Tag: Art Quilt

Finishing Mr. Buck’s Quilt

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I’ve just put together a vintage hankie art quilt class! Join me on Sunday, November 23 to create your own wonderful piece! Learn more and register »

Last week I promised you more about the additional work on Mr. Buck’s 80th birthday quilt. I actually forgot to take pictures of the re-embellished quilt myself! His daugter took some for me and emailed me.

As I wrote last week, my vintage hankie covered in anchors was perfect this proud Navy man. Below is the first edition of his quilt.

Vintage Hankie Quilt for Mr. Buck's 80th Birthday

Nice on its own, but I knew I wanted to add more embellishments and personalize it. Those white corners were calling to me… Mr. Buck was kind enough to understand and give it back to me for these additions.

With the top right corner already embellished, I worked around the quilt. A heart shaped lace trim appliqué that I hand-dyed red was the perfect accompaniment to a treasured family photo for the lower right corner (below).This detail photo also shows off the cute cream-colored sailboat buttons I added to the bottom border.

A family photo adorns the corner of Mr. Buck's quilt

Next, the lower left corner. I added another family photo above the United States Naval Academy patch to commemorate his happy days in Annapolis.

Vintage photo from Mr. Buck's Annapolis days

Mr. Buck is the handsome #21 on the championship intramural horseshoe team!

Detail, vintage photo from Mr. Buck's Annapolis days

Finally, the top left corner seems to be the perfect resting place for a vintage paper sailor. I love how he fit the theme and added creamy warm tones to balance the gold and yelllows that accent the quilt.

Paper sailor ephemera

Here is the finished quilt. I do apologize that has had borders being cut off, but it’s the only complete photoI have. (You can click on the photo for a larger view.)

Mr. Buck's quilt, really finishe this time!

I’m much happier with this final outcome, as it is so much more personal to Mr. Buck…plus I’m of the mind that if a little embellishing and ephemera is good, then a lot is better!

More to come on vintage hankie quilts in future postings. I hope to see some of you at my new vintage hankie art quilt class on November 23rd. As you can see these quilts make wonderful gifts (if you can bear to part with them), and the winter holidays will be here before we know it!

Memento Ink Pads + Wooden Printing Blocks = Fun!

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I’ve stated this many times so far in this blog, and here is it again: I am a fabric girl. I am continuing to learn about using paper, and enjoy it, but fabric is my go-to medium.

So with that being said, I am pretty fearless using products on fabric that aren’t meant to be used on fabric. But I will I jump right on it when a manufacturer takes care of the testing for me, and states up front that its product is FOR use on fabric! That is the case with Memento Luxe Mixed Media Ink Pads (see more about them at the end of this post).

Memento Luxe Mixed Media Ink Pads are made by Tsukineko, which the first manufacturer that I knew of that created inks that were permanent on fabric when heat set. At that time they came in a marker form. Now we have ink pads!

Next enter wooden printing blocks — limitless fun in pattern form! My current stash of various types of ink pads had never worked with wooden printing blocks: the wood sucked up the ink too quickly, leaving either nothing to be transfered to the fabric, or such a faint and uneven print that it wasn’t suitable. A friend suggested that I try Memento Luxe Mixed Media Ink Pads with my wooden printing blocks and it works beautifully!

I was thrilled with the results of just ink on fabric. But because these inks are very “juicy” I was able to add embossing powders for texture. (Told you, I’m all about using non-fabric products on fabric.) I’m hooked!

I had some Postcards fabric collaged and ready to go.

Below are some results of my testing:

Apply the ink to the wooden printing block

From Top down Wooden printing Block, fabric postcard, foam mat

Applied Black Gesso (Instead of white) to postcard creating an oval

stamped with memento, covered with embossing Powder, add heat

A New Postcard!

Using Clear Embossing Powder, UTEE

The Memento Luxe Mixed Media Ink and embossing powder is very cool, but what if I want to keep the color of the ink? Enter clear embossing powder — I used Melt Art Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel (which is also available in five colors).

Samples of Postcards with Memento Inks and Embossing Powder Finish

This idea would of course show up better if the fabric was a solid or very small print… but you know me, I like to collage my postcards…

Below is a swatch print of my new favorite paisley wooden printing blocks. Each of the three prints began with white Memento Luxe Mixed Media ink: left is the print alone, center is topped with Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Powders in Fired Brick (these are a little softer in color and texture; after you apply and emboss with your heat gun, you rub the embossed element, which releases special crystals to give you a textured, worn and weathered look) and right is topped with Metallic Embossing Powder in gold.

Test swatch, inks and embossing powders on fabric

Memento Luxe Facts from Tsukineko Inks:

  • Mixed media ink can be used on any porous surface: paper, fabric, wood, leather and more.
  • Permanent on fabric when heat set and will remain vibrant on textiles even after repeated washings
  • Available in 24 vibrant colors
  • Great ink for paper projects as well as mixed media
  • Highly fade-resistant ink
  • Relatively fast drying for a pigment ink

    • NOTE: prize has been awarded So, a bit of a challenge for you: try out this technique to create your own fabric (or paper/cardstock) postcard. Mail it by June 14, 2014 to me and your name will be entered into a drawing for a Wooden Printing Block! My choice, your sweet surprise!

    Mail your finished postcard to :

    Judy Gula
    Artistic Artifacts
    4750 Eisenhower Avenue
    Alexandria, VA 22304