Collages

These are two collages that I created using painted paper towels, dryer sheets, and gold metallic tissue paper. I am thinking about cropping one or both to 6 x 6 inches for a "make art everyday" challenge that I am doing, but right now am enjoying the way they look. Maybe I'll add some stitching, paint or yarn? I don't want to mess them up, but I'm not sure that they are done yet. Each measures 8.5 x 11 inches.

Cuatro

This is my completed challenge for the FFFC, entitled "Cuatro". I added a border to frame it, and heavily quilted it with different patterns and textures. It measures 34 x 34 inches. I really enjoyed working with these unusual fabrics, and plan on using them in future work.

Fast Friday Fabric Challenge Blocks

This is what I am working on for the March FFFC #7. The challenge was to use fabrics that we are not used to working with. We are given 1 week to complete the project. I had several such fabrics on hand including heavy drapery material, faux suade, crinkled sheer, and copper crepe like fabric. The top row is "specialty fabrics" and the bottom row is regular quilting cotton.

I fused a very light weight interfacing to all except the heavy drapery, and then pretty much treated them like regular cotton fabrics. I did have to use a lower setting on my iron so as not to melt the poly fabrics. I played with the block arrangement. Originally I had 20 blocks, but in the end I like having the four circles made from 16 blocks. I hope to get it quilted today, so that I can have it bound by the Saturday deadline.

Charmed, I'm Sure

These are charms that I am making for a charm swap on my art-techniques yahoo group. This is my first endeavor with polymer clay. I rolled out some black clay, stamped in images of Rock Art, baked, and then used Antique Gold Rub-n-Buff to color it. I am pleased with the way they turned out. Now just need to add the jump rings so that they can be attached to a bracelet or necklace.

Unconventional Fibers ATCs Finished

I used the backgrounds that I had created from the painted paper towel and stitching, and added small irregularly cut rectangles of orange painted dryer sheet overlayed with green mesh. I then added a silver sea bead that I had highlighted with teal paint to give it a patina. The edges are finished with a decorative variegated yarn. These will be traded next month--I finished early for once!

Unconventional Fibers ATCs

Here is what I have been working on for my "unconventional fibers" Artist Trading Card Exchange. The materials I started out with are: painted paper towels, painted dryer sheets, Razzle Dazzle decorative thread, variegated cotton threads, decorative yarns. I originally had intended to incorporate a floral mesh material and my felt-melt leaves, but they didn't make it in the final piece.

I started out by using one of my painted paper towels for the base. This is Scott's brand paper towel--it has a neat brick like texture to it. I layered it with batting and a muslin backing so that I could quilt through it as I added the other embellilshments. Then I sewed on strips of painted dryer sheet, couched on different yarns, and stitched the Razzle Dazzle, copper metallic and variegated threads.

Then I cut the "quilts" into 2.5 x 3.5 inch trading cards. I am currently adding a couple more elements, and need to finish the edges. Fun, fun!

Painted Paper Towels

I have been playing around with painting paper towels...it is very addictive. Not sure why, except that it is fast, fun, and cheap. It is something that I can do a few at a time, and it doesn't require a large block of time.

Some are painted with watered-down acrylic paints. Some are painted with fabric dye. Somtimes I go back over with another layer of paint after they are dry, or stamp with paint or ink. Metallic paints are fun to use too.

I have been using them in my fusions as well as postcards--they can be sewn through just like fabric.

"Travel" Artist Trading Cards

(Top Picture) These are the ATCs that I made for the "Travel" exchange. I started with a fabric base that was a map of Africa, with giraffes, elephants, and compasses. I then added imitation suade strips, fabric, handmade paper beads, film strips, and cowrie shells. The cards are edged with a variegated yarn. These were fun to do once I got started. The hardest part was figuring out the individual compostitions--I had to do each one different because of the way the base fabric cut up differently.

(Bottom Picture) These are the ATCs (Artist Trading Cards) that I recently received from my Fiber ATC group. Mine is the top row, 2nd from the left. Everyone did a fabulous job--I am so pleased with these cards. Each measures 2.5 x 3.5 inches.

Pink Fusion

This is the 8.5 x 11 inch sheet of pink fusion made the same way that I did the blue fusion. Plus, the resulting pin which measures 1.75 x 2.5 inches. I used the pink fusion background, added a strip of floral mesh, appliqued a 1-inch square of ETAL metal paper and hand sewed a Chinese coin charm. Then, I sewed on a variegated yarn to finish the edges. I am working on some more art pins from this sheet.

Blue Fusion

This is a result of playing around with glue, hand painted paper towels and papers, thread and yarn snippets, fabric mesh, tissue paper, paper flowers and glue. I created a collage about 3 layers deep of these materials on cardstock, let it dry for about 2 days, and then cut it into smaller pieces. The original sheet is 8.5 x 11.



The Mixed Media Art Pins that I am making out of it are 1.75 x 2.5 inches. I took the collage base, added Razzle Dazzle thread with stitching and sewed on the handmade heart medallion and Angelina Fiber square. The heart pin is edged with deocrative yarn, and the Angelina pin is edged with a variegated thread.

Its Not Easy Being Green

Bottom pic: This is my entry for The Fast Friday Fabric Challenge #6. It is a group that offers one challenge a month to be completed within one week's time. The challenge this month was to use a monochromatic color scheme with an accent color. Plus the title was to be inspired by a song. This is quilt #2 in a series of leaf quilts. It measures 12 x 9 inches.

The first one that I made (top pic) was all in shades of blues and greens, and is much larger. Then I wondered what it would look like with a pop of red. So this challenge was the perfect excuse to try. I am going to play around with this idea a little more in some series quilts.