Artistic Artifacts

Previously I posted about the Artist in Residence program at Artistic Artifacts Annex where we played with our embellisher machines. I actually got on a roll and made several small quilts combining wool and cotton.  I would take 8″x10″ piece of felt and just embellish with fabric scraps, yarns, silk, etc and create a new fabric. From that piece I cut my hearts or motifs.  The Hearts were beaded, it is easier to sew on beads without additional layers and the wool embellished piece is strong enough to hold the beads without interfacing.   I use bead mixtures, silamide thread, and beading needles shorts size 12 to sew my beads on. YES, these items are for sale on my website and more!. And I am one of those people who ALWAYS sews my beads on. No glue for me!

Silamide is available in many colors: http://www.artisticartifacts.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=A&Product_Code=SAqua&Category_Code=bbm

Also, Bead mixtures are available in many colors: http://www.artisticartifacts.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=A&Product_Code=74&Category_Code=bbm

The next step is to create a center section which will have a cotton boarder on it. I chose wools that I hand dyed, (I have more to add to my site, right now check out: http://www.artisticartifacts.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=A&Product_Code=9001&Category_Code=wf

square of wool felt, netting and/or paper to create 2-3 layers. I would test out the look by adding charms, or buttons. Then  choose a cotton to use in a basic log cabin boarder around the center section of wool.  BEFORE sewing my heart and layers on I sewed the boarders onto the wool center section, cut batting to size, and backing,  sewed a pillow case finish.  Trimed and turned right side out, Pressed. Then I placed the heart with layers on and machine stitched it to the quilt with a decorative stitch. I decided that the boarder needed some straight stitching to hold it in place and added that.  I do not stitch in the ditch, I make it obvious that the stitching is there. (I read that in a book somewhere)

This one has some wire mesh embellished in there. http://www.artisticartifacts.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=A&Product_Code=20002&Category_Code=

This is my parents Valentine’s Present. It is on it’s way to them now. Mom close your eyes!!

Here is Elinor holding her Birthday Present. Elinor is my college roomate and one of my best friends- she is the first one who bit the dust and turned the big 50! Happy Birthday Elinor!! Her party was a big surprise!! Good job everyone!

Here is one in process…. maybe it will live in my house…… when I finish it. Maybe it will live at Rhonda’s house

This is a little different. I made the flower section by hand needle felting, beading and embroidery.  The first boarder out is gel printed fabric, and the final boarder is hand dyed cotton.

I am very excited about mixing fabrics!! Thrilled with the fabric that my embellisher creates.  Also, I have dyed more wool fabrics and can’t wait to see what comes next. I will even share some with you and have added hand dyed wools to my website.

How do you combine different fabric contents and textures?

I actually had some time on Sunday afternoon to hang out in my studio. It had not happened in a long time, so I really didn’t know what to do with myself. I was steps away from having a clean studio to photograph… oh what the heck!

I love to create collage fabrics. It is relaxing to me and I have many uses for it. So as Beryl Taylor says, start with making bits!

In my studio I have several drawers that hold scraps of fabric sorted by color- I pick a drawer and take it to my ironing board.

Next I cut a piece of steam a seam 2, about 12″x 14″.  (I stock it by the roll for Artistic Artifacts Annex 12″ wide, $4.50 per yard.)  Steam a seam2 has paper on both sides and is sticky, – it works better for this technique than other fusibles by holding the fabric scraps in place.

I peel one piece of paper off and lay on the table sticky side up.  Start pulling scraps out of the drawer, iron them, (I guess you don’t really have to iron them) and start in the middle and work out towards the edges.(or begin anywhere you want!)  The fabric scraps should be in one layer with minimal overlap. Once the steam a seam is completely covered with scraps, place the paper over it and iron.  At this point you will need to decide on a backing, either muslin if making book covers or peltex/timtex if making postcards, ATC’s and for my pins.

Peel off the last remaining paper and iron to your “backing”.

Before I free motion sew my collage I will place yarns, ribbon and/or netting over top. It does not matter if it moves around, this is a collage. I frequently have the cut the netting because it gets stuck in my machine foot. but it doesn’t matter!

Choose your thread and head to the machine for free motion. The fabric can help with the free motion by just following the graphics. Anything goes!!

Once, the free motion stage is finished. I pull out my vintage buttons, beads, laces etc and begin to cut the collage in to pieces to create pins.

Here is a piece in black and white:

Check out the back:

And the beginning of my pin shapes:

The pins have more work, ultra suede on the back, pin backing, and beading around the edge. That will take a little longer than a Sunday afternoon.

I do have a line of fabric jewelry, including necklaces, earrings, bracelets and pins that I sell on my website (needs updates) and at the Potomac Craftsmen Gallery located in the Torpedo Art Center in Alexandria, VA.