Art Quilts

If you are interested in art quilts and fractals, you might want to visit Lily Kerns blog. There are some gorgeous images there, looks way to hard for my non-mathematical brain to handle :-)

tote

tote
Originally uploaded by Maureen1.

I made this tote bag today from recycled, actually liberated from stash, fabrics. Made from jeans fabric, marbled cotton and silk.

Finished seascape

Finished seascape
Originally uploaded by Maureen1.

This picture is better in colour but not so clear an image.

Seascape A

Seascape A
Originally uploaded by Maureen1.

Here is the paper bag postcard, finally completed. There is a bead trail added towards the bottom of the seascape and sundry beads and sequins scattered here and there, including two fish beads (the last remains of my collection of fishy beads). The postcard is very difficult to photograph, I have taken another which is better in colour but not so clear an image. I wonder if the metallic threads used and sparkly stuff reflects back at the camera lens.

Blogthings

I don't share these if I don't like the result of the quiz Here is the pattern of my brain:

Your Brain's Pattern

Your mind is a creative hotbed of artistic talent. You're always making pictures in your mind, especially when you're bored. You are easily inspired to think colorful, interesting thoughts. And although it may be hard to express these thoughts, it won't always be.

What Pattern Is Your Brain?

Seascape - WIP

I have been beading the seascape today. Added a bead trail, a couple of fish beads and scattered beads and sequins here and there. I think I have finished, but had to pack all my beads and embellishments away as my grandsons are visiting tomorrow and they have very inquisitive little fingers. Anyway, a day or so of not looking at this postcard will give me some space to be objective and decide if it is actually finished.
I have a hankering after some hand embroidery to add a bit more texture, maybe I'll do some french knots here and there as it doesn't need much more work, just maybe a bit of highlighting.

Seascape WIP A

Seascape WIP A
Originally uploaded by Maureen1.

More additions to seascape. I dropped a piece of boucle type pink/white/blue yarn onto this work whilst auditioning threads, and it looked so good that I spent some time today couching it down. I had intended to add some hand embroidery over all, but think it will be too 'busy' if I do this. I will just bead now, add some fish, make the angelina fibre rock a bit more rocky, with maybe something underneath to assist in this process.

bead making

I have been busy machine embroidering felt ready for a bead making workshop I am doing next month. You need kumen felt which satisfactorily melts and buckles to turn into interesting beads. Some of the felt I have isn't kumen and some is. Apparently the felt squares you buy even if labelled kumen is not always, so I did a test drive yesterday. Got a very interesting bead, put some mod podge on it,which gives it a pretty gleam, but think I should have added some metallic paint first as a bit of glitter would have been good. Not sure if you can paint over mod podge. I will try to take a photo later today, but being black I don't think the bead will be an easy subject.

Last night I had free tickets to see The Producers at an outside cinema near the Swan River. The film was good, the night was very warm, but being by the river the air cooled down towards the end of the film and I was glad I had taken my shawl with me.

Felting

It looks as if my wool knitting and felting career may be over before it has truly begun. My hands have been so sore with lots of little splits in them and I realised the soreness is where I handle the wool when knitting. Someone has suggested I may be allergic to wool. So as I have just finished another teacosy I have packed all wool firmly away and am waiting to see if my hands heal. My fingers are too sore even to sew, so I am looking round for another occupation, maybe some dyeing, I have silk threads that need attention.

Printing on Fabric

There has been a lot of talk recently about printing on fabric. I use inkjetset, which is much the same as bubblejetset, it works ok, a bit of a fiddle, and I rather think it will fade over time, but somethings are not meant to be lasting. However, for those with a lazy bent Chapppas Textiles will do it for you. Its a great website to visit anyway.

Printing on Fabric

There has been a lot of talk recently about printing on fabric. I use inkjetset, which is much the same as bubblejetset, it works ok, a bit of a fiddle, and I rather think it will fade over time, but some things are not meant to be lasting. However, for those who wish a slightly easier method
Chapppas Textiles will do it for you. Its a great website to visit anyway.

WIP - seascape

WIP - seascape
Originally uploaded by Maureen1.

This is the work done so far on my paper bag postcard. I am going to add some hand embroidery and beadng now. I love the unsquare shape and am wondering how I can finish it off to keep the raw edges. But maybe it will be enough just to let some of the seaweeds trail over a neatened edge to satisfy my dislike of all things neat and tidy.

Bags of bags

For those of you interested in bags, there is a wonderful collection here: Lots of different styles and materials for eye candy.

I have been working on my paper bag postcard today. Haven't started stitching yet, but know what I plan to do. Whether it works out this way is another matter.

Inspiration

I had an inspiration in the night, but alas no pencil and paper close at hand to record it, so as I went back to sleep I just hoped and prayed it would stick in my mind. Luckily it did. I am going to turn the contents of my brown paper bag into a seascape. The challenge will be how to include the feather in this. I am trying to think of fairy tales where a feather is used as a boat, am sure there is one somewhere, just have to remember.......

Postcard material

Postcard material
Originally uploaded by Maureen1.

I showed you earlier the contents of the stuff I put into my brown paper bag for the postcard swap. Here are the fabrics and trims I received. There is a blue feather too, which is not very visible.

Totally off topic

This virus thing I have totally caught up with me yesterday, and I spent the day just reading. However, if you are going to re-fit your bathroom you might like to visit this link Even if you are not in re-fit mode it is interesting to see how the rich live. I have never seen fittings as artistic and beautiful as these.

Aaaargh!

I seem to have lost the ability to do this link thing. Here is the teacup link:

Tea Leaf Reading

If you would like a tea leaf reading go to:
and follow the instructions. I asked my 'cup' about a textile piece I am working on, but it declined to comment - no help at all! It did, however, address my other concerns.

Link

My link to Shirley failed - here it is again......

Fabric Postcards

I have been having such postcard fun today. My machine embroidery group are having a brown paper bag exchange, the contents to be made into a postcard. My bag contains these contents. There are two small pieces of fabric, 4 threads/cords and 4 thingies (like buttons, beads, sequins). On Saturday I get to exchange my bag for another and make a postcard during the meeting.

I got myself into postcard making mode today by making the postcard I am exchanging with Shirley Can't show you in case she peeps! I had to use some dissolving film so the postcard is sitting around drying at present.

As are the three teeshirts I re-dyed. Every now and again when my tees look sad I dunk them in a dyepot, mostly always much the same colour they were originally dyed. Freshens them up no end. I must buy a washing machine dye soon to re-dye my black tees and pants.

Tote bag

Tote bag
Originally uploaded by Maureen1.

After an early morning excursion to the shops for food, I did not poke a nose out of the door - far too hot! Instead I turned the fabric I showed you earlier into this tote bag. It is a nice size and went together easily. I am looking out now for some strong cardboard to put in the base, at present there is some advertising material helping is stand up. Even junk mail can have its uses.

folded and overdyed fabric

folded and overdyed fabric
Originally uploaded by Maureen1.

I was looking for some fabric to make a bag and came across this piece of folded and overdyed fabric from my very early dyeing days. I love the patterns I achieved with this piece and it is just the right size and colour for the tote bag I intend to make. What luck, the pattern for the bag and lining just fit onto this fabric.

Detail folded fabric

Detail folded fabric
Originally uploaded by Maureen1.

Here is a detail from the above fabric.

My husband and I have been somewhat busy moving prunings from backyard to front garden in time for the bulk rubbish collection. They were supposed to come today to remove all this stuff, but since it is a public holiday I guess garbage collectors did not work. They'd better hurry up and come or I might be inspired to tackle the pine tree. Please note, there is no stash buried under this pile, although I could do with reducing it somewhat, textiles are to precious just to totally throw out, and how could I choose!

Something odd

There must be something odd about me. I have been struggling all week to make a shirt from a Vogue "Very Easy" pattern by Koko Beall - No. 7699 if anyone is interested. Being a very hot day today I decided to tackle the collar and facings which have very poor and complicated instructions. Eventually I junked the pattern instructions and did it my way. I now have a bit of neatening to do, hems, buttonholes and it should be finished. But I whacked my finger with the moving part of the sewing machine, not the needle thank goodness, and need to let my finger recover a bit. I have been remembering that I often have problems with patterns in the easy section of pattern books.

felted bag

felted bag
Originally uploaded by Maureen1.

Ok, so when you get clever and 'know' that bad treatment will overcome superwash wool, this is what happens. The gold quarter of the bag has not felted at all, the other wool has felted nicely. I think the only thing I can do is to cut the gold quarter out, reknit and felt separately, then stitch in place.

Finished teacosy

Finished teacosy
Originally uploaded by Maureen1.

Here is another felted teacosy, complete with buttons and isacord bow. I even found a teapot in an op shop for display purposes.

Water feature

Someone on Flickr suggested this water feature might be an old well. I have to admit it fooled me as I was asking about delivery, it being obviously too heavy for us to handle. It is plastic! I think it has been sprayed with finely ground stone though as it has the real rough stone feel. Anyway it fitted into the boot of my car nicely and on the way home I was saying to my husband that I would like to get a small collection of frogs to sit on the edge of it. We diverted to show off our new 'toy' to my daughter. When they opened the car boot they jumped backward as a real frog leapt high in the air and then scuttled for cover in the depths of my boot. Eventually they caught it and set it free to find its way to one of the lakes that run in a chain between the coast and the Darling Scarp.

Promise this textile blog will revert to its true purpose soon. Perhaps I'll make myself a frog softie to hug (if I can find the pattern).