Working on a new piece

This fall after coming home from the Crow Barn and Terry Garrard Dimonds boot camp, I had a dream. I sketched out the image/idea which I'd show you but it just looks like a few lines. Anyway, one of the components is using black and gold. I have always loved Klimt and although not a blingy person, his use of gold really resonates with me. The black and gold was definitely part of my "vision" for this piece. 

It also involves a white/cream section and I am finding that the hardest to create! How? Dye, paint, thermofax screens, silk screens?

Well, I am starting with the black and gold sections trying all sorts of materials which is really fun. Then what? What do I do WITH the materials. I have been coming up with ideas.

So far this was stage one.

Stamping with gold ProBrite fabric paint on black linen and white cotton

The linen was so textured the paint looks faint. Note to self: Try black cotton

Would you believe candy wrappers with Wonder Under ironed on the back?

While I was "trying" to cleanup

I found all these small pieces of painted Tyvec and of course I couldn't just put them away! So I made a few more beads.

These beads with two colors on both sides really are lovely and the mica in the ProBrite paint is very sparkly.

They look like exotic insects

Playing with Tyvec

When Judith and I were waiting for our paste paper to dry, Judith wanted to play with Tyvec. I had shown her all the beautiful pieces Joke had sent me and Judith wanted to try it too. 
I had been saving Tyvec envelopes for YEAR (where were they now?) so had everything we needed. We decided to use ProBrite fabric paints because of the mica which gives the hues a warm glow. We tried some experiments which didn't work but when we have perfected them, you'll be the first to know. 

These are the 6 pieces I painted and heated.

I was looking on YouTube trying to find some videos on Tyvec that didn't involve putting it on your house when I came across this one.

So I set off on a Tyvec bead making adventure. This is where I started.

I started by painting both sides of the Tyvec different colors

This is the sea mist green and chocolate bead with gold string.

This is the same material but rolled with the other (chocolate) color out

This is the long triangle of Tyvec painted on both sides and the slits along the edge.

Rolled on to a knitting needle and the end secured with a straight pin.

Very nice.

Thicker metallic threads

Another piece that is really wide.

Secured with a pin

OOO! Crunchy looking but actual quite soft

With beads. You can see the drop of Elmers I put on the knot to make sure it held.

What would a bead look like from a tiny piece of un-notched Tyvec look like?

Looks like it came from a horror movie - the bead from the Black Lagoon!

Paste Paper Playdate with Judith

If you have never made paste paper please give it a try. Here is a handy dandy tutorial for great fun.
Judith and I have been wanting to make more paste paper so Friday we went nuts.

All sheets except the last one are 18 X 24.

What the chrysanthemum tool does when you twist it on the paper. (above)

Above a few drops of blue paint was drying on the smacker when I started to use it on the yellow. You can't even do that on purpose.

This was fun. Whenever I have a few drops of paint left, I run for my sketchbook so that instead of washing the paint down the drain, I somehow add it to my sketchbook. Well, today I didn't feel like walking upstairs to my studio so I took a half sheet of paper (18 X 12) and "deposited the paint" thinking I could glue it in the sketchbook later. I used the smacker first, placing left over paint on the smacker then smacking onto the dry paper. *Paste paper is made on wet paper. Then I used the chrysanthemum  tool

The chrysanthemum  tool named by Marcella's brother who was the first to make one. I just stole his idea!

One of Judith's stamps she made with self-stick fun foam stuck to scrap pieces of laminate flooring. Great idea Judith. Then I borrowed it!

This will never see the inside of my sketchbook. 

First post of the year

And it's a book. I had this map of Ohio sitting around since I traveled to the Crow Barn this fall. I thought the paper would make a cute little book that I could use for pasting in things - maybe small sketches or ephemera. I might even add an envelope for hiding away little treasures.