Histoires de boites �couture: Histoires de boites �couture

Histoires de boites �couture: Histoires de boites �couture

Building a tree

 
After I decided that my needle felting attempt was not going to produce a satisfactory tree,I started with "planB".....using Xpandaprint.

Xpandaprint is a thick creamy medium that expands when heated.It can be applied by brush,roller or sponge(I chose brush and spatula)
It comes in black or white and is non-toxic.
I used both a heat gun and a domestic iron to activate the medium.
It can be painted before heating,but I chose to do it after.

The pic shows the challenge, a rough outline tracing, and the first layers of
Xpandaprint laid down and cured.
I added extra layers as I felt necessary .
Mainly I was after achieving a rough outline,no dainty or interlacing branches as I felt I did not as yet have sufficient knowledge of the product.

Having decided to stay fairly minimalist the only way I could avoid blue paddocks,was to remove tree from background fabric and applique it to another background;I chose to use the sunprinted fabric because it supplied a hint of foliage.

Initially the tree was painted with Neopaque /Jacquard paints and then layers of Lumiere Metallics and Pearlescents were added to highlight texture. 

Quilting completed

 
Last night I finished the hand quilting around the printed leaves,and said "finito" 

Mission accomplished

 

I'm not happy with the photo exposures,but this will give some indication of my Challenge quilt 

Art quilt Challenge

 


Back in December 2005 I accepted a Challenge on one of the sites I visit regularly:
The mission,should I choose to accept ,was to reproduce my version of this picture!
Today,(except for needing a tad more quilting to emphasize some of the leaves)I'm declaring my Challenge is done.

I chose to work with the journal quilt format (8.5 x 11 inches) in order to include it in my folio for Aus_NZ_artquilters group.

The quilt has been a long while getting to a nearly complete style because I've been trying out new(for me ) methods as well as other projects.
It bears little resemblance to the pic provided,but I'm happy with the results and adventures along the way 

Samadhi and the Goddess

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I had in mind to attempt "something like Samadhi" and call it a self-portrait!

These two ladies were created by Rita Weisse who was conducting a needlefelting workshop over the weekend down Murwillumbah way.
The post prior to this shows the results achieved by the students....and I'm not saying which is mine.!

Voodoo

 

Actually it was Needle felting,but as my frustration grew,it felt like sticking pins in a voodoo doll!
The occasion? I met up with an online friend and took part in a Needle felting Workshop by Rita Weisse

The aim of the workshop was to learn how to create a figure.
My goal was to attempt something like Samadhi but the result was more like a combination of Mrs Hobbitt with the Hag or Frankenstein!
As usual my ambitions exceeded my capabilities,so it's back to the drawing board!

BTW.....the two embellished figures belong to Rita;the others belong to the students! 

Icy morning

 
As result of a "four seasons" Postcard swap,this striking fabric Postcard , "Icy Morning" by Ruth Nunn,arrived at my home this morning.
There would appear to be at least three layers of fabric forming the card.....black shadowy background,superimposed with snippets of silver and black & silver fabrics;covered with a (holographic?) metallic mesh and tulle netting,
and finally,the stark outline of the tree.

Unfortunately,there is a wee bit of damage,possibly caused by bulk mail sorting,but thankfully insufficient to detract from its general attractiveness.

(Do you get the impression that I love it!)
Thanks Ruth! 

More pot mitts

 
Nothing exciting today!
Just a couple more sets of pot mitts! This time I recycled some denim off-cuts.

I also completed two fabric 'n fibre Postcards for one of my Swaps.....
For these,I went back to my old love,CQ...........

pics, "later" 

Roosters and Hens

 

Some redworked pot mitts,made for craft stall at a forthcoming school fete.
Each red worked mitt will be paired with a plain (no redworked) mitt in similar fabrics. 

What started it all............

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It was a simple butterfly like this,that I painted with Lumiere Pearlescent and added to a "Cat" postcard in a recent swap and which the previous posting referred to.
It's amazing how a coat of paint can jazz things up.
Hopefully,the recipient may take pity on me and send me a pic for my album.

Needle tatted butterflies

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Friday report

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So,what has been accomplished this week?
The Mother Goose quilt is at an acceptable(read usable) stage: It does need some shadow quilting around the stitcheries........but as I've decided I prefer hand quilting to machine,that will be at my leisure.
As my DD has decided "no children" and my grandchildren haven't started producing the next generation,the quilt can languish in my "Hope chest" for a while.

Several fabric and fibre postcards were sent on their way to new homes,both in Australia and the U.S.A.I'll show pics after they have got to their new homes.

I've gone back to my (behind schedule) Art Journal Quilts,where I've been attempting some "fractured landscape" themes..........in a not very satisfactory manner so far.
My versions of fractured landscapes worked in a 6x4 size,but in a 8x11,a totally different matter!
I've also been dabbling with heat tools,Xpanda paint, Tyvek and more Jacquard Opaque paints.

I've made some "chook" pot holders for GD's school fete in October.
"Chooks"??? For non-Aussies,that translates as hens or chickens. :-)
Nothing classy or even "arty"... just good old fashioned pot holders!
And I guess I need to make "more".
Okay KJ! Gran will get to work!!

I also made a batch of Tomato Relish.....just to keep honed some old skills.
I scavenged a supply of metal lidded glass jars,ready for Strawberry Jam,and tomorrow after firewood scavenging friends depart,I'll tackle a couple of fibre 'n fabric postcards for an "Anything goes" swap due to be mailed out next Tuesday.
I'm thinking of incorporating some of my sun printed fabrics I did a week or so back

And apart from browsing the latest "Emb X-Stitch and Beading" magazine,and reading a couple of chapters of a Patricia Cornwell mystery,not much else was accomplished this week.

Mother Goose and Kodak

 
Mmm ! I guess that I can say I've finally had a win!
After an excessive amount of faffing around,I think I've won the battle of the download.
I'm the owner of a new Kodak zoom digital camera ,a P850...........and I've had all sorts of headaches learning how to transfer the pics from camera to computer.Seems I've finally (partly) sorted that out and here's Mother Goose to prove it. 

Friday report

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Several (fabric) postcards arrived in the mailbox this week: Catherine in Swan Hill;Anieta in Canberra; Becky Fischer in California.
The themes were Cats(Catherine knows me very well)
Seasons.......Autumn in Canberra (my favourite season)
and Abstract

I am involved with the swapping of fabric/fibre postcards on several sites;all with similar themes.
My main gripe is that the senders do not specify WHICH group they are sending from(bad grammar I know,but you get my drift!)
Surely,somewhere on the card can be included the legend: "Postmark'dArt Seasons swap" or whatever is relevent to the swap.;or Fabrications Fabrications
or fiberart postcards
You would not believe the sleuthing involved to work out who "regards,XXXX" and a postmark actually IS, not to mention the time involved in sleuthing.

You see, my problem is that I like to acknowledge receipt of a card,and let the sender KNOW that their card arrived at its destination...........bit difficult when you have no idea WHO sent it!

Maybe I'm weird for such a mindset,but,that's ME!

The good news is.....tomorrow my new camera should be here,and up and running!

kurliskottage: Mark your diary..........QUILTMANIA

kurliskottage: Mark your diary..........QUILTMANIA

Fractured seasons.......Postcards

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As I mentioned yesterday My latest Postcard swap involved the theme "Seasons";I felt that my stitch enhanced photo PCs were a bit blah,so I decided to employ a CQ method and use colours/fabrics indicative of the seasons as I see them where I live.

Nothing startling........I'm getting used to machine work after many years of hand work.(So my edges aren't the best........sorry)
I also find that it is not a good idea to make cards too thick with embellishing,or be too lavish withthreads,laces,braids that run the danger of snagging and being wrecked by postal machinery,or a surcharge for being over width.
Because of this factor I tend to frequently place the stamped and hand cancelled PC in a cellophane envelope before handing the PC back to postal officials for the card to begin its travels!

Fractured seasons

 
And this is a fractured (read crazy piecing) of the previous posting:
Low tide,Summer,Moreton Island. 

Still no camera.............

 

Hopefully,by Saturday I'll be acquainting myself with a new camera......
HOPEFULLY! (and fingers crossed.)
In the meantime,it's scanned pics or nada!
The last two days I've been working on yet more fabric & fibre postcards:the theme being "Seasons"
Initially I did a "cheat" and printed out photos of favourite ocean based sites....Inskip Point and Moreton Island.
When I made a couple of booboos with my new printer,and printed "too small" I went back to my original plan of (slightly) Crazy piecing;
This pic was a 6x4 inch (nearly) 

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Still no camera.......I had hoped it would turn up gift wrapped today,but my chief camera buyer has not had the time to pursue it this week due to work committments.
Talk about withdrawal symptoms!!
I may have to see if I still know how to use the 35mm film camera YUK!
No instant gratification there.
The Mother Goose quilt is sandwiched and pinned ready for quilting and binding;
Last night's attempts at hand quilting reminded me how long it was since I'd wielded a quilt needle.......will unpick last night's effort as it's ****!
Of course the fact that I was celebrating with a few white wines with friends was not conducive to even stitching.

Said friends certainly surprised me with their generousity.....their gifts and rendition of Happy Birthday was heart warming.Where would we be without our stitchin bitchin friends!
Thanks Shaz,Kerrie,Pete and Sue!