Wordclouds

 Because Vivian left comment and a query regarding
WORD CLOUD, I just had to renew my thoughts on the subject!
Using  Wordle.net I played for a while, initially using words referring to my "battles" learning to become proficient with the EMBIRD software , computers and embroidery machine.
Then I realized that my printer need  new ink supplies!

The first photo shows LOW lacking in ink supplies my Printer was.
So.....something I should have done weeks ago: I visited "Cartridge World" and got supplies.

Photo two and three shows two wordclouds printed on ExtravOrganza and laid over black chintz in the first card, and sky printed fabric in the second.
 For some reason, the Organza didn't print "squarely" and the  resultant cards are slightly skewiff.

Over on PostmarkdArt, a while back, Maureen Callahan wrote an excellent article about wordclouds, and she mentioned Tagxedo

But, being a bear of little brain (myself) so far I have not had satisfactory results.

So, try the links, and have some fun!

Bring on the books!

 As a slight change, I've been "playing" with fabric bookmarks for a swap over on PCMA.

Funny, isn't it! You think "How difficult can it be, making a bookmark!"

My first attempt, trying to keep within a parameter of two inches maximum width, by a maximum of eight inches, was a Gumleaf--- :I used Florist's wire as the central vein to add stiffness to the fabrics that had been fused together  with Vlisoflex.

The next card
  featured a machine embroidered Aussie wildflower and some very basic crazy patchwork .

Unfortunately, this book mark "blew out" to 3.5 inch width because of the size of the m/e flower. I may go back and prune the length to a more manageable size.










Finding some black and white cat print in my stash, I played with the rough outline of a cat. On both sides of the bookmark I employed the cat fabric.
















More to follow with the next upload of scans.

Recycled Clothing: Kimonos

 The brief was to produce fabric postcards from recycled clothing.
As I have quite a collection of both "de-constructed" Kimonos, as well as entire kimonos and Haori coats I decided to use mainly  silk fabrics and a kimono theme.


Initially, I had planned on making mini kimonos and displaying them on crazy pieced backgrounds.
However, the first, and only "mini kimono" was too bulky for use on a postcard, so I rethought my strategy and decided to combine western attire with Japanese.
Firstly, using a sheet of Lutradur, I printed some pattern pieces from an old VOGUE pattern that I had used years ago.
These I cut to shape and super- imposed over the silks I had stitched to form the back ground.
In two instances, using some Kaiser Kraft "wooden flourishes" of dressmaker's mannequins , I fashioned "western style" gowns and stitched them to the foundation fabric.
Other cards again featured the silk fabrics as foundation, and Origami paper dolls  and more Lutradur pattern pieces.

Finally, trying to "think outside the square" I remembered hand bags I made some years back from old Jeans: So I decided to PLAY.
Using a remnant originally planned for conversion to another tote bag, I made a coin purse, and decorated it with a button cluster.
I have used double sided tape to secure it to a card backing.
However, IF I send it on, it will need to travel in an envelope or padded bag, as it certainly exceeds the quarter inch thickness that Postal Services will accept.

I must admit that I did enjoy trying to fit the proverbial square peg in a round hole.
(In this case, a purse as a Postcard)
What do you think?

Pensive moments, and works in progress

 

 

 

Pensive moments

 

Still a work in progress

It took almost a week to surgically remove the top from its original backing.And it is so good to be back working with a soft batting.

  and now I've nearly completed the metallic stitching.
I need need to attach the second of the larger lacy motifs on the base piece and complete some stippling.

Yes! I'm probably going against all normal quilting procedures, but I'm doing it my way.

Today's weather is cold,wet and miserable;so is a good day for staying indoors.
I have scanned and printed on fabric some photos in preparation for a memory quilt, and I've also trimmed and rinsed an Organza lace motif.
Now it's down to "the cave" to see if I can remember how to set the Embroidery machine up to work some motifs for another quilt.

{Pen's workshop

 Today was spent (AGAIN) auditioning fabrics!
I realised that this could happen 'ad nauseum' so I promised myself that this quilt would be what Pen intended it to be: a LEARNING experience!

I know now, that I would never use a piece of WHITE damask! Too stark.
And maybe, if I use the brocade again, I need something more than the striped fabric as a counter point.

I am not used to employing muted colours, and this workshop has re inforced that to me.
BUT! I need try new scenarios.... New colourways..
Not stay with "tried and true"!

The next few days I will try out some metallic threads..........whether they will be GOLD (metallic) or coloured?
At this stage, I have no idea!

Returning to Crazy: A W.i.P.

 
Since taking delivery of a new Ott lite, I am able to once again enjoy stitching at night.
By day,I can enjoy machine work: as shown in my earlier blogging today,
and by night, I can keep "half an eye" on TV (if there is anything worth watching) and enjoy doing hand work.

I have lived in this house for just over five years, and I'm so happy to have good lighting to allow me do stitching by night

A work in progress

 Despite my cutting some pieces to incorrect dimensions, my machine embroidered and rusted fabric wall hanging is slowly taking shape.
Being unhappy with the original choice of fabrics, I still tend to audition other fabrics:
At the moment, this is the current choices. Next will be the gold fabric "marrying" the three modules.

New toy! (Or never say "Never"

I'm now the owner of a Janome MC350e embroidery machine.
Pam gave me nearly two hours of her time familiarising  me with  a few of the machine's points, but I will be back for more in depth lessons, once I have digested the manual and accompanying DVD.
All in all, I'm more than happy with the deal: Extra patterns,
Three hoops, including a Giga hoop, and patterns to use with the hoop
Water soluble stabiliser
Tear away stabiliser
Cut away stabiliser, and some reels of thread.

One happy little black duck!  That's me

Returning to Crazy

As I promised yesterday

                                                                                                           
a shot of the small amount of seam embellishment done.
On the pink fabric is Cretan stitch
The next seam between the patterned fabric and the bottle green features a multi dyed silk thread, which unfortunately doesn't  create an interesting contrast, so I guess that I will need add some bling to enliven the chain stitch.
The two entwining branches, worked in Fly stitch are two Edmar Rayon , lola weight threads.

Never say "Never"

Some eight to ten years back, an online friend was attempting to entice me into the joys of Machine Embroidery!
She would send me delightful motifs and lacy pieces to use in my Crazy Quilting.
I always gratefully accepted her offerings, and used them in CQ and fabric and fibre postcards.
I was so adamant that I would NEVER even look at Embroidery machines, that most of the rayon threads I  had used in machine applique, and other odd bits,  I sent to her.

Move on a couple of years, and I had drifted away from CQ to small Art quilts and Fabric and fibre postcards.

I made contact again, with someone who persuaded me to do a small workshop with her, in an effort to get my creative juices flowing again.

Yesterday, I worked on the first piece of rusting fabric. Pen has an old bookpress that is used only for rusting fabrics.
I had seen her pieces before, and was curious: so the piece of homespun was thoroughly dunked in a vinegar bath; fold to fit within the press and pressed and left.
P willoversee the process, and next Tuesday we'll rinse the piece,dry and iron it, and choose pieces to use in the small quilt.

The next step , was the "NO! not ever!" embroidery machine:

Three pieces were to be  constructed:
 One,a spray referred to as "Sunflowers" fitted in a five by seven piece of fabric.
The second, fitted in a square of fabric, and resembles a piece of square crochet (I forget the correct terminology, but will check it out and repair the omission, later)
As you can see, I (or rather the machine) managed to complete TWO pieces for me.

In the quilt, I am adding a photographic print: adapted from Michelangelo's "Creation"

I am also deciding whether to "do" a plain photographic face, or a machine embroidered face.
I have chosen what I will use for the basic model, but time ran out before I could make a start  on her.  I have chosen a pre-Raphaelite model.

The other piece(s) I to complete next week, are two "free standing" pieces of lace to attach at each end of the Sunflower Spray.

As you may have guessed from the fabric  and thread colours I've used, plus the addition of the hands and the face, I am hoping to achieve a look that resembles an "old" piece of fabric art---rusted fabric, muted paintings ( or sections of)

I am looking forward to getting on with it....next week!

Returning to Crazy.....

 A newsletter from Quilt Inspirations last week featured  the wall hanging  on the left of the page  : "Jewelled Stitches".


      Apart from a (small) Fabric and fibre Postcard that I mailed to a friend a while back, it has been a very long time  since I tried any Crazy Patch and embellishing.
 So......here is my current UFO!
I didn't want to slavishly follow the layout of Jewelled stitches, so I decided to use elongated triangles.
In my opinion the basic piece had no ZING...and a girl has to have ZING before she can add Bling!!

Searching through more UFOs..in this case hearts I auditioned some, and settled for three.
But it still seemed a little blah, so I broke the cardinal rule of "uneven numbers" and added a fourth heart.

The lower two hearts have been  (machine) satin stitched in position.The two upper ones will be hand applique'd in position---because I left sufficient  seam allowances to be able to  do that.

And that's where I'm at! Two hearts to applique down, and then I can start the fun part of embellishing.

My toys

 After showing the colour swatches from my various Derwent colours, I thought that I should share photos of my ZIG brand Brush (es) H2O.
I have three water brushes with different sized tips:
                    Fine
                    Large
Broad             Broad
As they work on the principle of a fountain pen, they make a wonderful travelling companion along with the Intense pencils.

Derwent water solubles colour charts

Today's mail delivered my tin of 12 Derwent Watersoluble  Metallic  Pencils,
and I thought that if I made a colour page, showing the pencil in both a dry condition as well as a water washed chip, I would have a better idea of how to use them.
I must admit I am unhappy with the effects: I did expect a more metallic effect from washing the swatches.
Maybe, if they are done on fabric , the result would be different.
 The page showing 24 colours is the colour swatch of the
Derwent Inktense Pencils: I am more than happy with the results.

The first photo was done back in  February, when I first had a play with
Inktense Blocks, when all I had in mind was playing with the actual blocks, dragging them along their sides to see how they would react.
I really should do a "proper" colour chart!

Since first getting the blocks, I have now a grater in my possession, which should help in preparing fabrics or paper with an even wash