Still Playing with Wool.

I have been spending time layering stitches on wool. Feels like I am doodling, but with thread.

  

 

Wool

Wool............first I dyed some,

Then the embellishing began.

 

Easy Batik Method

I have always wanted to try Batik, but space is limited, I don't have a spot to play with wax and dyes, no where to really get "messy"
Recently, a reader and I were emailing back and forth, talking about various classes, workshops, techniques. She described a batik method where instead dye baths, the dyes are simply painted on.  well this really got me thinking....I wanted to try it so badly....but had no supplies on hand.
Those who follow me regularly KNOW that was not about to stop me....Like Clark Griswold...."I was on a QUEST"   :-)

So here is what I did

I have one of those little wax burners....you know the ones, you put a small cube of scented wax and melt it with a tea light candle placed underneath.  Okay....I now had hot wax.

I took a piece of muslin, lightly drew a design and then placed this in an embroidery hoop.

Next I traced the outlines using nothing more than a cheap paint brush dipped into the hot wax. It is going to take a little practice to get smooth lines but for my first time I am really quite pleased.
I checked to be sure the wax was going right through the fabric,

to give you an idea of size.....that hoop measures 12" across

then it was time to paint.....and that is what I did, I used textile paints diluted with water so that they flowed. I also used a little bit of acrylic ink (just to see how it would work)

I removed it from the hoop and continued placing more paint, I don't like to waste anything, so I threw some of the leftover colours into the blue background.  This was now very wet so I could test how well the wax would work as a resist.  You can tell that the work was good and wet by the reaction to the handful of salt I tossed onto the whole works before leaving  it to dry

Once it was dry, I placed the piece inside layers of newsprint (clean, unprinted) paper and set my iron to a low heat.....the heat from the iron melted the wax...the paper absorbed it.

now, of course, you know I HAD to add some doodling

This was such an interesting experiment, I can hardly wait to try it using some paraffin ( I have no idea what that scented wax is)  Next time I want to try doing several layers of wax and colour. 

Wool and Cotton

In a post a couple of months ago, I showed some quilting I was doing using wool batt.

2 looks in one......this is the back view

What I did not share, was that this was part of a project I was doing while preparing an article for the Canadian Quilter.   It is a quarterly publication, this is the 9th article/design that I have created in my role as Artist in Residence for the Canadian Quilters' Association

In the Autumn issue, which is now out, I provide directions for working with cotton and wool to create a cushion that could be made from leftovers to co-ordinate with a quilt

It started with charm squares

                           

I cut lots of circles from wool and stitched a variety of  "pennies" that could be added to the cotton.

Pretty simple, easy and fun way to use charm squares and leftover bits.

this is the front view

I am currently preparing the article for the Winter issue........summer is going by far, FAR too quickly

Failure or Creative Opportunity?

Sometimes a sun-print just doesn't take very well. In this case, the day went from brilliant sun and clear blue sky to completely cloudy, very quickly.  I had been using some small metal charms to see just how intricate a print I could get, when of course, there was a sudden change in weather. The fabric was almost dry and I did get a "decent" image but not as clear as I am sure it could have been had the clouds not rolled in. But....wait....maybe I could "enhance" them.

These photos show the images left by the sun

and this is how they looked with a bit of help from my Sharpie marker

Thirsty?

CPP # 218   "Milkshake"

Stitching, Colouring, Doodling & Cutting

Last week I showed you the start of a little piece inspired by an article I read in Quilting Arts Magazine. Some colour had been added at that point........then after lots and lots of stitching, even more colour was applied.

I decided it might be fun to incorporate this week's CPP word, #217 "Pen".........so I took out a black Micron pen and doodled on the piece.

I have been discussing the idea of a collaborative effort, using crows as subject matter with a friend and fellow quilter, she challenged me to do a "Crow"Flake.....I do love a challenge!

this is what it looked like before it was unfolded

Linking to Nina-Maries  Off the Wall Fridays

Stitch and Inktense Pencils

Have you picked up the current Quilting Arts Magazine? This issue contains an article by Terri Stegmiller that just looked like so much fun, I HAD to give it a go.

If you like the little piece that I am working on, then believe me, you will WANT to check out this article and see exactly what Terri reveals about making her whimsical "story" quilts. She talks about her article in a blog post here.........I don't want to give too much away....plus, I was just so incredibly eager to get playing that I have to admit I did skip a few steps.
I created a drawing that I thought would work....(in hindsight, maybe something simpler for my first effort would have been a wiser choice)
I basically grabbed an interesting batik, taped my drawing onto the light table and began transferring the image onto the fabric using a black Micron permanent pen.

Next I batted and backed this piece and got it ready for stitching.

This is a tremendous exercise for working on your free motion stitching control.  You see, Those lines drawn with black pen are now being stitched over with black thread.

Once I had all my lines covered with thread, I couldn't wait to begin adding colour.

While Terri's demonstration used transparent paints in her article, my Inktense pencils have been languishing in a drawer so I decided to see what sort of result I could achieve using them.

This is as far as I got last night.....it is work "in progress"   :-)

This is just a tiny start to the possibilities that Terri shares in her article.....I am looking forward to exploring this more.....much, MUCH more! Thanks for the inspiration Terri!!!!


Linking up to Nina Marie's Off the Wall Fridays 

Another prompt response

What sparks your creativity?  When does inspiration strike for you? The Creative Prompt project strives to help you along, one word at a time. This week's word, #215, is "Plate"
I most often do a doodle, but as I passed by one of my vintage sewing machines, a different idea came to me.
This is the face Plate on one of my vintage Singer machines.

observing the elements in the design, I folded paper, drew the shapes, and began cutting

and this is what I got

On my Toes

I actually managed to do this week's Creative Prompt project response while it is still current.
 Jaye's word for us this week.......... #214 on the list,  is "Dance"