Art and creativity evolves

It’s been 4 years and I have entered another phase of making art. I found this book and it had an intriguing way of using the sewing machine to create. Ive been working this way for the past year and enjoy the challenge. It’s called machine embroidered designs. So I’m not using any computer controlled machine it is done with a hoop and colored thread and some would call it thread painting.

This is the one I’m working on today. I’m enjoying this one. It will be about 3 - 4 inches tall when done.

Hot off the Press.....or sewing machine!

I have been working behind the scenes doing all kinds of stuff, but not producing anything in large quantities. I just finished two pieces for the next exhibit at LNHC Gallery Headquarters in January, entitled "Blue, The Sky's The Limit."

The first is Tiny Blue Visitor - a little bird picture I have had for a long time. I used my new-to-me enlarger to make the bird bigger than 1", which he was in the photo I have. I think it came out really cute.


The second is another good picture of what I call Blue Time, My Secret Garden which is the time the sun has set and it is almost dark,
the light reflecting off the snow turns everything blue. One of my favorite times of the winter day. This is a view from my kitchen window, with a secret garden out back.

Both pieces have painted backgrounds. I had a lot of creative fun with these too. :)

Some of the Process

So, during the week, I have been struggling with the background of the Hollyhock Doll. I had many ideas that I eventually rejected and finally ended up doing something different for me.

Picture I worked from - this is not the fabric.

I took a photo of hollyhocks and I really wanted only the foliage, so went into Photoshop and cropped it. Then I isolated the foliage and put it on a transparent background. Nice. Not enough though, so I added a second. Perfect, except how do I get this idea onto my background? I printed several of these pics and then cut out the stems, one set larger than the other, so I would have some depth to the stem. I like it. Now I transferred this onto freezer paper and sliced the stems out. I then ironed the freezer paper onto the fabric making sure it was really stuck there. Made up a color that was close to the dyed fabric leaves and used my scraper thing to print the stems onto the fabric = freezer paper silkscreen, sort of. Took off the freezer paper between colors. Dried this and then did the same with a lighter color,  and then ironed it.

Time to put it down and think again. Today I made shadow buds to complete the stems, and am currently adding? some felted buds and a couple of leaves? Not sure yet, still designing/thinking.

That's what I have been doing :)

Working in the background :)

I have been doing a lot of stuff, but not saying a word. In between working on the house, I have quilted two small pieces and this one is basted and ready to quilt on too. I have another in the to-be-appliqued stage, too.
The work on this Trillium was interesting - as I have recently given myself permission (don'tcha hate to have to do that) to use my inks and paints to enhance the colors. It has been lots of fun and has incorporated my painting and drawing with fabric. The best of all worlds!

Lately it feels very spring like and I have spring fever and want to be OUT since there aren't any bugs to bite me. I do like this in between season best. I get to walk around in the woods and check on what lives where and pick up nice rocks for the garden - stuff like that.

I continuously lurk and keep my eyes on everyone too! My BF has just stopped working all the time and I am looking forward to some good quilting/creating time soon.

Experiment and Voila!

I got a set of Gyotaku (which means fish printing) leaves - go figure and one fish for Christmas. Decided to try it this morning. Yesterday I washed some plain fabric in order to do this.
The idea is not new, but I have never done this and I do like mono-printing and waiting until something grows again so I can have great leaves is like waiting for paint to dry.
This is my result from a few tries this morning.I love this! The recommendation is to place your fabric or paper onto the painted object, but I seem to do better the other way round.
I intend to overdye this little tableau once it is dry and thoroughly pressed. We will see later how it comes out.

Starting another new one

This one is going to be a landscape type of a post I saw near home. I just found it interesting, so took a photo and now I like it enough to make it permanent and into art.

Before washing

Here's process photos of the background that I painted. This first photo has been done in stages. First I painted the sky and another bright green. I put salt on the green to see what happened. Then I washed it out by hand, pressed it and went on to put the darker green over the light green. I tipped the platter the piece was on so the paint would (hopefully) run down and make tree tops. Well it needed a little help (and I can't leave stuff alone) so I used a toothpick and made pointy tree tops.

After washing

Once that was dry, I then pressed it and thought about it. Then washed it in hot water in the washer.
I like the way that came out and it is what I wanted. Pretty successful all around. Now to cut out and applique the post and tree for the center. (all this stuff is done in the dead of the morning as we are renovating my son's bedroom too.)

Fabric Painting

I wanted to start another wildflower picture? thing? There is a word for that, but I am not getting it right now.
Anyway, I decided to use a painted background. So I took out my stuff and painted this. It is covered with salt right now and drying. I suppose after I wash out the salt I will have to dry it again.

That's ok as I have to work on the trim in my bedroom. I just got sick and tired of the color and will be going to a nice Ivory instead of dark blue (that is very 80's) Do I watch too many home improvement shows? You bet! So once I get DH to agree on something there is no dust on me, as he could change his mind, but once I am going he just gets out of the way :)

Yesterday I went to the store and bought all kinds of supplies that either dried out or needed replacement. WOW! Prices went up in the last 20 years! LOL! It will look fine when it is done :)
Maybe I'll put the piece outside to dry with some leafy things on it. HHMMM, I like that idea.
Do you think the chipmunks will walk on it too? Could be interesting.

New Stuff!!!

Got my Gelli printing plate, now I just need to feel like doing something :) Still have that crappy cough and going to the dr tomorrow.I plan on printing the scarves I had at the show - I just ran out of time, as usual.

 Tonight is the Opening of the Exhibit and Facilities at the new League of NH Craftsmen's headquarters. We've been working up to this for a while and now the DAY is here. I will be there for a while, but not as long as I first thought. I'll leave when I start to feel numb.

So, back to talking about dyeing stuff. I am going to get some good clamps soon. I have been relying on cord and rubber bands, but would like something that will do a flatter fold.

While I was getting my plate from Pro Chem, I also got some fabric paint thinner medium, more Propasol and two new green dyes. My favorite green came out bronze last time I used it and poop to it!
I do see me starting some more silk vessels and experimenting with shapes. They look quite good with a flickering fake candle in them. One of the ways I enjoyed doing the scarf dyeing is to just sprinkle it on the soda soaked scarves - made a neat random "cosmos." That's the same way I do the vessels too.
I also need to make some more greens for backgrounds

I started some marsh marigolds during the show and am working on that while I sit around. Now that my hand works :) What a difference too!

And then...

Here's the front of the bag. I added a little more fabric paint where the ferns are - some were just too pale for my liking.

24 hours later

Now I did some quilting and highlighting of the printed ferns I did yesterday. Things are getting better.
Can't wait until the show and Pro Chem.........I need to see the fabric paint, maybe get a few.

I took off the freezer paper and I think you get the idea I am trying to convey?

Attempting to mono print some fern

Getting the right color to show up good on this green is harder than I thought it would be. BUT, just like painting for me, I need to just walk away and leave it alone.
It's drying right now and I will see how it worked out later.

Here is the front and back of the unconstructed bag, guts and all. The front has a piece of freezer paper over the store bought batik printed fabric.