28 July 2014
Are you on Pinterest?
Yes I know, it can be another internet distraction. I too Facebook too much, have little sneak peaks at Twitter during the day and generally get distracted by emails etc.
But I do like a little browse around Pinterest. I am aware that many artists get upset by copyright infringements etc. And I can understand that, but let's focus on the positive.
And for me, this morning, the positive is discovering this American artist Rex Ray.
http://www.rexray.com/portfolio.htm
For textile and mixed media artists I would say he's a 'must visit', though Rex, if you're reading this too, your gallery could be easier to navigate. There are some lovely textile artists out there who have more use re friendly galleries. Just saying!
So have a look at his images and see what you think.
Ribbons, tea cups, FoQ Samples and other nice things
27 July 2014
So, a busy but fruitful Sunday.
Do you remember I was playing around with tea cup images? This is for little wedding favours.
I have hand printed the tea cups and backgrounds onto paper then photocopied the words about afternoon tea. These papers I then trimmed (I invested in a punch that does rounded corners - a bit of an investment I would say) and stuck onto flower rag paper - the sort of paper with petals incorporated into it. ( this was the prototype, hence the slight smudge!)
Then I tied the papers with bows.
I ran out of ribbon so I have still got some more to roll and tie.
So then I moved onto the 'book' of sample quilts for the Contemporary Quilt gallery at Festival of Quilt which is only a couple of weeks away now.
All stitched onto the pelmet vilene pages. I used that plastic invisible thread. I hope all the quilters approved.
Here is the stack numbered and ready for binding (it is going to take at least two albums I think)
And then something for me. I have been so busy lately there hasn't been the time or the head space for any new work, but I have something brewing.
But before I get onto that I thought I would create another handmade book with a different binding to the ones I did earlier this year.
So out came the Brusho ink powders.
Sprinkled onto lining paper (you know the stuff - you buy it from DIY stores) and then sprayed with water.
And also sprinkled onto bits of pelmet vilene left over from the FoQ samples book. And again sprayed with water.
And then a few pieces of vilene were further decorated with Grunge Paste coloured with Fresco Finish Tikka paint applied through commercial stencils.
These little pieces are only 2 1/2 inches 4 1/2 inches appex. And I used brown and ultramarine Brusho inks.
I am rather pleased with the possibilities these present. I have in mind how the book will look, but am not so clear on what it will contain. I am thinking poetry but not sure.
Matt Gel de-mystified ( and a world of possibilities)
26 July 2014
If you are like me then you can get a bit confused with all of the different products out there which are available for mixed media and textile artists.
What do they all do?
Which ones should I be investing in?
Well, in an early morning blog reading session over a cup of coffee I found this.
What do they all do?
Which ones should I be investing in?
Well, in an early morning blog reading session over a cup of coffee I found this.
It's a really good example of the possibilities of Matt Gel and at the beginning does show you the difference between Matt medium and gel. Sorry, you might already have known this, but for me this was a bit of a revelation. Also, and you can hear the pennies clanking as they drop, I now appreciate that I can extend my paints and make some a bit more translucent by using Matt medium. Duh!!
This artist does not use any stitch in the canvas. However the possibilities of using dried Matt gel in stitched projects does seem rather exciting.
Anyway this is only a quick post because I've got a heap of chores to do including finishing the little wedding favours. I will do a proper post about these later. I've also got to do the samples book for Festival of quilts ( for the Contemporary Qulit Gallery and all the Dislocation samples) and in my mind I have a new piece of work brewing. This is a good thing because I actually haven't done a piece of work since the dislocation quilt and really do need to let the creative juices flow.
Have a good day.
We're on a roll!
16 July 2014
Dislocation: Abcission III has been juried in to the gallery with the contemporary quilt group at the Festival of quilts in Birmingham in August.
Quietly, I am thrilled!
Even more experienced Quilters it seems were not selected. So as well as being thrilled, I am also very honoured and slightly humbled.
And then the other bit of news was that the bride signed off the wording about Afternoon Tea. So I have got to crack on and finish those little pieces ready for the wedding at the beginning of August.
Oh, and there is one more bit of news! Horizons : al- Zahara, the quilt I made for last years CQ Gallery, has been invited to go on its travels again. I need to do a little bit of repair work before I send it on its next journey because the tissue paper on which it is quilted is getting a bit ragged at the edges.
I'm not too concerned because I think I can do a nifty repair job with a bit of matt medium.
More Afternoon Tea
10 July 2014
Afternoon tea continues - with this little print block.
Using some commercial stencils to build up layers of colour and pattern.
And repeat designs.
I'm having fun with this - getting carried away with backgrounds.
Of course I'm using my favourite Fresco Finish paints.
I just love this paper, but it's too dark for the words. The luscious Claret paint is going to have to stay in its box.
Meanwhile I was also building up a background in the sketchbook.
An old book page covered with gesso to blend them in, and more paint ( the same colours but mixed on the brush so a more orange hue)
And then a wash of ink.
But I must be commercial, draw a line under all the playing and make a decision.
And I am using the phone on my camera when I play as my computer is so slow, so these pics aren't the best. But you get the gist I think.
Afternoon Tea
6 July 2014
I'm thinking about Tea. Not any old tea, but afternoon tea.
I have been commissioned to make some little wedding favours - little works of art to explain the origin of afternoon tea.
There are 70 guests so this has to be simple. I'm going to use Khadi paper with flower petals, lovely and someone else has done the work, with some words printed on the side and a possible Tea Cup print.
Here are my words ( the first draft) and some of the images I have been playing with in my sketch book. You can probably tell a few home made stamps have been used.
That delightful British institution, Afternoon Tea, has it's roots not a million miles from here. Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford, experienced "that sinking feeling" during the late afternoon. At the time it was usual for people to have only two main meals a day, breakfast, and dinner at around 8 o'clock in the evening. The solution for the Duchess was a pot a tea with a little something, and afternoon tea was born.
Later friends were invited to join her in her rooms at Woburn Abbey for walks and tea. Other social hostesses quickly picked up on the idea and the practice became respectable enough to move it into the drawing room. Before long all of fashionable society was sipping tea and nibbling sandwiches in the middle of the afternoon.
So what better way is there to celebrate the wedding of X& X?
Our celebration tea includes:-
* A range of fruit fizzes and presses
* A selection of fine teas
* finger sandwiches
* beautiful and delicious cakes and fancies
And of course The Wedding Cake
Saturday morning distractions
5 July 2014
http://youtu.be/IFNHO_DrBuE
So, Dislocation is finished, hanging on the cupboard door still and the selection process has begun.
We had to send our samples and upload our photos and the quilts will be juried into the exhibition based on these. There are more entries than space so some will be disappointed. It is interesting to know how the selection criteria will be applied ( actually, it isn't clear what the selection criteria are).
Mean while, you know me - little bit of meandering around the web and I found this little watercolour "how to" video.
A useful tutorial so I thought I should share it with you.
Enjoy.
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