Artistic Artifacts

Silk Paper

December 10th, 2009

I am hooked on creating silk paper- so crazy am I that I had pounds of silk hand dyed to support my habit and yours!!LOL. What you don’t have the silk paper habit …. yet!

While in Houston Festival Liz Kettle did a silk paper demo during her Open Studio in the Cloth Paper Scissors section of the vendor floor- We had several converts who ran down to purchase a silk pack, stencil brush and textile medium. And for those of you who already purchased your supplies in Texas – SHOW ME YOUR SILK PAPER!! Please email me photos and I will post on the blog- what did you make with your silk paper?

I was asked to post a tutorial on how to make silk paper- here is the way I was taught. I am sure there are other options, comments, and recommendations- please add them via comments.

Step One: The materials

A pan that has a lip on it, you will use liquid and want to contain it. For demo purposes I have used an alumium cake pan. Also, silk, stencil brush ( any brush will work, but I like the stencil brush), textile medium, 2 small jars, netting/tulle.

making-silk-paper-textile-medium-stencil-brush

Cut a piece of netting that is the length of the pan and twice the width of the pan. Lay the netting on the bottom of the pan.

making-silk-paper-pan-netting-step-one

Place the silk roving and or hankie thinly on the netting.

dry fibers on netting

At this time you can trap some sequins, threads etc in the silk, just make sure that you have covered top and bottom the extras. Fold the netting over the top. This will keep the brush from pulling the silk up and out of the pan!

In one of the jars mix a drop of liquid dish detergent and mostly water. The 2nd jar will be a mixture of textile medium and water. The more textile medium the stiffer the silk will be- more water the softer the paper will be- but remember to not go less than 50/50 textile medium/water or it won’t stay together.

making-silk-paper-with-textile-medium

First use the liquid soap and water to wet the fibers using the brush to work it in- be rough not dainty. Then work in the textile medium. I have been known to flip the silk over and work both sides. Work the materials for 5 minutes and then hang the piece (with the netting still on) so air circulates top and bottom in order to dry quicker. Use a drip pan or paper underneath so the floor doesn’t get wet- this stuff doesn’t come up with soap and water… ask me how I know!

When the silk paper is dry the netting will peel right off.

silk paper- completed and dried

And here are the new Artistic Artifacts silk packages used in our silk paper making arti parti

making-silk-paper-kits

To purchase all the supplies for silk paper making flip over to ArtisticArtifacts.com

Posted in Fiber, Shows, Travel, Tutorial | No Comments »

Fibreart Montage by Judith Baker Montano

December 5th, 2009

Fibreart Montage by Judith Baker Montano

We have a new book at Artistic Artifacts Annex and ArtisticArtifacts.com:

FIBREART MONTAGE by Judith Baker Montano.

Judith Baker Montano gives the following definition of her title at the beginning of her book:

She explains that FIBREART is the creation of beautiful or thought provoking fibre works. MONTAGE is a picture composed by assembling, overlaying and overlapping of many different materials.

I am a lover of books. Not only books to read a story but books that show you beauty. This book is a story on how to produce fibre art and it is done beautifully.

I have looked extensively through this book and I am sure I could follow her directions and suggestions and produce a piece of fibre art.

Chapter 4 is on photography, Judith’s photography and how she uses it in setting up a montage.

The overall photography in the book is fantastic and sets the book apart from many of the others we have in the Annex.

The book is bound to lay flat, which is a new idea we are seeing from the publishers. Very easy to deal with.

Buy your copy on line: http://www.artisticartifacts.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=A&Product_Code=886015&Category_Code=bok

For Annex hours check our calendar on the website: http://www.artisticartifacts.com/calendar.htm

or call: 703-823-0202 ext 213 (the phone will answer Electrodyne, just enter ext 213- you are in the right place!)

Book Review by Pat Vincentz, Virginia

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Fabric Embellishing The basics & beyond

November 19th, 2009

Fabric Embellishing the basics and beyond

This book is the team work of Ruth Chandler, Liz Kettle, Heather Thomas and Lauren Vlcek. Lots of color photos, embellished gallary quilts and a spiral bound cover! Gotta love it! Instructions are easy to follow, inspiration right next door and even better is if you experiment with all the techniques they explain how to create a resource book. Our Altered Art group will start our books according to Liz- (one of our favorite Annex teachers) in January!!

The book is organized in layers, yes like a quilt sandwich. They begin with the first layer of the quilt sandwich including printing, images, discharge and rusting along with crazy quilt foundations and my favorite ” Fashion a Frame”.

The next layer up from the foundation fabric is “soft embellishments” with instructions for hand and machine embroidery, needle felting, angelina, foiling and applique.

Then the final layer is Hard embellishments, beads (my all time favorite!)metal, paper, foam and plastics. Also included are Liz’s silk cocoon flowers which she taught at MIU in Houston.

This is a wonderful book. It provides a unique and creative way to use embellishment materials which is the focus of Artistic Artifacts.

Buy your copy now, Fabric Embellishing The basics and beyond

Oh and the most important detail, Artistic Artifacts website is listed as a supplier of materials and products used in the book!!

Posted in Book/DVD reviews, Fiber, Judy's Altered Minds, The Annex | No Comments »

Potomac Fiber Arts Gallery

November 17th, 2009

The Potomac Fiber Arts Gallery is located in the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, Virginia, Studio 18. This is a destination not to be missed if you are in the Northern Virginia, Washington DC area. I have been a member for over 15 years. We have approximately 70 member artists who are required to work 13 days per year, pay a commission and membership fee. Each show, (we have 10 per year) requires that every single item passes the approval of 2 judges. So we submit work that is juried- and it is not a cake walk. Each show the entire gallery is emptied, artwork picked up by the artist, the new work is reviewed by judges, and then is give to the 2 display managers who create a gallery of handcrafted items for you purchasing pleasure. The entire process is amazing!! This is a wonderful place to purchase unique gifts for friends, family or ourselves!LOL

Yesterday was the jury and installation of our Holiday show. The gallery is full to over flowing- If you need a unique and personal gift this is the place to go. I will be working the Potomac Fiber Arts Gallery on Wednesday (tomorrow) 10:00am – 6:00pm. Please come and visit. The Torpedo Factory is also open Thursday evenings till 9:00 allowing you to have a nice dinner in Old Town and shop later into the evening.

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Fabric Sale

November 10th, 2009

Anyone who has visited my booth, shop, or meets me for all of 5 minutes knows that I am a gatherer. My idea of a wonderful day is going to estate sales, flea markets, and thrift stores. It is torture when I can’t go gathering. So what that means is that I will be marking down some items in order to make them more affordable for you to purchase, thus giving me space and money to go buy MORE!!

Here is the start:

These fabrics are 1 yard cuts for $7.00 each. I might have some doubles – but most are single pieces. Also at the annex are select African fabric fat quarters for $2.00 each.

from left to right:

1 yard cotton $6.00/ woven cotton 3/4ths of a yard x 3 pieces each $3.50/last piece 1-1/2 yard x 36″ $3.50.

This is just the beginning, email if you would like me to fill a priority mail box with fabric or check my website for calendar of open hours.

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Shows! Shows! Shows!

October 28th, 2009

October 2009 Artistic Artifacts vended at 2 shows this month- First was the Sewing and Quilt Expo in Chantilly, Virginia.

This section of the booth was NEW!! Patterns including the Sewing Workshop and yardage fabrics, vintage and SALE stuff!

And new racks for the Stewart Gill Paints.. they are wonderful and easy to move from the Annex to the shows.

We set up the hand dyed fabric and trims on one wall for impact!

Next, was Houston Festival in Houston Texas. For the first time, I drove with a trailer to Houston. 1400 miles, 2 days driving 12 hour per day put us at the convention center on Tuesday evening 6:00 pm. The excitment of the big show kept us driving to reach the goal. We unloaded the trailer on Tuesday night and came in Wednesday morning to set up the booth. Show opened at 5:00pm on Wednesday with everyone shopping until 10:00pm.

Here is the booth! We had an unusal shaped booth in Houston.

This booth is jam packed!!

This is a different way to display Fabric Collage Packages!! It is very helpful when a new person helps me set up my booth- they bring new ideas!! which are always welcome.

More Hand dyed fun fabrics, trims, vintage – This year we posted a sign: Please Touch, fondle, cuddle, and take me home!!- Many customers commented that this was a welcome change from all the “do not Touch signs”.

Above the Hand dyes are examples of how to use them in a project. The Linen jacket was made by my friend Elinor for our Artistic Couture program at the Annex.

Thank you everyone who came to visit, shop and hang out during Houston Quilt Festival- it is always fun!

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Artistic Artifacts at Houston Festival 2009

September 29th, 2009

Aritistic Artifacts’ booth number is: 1257/1259 Located in the Cloth Paper Scissors section of the show floor. Look up for the banner to guide you to the exciting mixed media section of Houston Festival.

We have many new products in the charm, metal stampings and beads, ephemera, hand dyed silks- great for silk paper making- New hand dyed vintage fabrics and trims

The author Liz Kettle will be in the Artistic Artifacts’ booth- her book will hopefully make the plane from the printing press in time for autographs during Festival.

Artistic Artifacts will participate in Make It Univesity with Cloth Paper Scissors workshops again this year. Times are listed below.

As per the sponsor’s website:

These workshops will be taught by exhibitors and artists in the Make It University!™ with Cloth Paper Scissors pavilion, with a maximum of 25 people per session. The fee for each workshop is $10, and workshop participation will be determined by lottery. Each workshop will have its own lottery. The lottery will open for each workshop the day the workshop is given, and people may put their name in each workshop lottery jar from the time the show opens that day up until 15 minutes prior to the start of the workshop. Participants may put their name in each workshop lottery only once, but may put their name in as many different workshop lotteries as they choose. People must be physically present 15 minutes prior to the start of the workshop to hear if their name is called. If the person isn’t present, unfortunately their spot will be forfeited and another name will be called.

Below is a photo of my MIU project. I have found a new canvas like material called: multi purpose cloth-smoother than canvas-great surface!! Come test it out!!

We will have a door prize drawing during the first MIU class of Houston 2009!!

Preview Night Wednesday
7:00–8:00 Collaged Mini-purse

Create a mixed-media purse to hold your business or credit cards. Using a canvas-like base we will collage, hand stitch, and paint to create individual works of art.—Judy Gula, Artistic Artifacts

Thursday

10:30–11:30 Collaged Mini-purse

Create a mixed-media purse to hold your business or credit cards. Using a canvas-like base we will collage, hand stitch, and paint to create individual works of art.—Judy Gula, Artistic Artifacts

Here is a photo of Liz’s MIU

3:00-4:00 Design a Brooch

Paint and Stencil, add some special words, embellishments and stitching to create a special mixed media brooch.- Liz Kettle Artistic Artifacts

Saturday

4:00-5:00 Design a Brooch

Paint and Stencil, add some special words, embellishments and stitching to create a special mixed media brooch- Liz Kettle Artistic Artifacts

Posted in Shows, Travel | 1 Comment »

September 2009 Artistic Artifacts Annex Newsletter

September 3rd, 2009

Visit my My Website : www.ArtisticArtifacts.com

I hope that everyone has had a wonderful summer, as it winds down. There have been some fun activities at the Annex: a “dye day” where participants brought their own fabrics, trims, doilies and I provide the dyes, along with a popular beaded cuff class taught by Elizabeth Woodford – you can’t just make one; they are totally addictive!!

I recently returned from a wonderful family vacation – 11 of us total split amongst three houses and cottages – on China Lake in Maine. We expected a respite from the DC area heat and humidity, but alas it was not to be. But we enjoyed our day trips and visits to the coast, along with the plentiful lobster meals. And of course, I had to visit a flea market and some roadside kitsch stops, and did return with some treasures for the Annex store.

I have taken this summer at a slower pace than last year, and put the summer newsletter on hiatus also. My bad! Marketing 101 says to stay in touch with your customers so they don’t forget you…and why your business exists. Did you forget me? Did you forget Artistic Artifacts? I hope not and if you did let me re-introduce myself – I am Judy Gula, mixed media fiber artist and owner of Artistic Artifacts. I love “stuff” – and I have enough stuff to share, thus Artistic Artifacts website and the Annex. My purpose is the bring you unusual items for your artwork; I exist so you have more time to create art while I take care of the hunting and gathering of those unusual art supplies.

This newsletter will focus on happenings at Artistic Artifacts Annex; there will be a separate newsletter for Artistic Artifacts.com

Annex schedule

Sunday, September 20th 1:00-5:00pm the Artistic Artifacts Annex will host “Artistic Couture: Dressed to a Tea”. Join us for refreshments, an informal fashion show among our guests, fabrics and patterns. Artistic Couture will support garment sewing with creativity and artistic flare. We will have garment patterns from the Sewing Workshop and Indigo Junction to begin with; opens workshop days, and artists teaching garment construction workshops. Artistic Couture will host artists who create garments with artistic flare. Lynda Poole Prioleau who designs garments for the Fairfield Fashion show is on staff. Up coming classes to be added to the website. Please RSVP to : judy@ArtisticArtifacts.com

Artistic Couture workshop days, provides the opportunity to rent a 6 ‘table for $25.00 per day. Bring your sewing machine, or not; construct your garment or use it as a cutting table; add embellishments or …….the possibilities are endless. Currently scheduled on the Annex Calendar for October are Thursday 10/22 and Saturday 10/24. Tables are limited and will require a reservation. Email: judy@ArtisticArtifacts.com to place your reservation.

Nancy Shriber, nationally know Sewing Workshop specialist, will teach the first of what we hope are many creative garment construction workshops. The first will be 3.5 days in November. The planning part of the workshop will take place Tuesday, November 10th 6:00 – 9:00pm, the following week will be workshops Friday, Saturday and Sunday November 20th, 21st and 22nd from 10am-5:30pm with ½ hour lunch break. Register online or mail a check for $125.00 as a deposit, balance of payment will be due 2 weeks before November 10th. Payment plans are accepted, and studio space is limited.

Also at the Annex you will find yardage – special fabrics which can be incorporated into garments or other fiber art as you see fit.

Claudine Hellmuth will be conducting a workshop – Magazine Alterology - at the Annex on October 24th, the first of many we hope. Registration is steady, Remember musical chairs, that game where you are listening to the music, it stops while you circling the chairs and everyone races to grab a seat, leaving one person standing? Don’t let that be you!! We will also be adding Claudine’s products from Ranger to the Annex and the website.

Workshops

Beaded Cuff Bracelet, Artist: Elizabeth Woodford. Saturday September 12th and September 26th. Elizabeth returns after her popular classes earlier in the summer.

Vintage Revisited Challenge Workshop, Artist: Mary Kerr. Tuesday September 15th 10:00am-2:30pm. Love vintage? This is the workshop for you.

Beginning Bead Embroidery, Artist: Elizabeth Woodford. Tuesday, September 22, 2009 10:00am-12:30pm Do you like beads and fabric? This workshop will teach you the basics of sewing on fabric with beads.

Postcard Party, Artist: Betsy True. Saturday, September 26, 9:30am-1:30pm. This is a terrific way to learn embellishments, on a small scale without the big investment. Betsy and I would love to start a Postcard/ATC Swap group – do you want to swap? Let us know email: judy@artisticartifacts.com

Arti Parti

Arti Parti’s have been scheduled out to spring 2010. We have added Thursday mornings for those of you who prefer battling the Washington Beltway during the day. Minimum of 4 participants necessary to Parti.

Please know that you may arrange a special session, workshop, meeting for your Bee or art group. Space is available at no charge, additional programs available at a nominal charge.

Shows

The Original Sewing and Quilt Expo, Chantilly,Virginia at the Dulles Expo Center October 1-3, 2009. Hours are 10:00am-6:00pm Thursday & Friday. 10:00am-5:30pm Saturday. Visit us at Booth #117.

International Quilt Festival, Houston Texas. Find Artistic Artifacts’ booth #1257, 59 in the Cloth Paper Scissors section of the show floor. Attend my Make It University™ session: What IS your Wallet? Create a small purse with cloth, paper and paint. The first session will be Wednesday evening 7:00-8:00pm and the second on Thursday 10:30-11:30am. Come meet Liz Kettle, author of the new embellishment book “Fabric Embellishing: the Basics & Beyond”, and have her sign your copy.

Artistic Artifacts Annex
A workshop where artists gather……

Located in the Electrodyne office building at:

4750 Eisenhower Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22304
Phone: 703-823-0202 ext 213
Fax: 703-823-0842
email: judy@ArtisticArtifacts.com

Directions to Artistic Artifacts Annex: Washington Beltway to exit 174, Eisenhower Avenue Connector. After exiting onto the ramp and merging onto the Connector, you will come to the intersection, and take a left onto Eisenhower Avenue. 4750 Eisenhower Avenue is a red brick building about 1/4 mile on the left after the Fedex sign and before the condos; look for the Electrodyne sign. Store entrance is at the front of the Electrodyne building.

NOTE: Due to the Woodrow Wilson Bridge project, the exit ramp to the Eisenhower Avenue Connector from the Inner Loop (I-95/495 Southbound) is closed until Summer 2009. Inner Loop traffic will be alerted by electronic highway signs to access Eisenhower Avenue by taking either the north Telegraph Road/Pershing Road exit (2.5 miles before the Eisenhower Connector exit) or the Van Dorn Street exit (2 miles after the Eisenhower Connector exit). From the north Telegraph Road/Pershing Road exit, traffic will be detoured to make a right onto Stovall Street and right again onto Eisenhower Avenue. From the Van Dorn Street exit, traffic will be detoured to make a left onto S. Van Dorn Street then a right onto Eisenhower Avenue. The exit ramp from the Outer Loop of the Beltway to the Eisenhower Avenue Connector and the on-ramps from the Eisenhower Avenue Connector to the Inner and Outer Loops will remain open.

Posted in Newsletters, The Annex | 1 Comment »

Hilton Head Altered Book

August 27th, 2009

Way back during spring break my family and I went to Hilton Head. In a previous post I mentioned a vacation book that I was working on. Well just in time to start the Maine Vacation book, the Hilton Head book is finished!! I really love it!! I am thrilled to show it to anyone who asks or even if you don’t ask…..LOL. This altered book is a first for me
How did I do it you ask?? You asked didn’t you???
The book began as a blank book with a paper cover. First I painted pages with Stewart Gill Paints using the Colourise, Byzantia and Meta Mica. The last layer is Alchemy. The trick is to let the pages dry enough or have enough teflon sheets to use between the pages until they dry otherwise they stick together. I really got into the groove with the painting, most pages have 2-3 layers of paint, front and back of each and every page. .. (someone mentioned later that I could have glued a few of those pages together… where is the challenge in that??!!) Here are some of the pages in my book.
First page incorporates a photo of my nieces, book illustrations and dictionary pages.

This page was a lot of red. We actually had a lot of gray cold skies

What to do with bring red evening skies.? Look to a magazine for the photo and scan the web for the beginning of thoughtful words…. and then add a few of my own.

I did not like the first draft of the next page. It is completely re-worked. The pages are collage with tissue paper and napkins using matte medium. Looking much better now!

This page was a challenge. We found tons of sand dollars on the beach, they were probably cold like us!!

We picked up many and cleaned them. They were very fragile and frequently broke. I wanted them in the book so first we painted them with matte medium, not good enough, then we thought Nail Polish!! a hard seal- so far so good!!

Also on the page is a ribbon of fabric, embossed sand dollars and a photo of our sand dollars drying.

Hilton Head Altered Book

This is one of my favorite pages. It combines paper, fabric, map and finely woven dollies.

The page is an embossed stamp ( I haven’t gotten the hang of embossing yet.) this probaby seems messy to an expert- but I like it. There is also a cool piece of hand made paper.

This is the outside cover of the book. It is what you really want to do first. But trust me save it for last!! I had to expand the spine and still the book stays open like a wedge of cheese. I have been assured that it is okay. I actually fused the fabric to the original cover with Misty Fuse. Worked like a charm!!

Need to get this posted on my blog….. feel like I have been writing it for several days…. oh I have!!

Please tell me what do you do with your vacation photos and stuff collected during the trip.

Posted in Family, Photos, Travel | 9 Comments »

Dye Day at Artistic Artifacts Annex

August 11th, 2009

We had the first of many dye days at the Annex this past weekend. The idea of the workshop is- the student’s get to bring what they want to dye. Their own dolies, laces and trims. I recommend including fat quarter size wovens, or PFD fabric to coordinate with the small pieces. When the students arrive all the dye and chemicals are mixed ready for them to use, NO science, just play time. All the dyeing took place in canning jars so the rinse part of the dye process could be completed at home.

I received the following photos of their dyed fabrics from Elizabeth and Kathy.

We are charting out workspace on these great specially made for

dyeing and painting tables in our warehouse.

I saw this photo and had to laugh. This rat’s nest is exactly what happens when washing out trims in those netted bags. Try as hard as I do to keep the tangles to a minium – it is impossible.!!! Does anyone have a better way that doesn’t involve hand washing?