.

Material Girls

For any of you in the area you may like to visit the above exhibition; come  to the opening morning on Saturday 24th and enjoy a piece of cake as well.


Don't forget this months blog hop tutorials celebrating 'Stitched'.


March 1st: Deborah  http://deborahsjournal.blogspot.com/

March 5th: Paula   http://www.paulajoerling.com/

March 6th: Jackie   http://stitchworks-jackie.blogspot.com/

March 8th: Mollie     http://wildolive.blogspot.com/

March 13th:  Cindy Caraway     http://artfullivingonthebluff.blogspot.com/

March 15th: Jennifer   http://sewhooked.com/

March 20th: Kelli    

http://ephemeralalchemy.blogspot.com/2012/03/paper-button-tutorial.html 

March 22nd: Tracie   http://www.radicalrecycks.com/

March 27th: Alma        http://www.almastoller.blogspot.com

March 29th: Ann Tucker    http://thelavendartree.blogspot.com/

Blog Hop Tutorials

To celebrate the extension of Stitched to January 2013 Alma Stoller has organized a blog hop which will start in March. There will be two free tutorials a week, in fact mine, which starts on 6^th March, will be in two parts.

We hope you will enjoy them and have fun; there should be plenty of variety.

March 1st: Deborah  http://deborahsjournal.blogspot.com/

March 5th: Paula   http://www.paulajoerling.com/

March 6th: Jackie   http://stitchworks-jackie.blogspot.com/

March 8th: Mollie     http://wildolive.blogspot.com/

March 13th:  Cindy Caraway     http://artfullivingonthebluff.blogspot.com/

March 15th: Jennifer   http://sewhooked.com/

March 20th: Kelli     http://ephemeralalchemy.blogspot.com/?z

March 22nd: Tracie   http://www.radicalrecycks.com/

March 27th: Alma        http://www.almastoller.blogspot.com

March 29th: Ann Tucker    http://thelavendartree.blogspot.com/

Click here to visit Alma Stoller.