A finish at last!
A couple of months ago I did an online course with Deborah Boschert called “Branches Buds & Blossoms : a botanical fabric collage”.
This is the result and I will put it into our quilting exhibition display in September. The theme for the display is “Botanica”, so this will fit perfectly.
I have called it “Branching Out” as I find my textile art is branching out into collage a lot lately. It seems to be something I like doing.
Deborah had some great hints and tips, and it was a very enjoyable exercise.
Just recently I discovered a box marked ‘Art” which has been sitting in the bottom of the linen press for about 15 years unopened since we moved into this house.
Embarrassingly, most of the stuff inside had to be chucked out as it had deteriorated somewhat. This prompted a bit of an art clean out. Looong time ago I was very into folk art painting and did such an awful lot of it.
A lot of the supplies from that era were put to the back of the cupboard and the back of mind until a couple of days ago. Here is what I discovered ( & embarrassingly – again - I forgot I had some of these things). I was very excited to find them, anyway.
Brushes Galore - all shapes and sizes
A tube of oil paint in burnt umber which I used to love using for antiquing and giving the aged look.
An ink nib, a kemper tool (you fill the well with acrylic ink or watered down acrylic paint and draw with it), and my wonderful paint trowel.
The dining ??? table – plenty of paints.
Have you ever tried to transfer a quilting design onto a quilt which has already been layered. Jeesh, it is no mean feat. This often happens if the quilting idea comes at a late stage in the artistic development of the piece LOL.
Firstly I tried using the pattern drawn onto tulle and this was very successful but I used a white pitt pen to transfer with. By the time I had quilted one lot of scrolls all the other transfers on the fabric had rubbed away. Grrr.
During a wakeful period in the night (you know how it is) I remembered I had purchased a clover product called Transfer Mesh. Couldn’t wait to get out of bed next morning to give it a whirl.
I find Clover products very, very good on the whole. This transfer mesh was quite troublesome though, as the pen and pencil wanted to get stuck in the wee holes, which is probably why they tell you to use blunt pencils.
I used a 2B pencil to draw the lines onto the mesh and then a Karisma pencil to transfer to the fabric (as per instruction on the video). What I learned, with trial and error, was a light touch is better than going hard at it, and slow and steady is better than fast and impatient!!
If you have one of these sheets, do give it a try, it was the best solution to this awkward problem You can see a video of how to use it HERE – but be aware the audio is terrible.
Until next time……………Dianne
7 comments:
Beautiful quilt Dianne - I look forward to seeing it IRL at the exhibition.
Dianne, you are an artist. First of all, the quilt is wonderful. It is very special and displays many beautiful pieces of fabric so artfully put together. And judging from the brushes you painted a lot and if it is that on the boxes you are again very expert. The mesh transfer sounds very interesting and I will look out for it. I think I can't live further without it, LOL.
Your branching out collage is fantastic. There are times when it really pays to have a clean out, but then they become more treasures that we just can't part with. At least you will have some fun with your new finds!
Ah, I have one of those transfer meshes somewhere away in a dim dark cupboard. I have used it, but I think I had the same troubles as you. your collage piece is gorgeous. So complex and full of layers. I have a few of Deborah's videos and never tire of watching them. I was not aware of the online workshop, but I will be doing it now that you have shown me!
Congratulations on your Art Quilt, it is really good, well done :-)
Oh, I wonder what I will be unwrapping in months to come; it is 6 months since our house move and the garage is still half full!
the folk art stuff certainly bought back some memories of the days when we had our first fold art lessons.
I love the quilting design for your quilt I am sure it will all turn out beautifully. You do know your products and have so many useful tools.
Oh, looks like a lot of fun is going to happen! Isn't it surprising how we forget just what supplies we have? I find something'new' every time I go through my stash.
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