Painted fusible interfacting

I have always loved the effects of painted fusible interfacing. I even used it on the paper in my sketchbook last month.

This is a sheet of Steam-a-Seam with the top layer of paper removed. The bondable side is facing up and it is taped in place.

I use three colors of Jacquard halo paints. These paints are blue, green and pink. When painted on, a layer of gold floats to the surface, very unique and a beautiful effect.

Here the sheet has dried.

Here is a small square cut out still on the paper backing.

Ironed on to fabric.

After the fabric has cooled the paper can be peeled

I took two picture to make sure you could see the interesting effect of the green and gold.

Always remember that after applying it to fabric, it can never be ironed unless covered with either release paper or parchment paper because the painted interfacing will stick to the iron.

Have a go and have some fun!!

first piece finished

This was my maiden voyage. I am pretty chuffed with the results. The sun finally came out and I was able to photograph the pile of "new" dyes that I did a few days ago.

I started with a small square of synthetic felt because it is so easy to sew. The needles slides through as if through butter especially when using silk as I did on this piece.

Silk chiffon and silk open weave fabric.

 Last strip was wool but very open weave.

These are my first selections of Madeira Lana threads (wool blend) and below are most of the ones I used.

I like how this finished

And I like it even better matted

Then I put it in a 1" deep shadow box frame. Keeps the dimension and texture of the loose threads as they are and not flattened.

The finished framed piece is 9" square and the mat opening is 4.75" square.

You can have this beautiful landscape for only $50.

Continuing with my new series of dyed landscapes

Today I started "making" material for the landscapes. I dyed silk, wool and even a piece of polyester just to see if anything happened. I will spend time this week assembling some large and small pieces.

The piece of light blue is polyester. Maybe not great but better than a stick in the eye!!

What do you do with 36"+ of snow?

I am actually writing this after a huge blizzard of 24" of snow and it has just started to snow again and we are expecting up to 14". After shoving yesterday (oh, my aching back), I brought in a few pails of snow. Earlier this winter, Brian, my partner gave me 6 old white undershirts to give to Goodwill. I secreted them away and ran them through a bleach wash. Yesterday after shoveling I got to work on them....

This is how it all started with nice round mounds of snow. This was OLD dye that had been in my refrigerator for MONTHS - like over 6 months. It was good to use it up.

Green and blue

Turquoise and bright green

Blue and dark green (extremely old dye)

Red but later I added just a few drops of black. The black split off to purple - yum!

Red and black

Red and sun yellow

What a fun day.

Some more work with sketchbooks

I have scheduled this post for March 6th but I am writing it on February 9. As you already know I enjoyed working back into this sketchbook so much I am making 2 more. I am keeping one for myself to help spark my creativity and the other to give away to someone who has participated in the work from this month.

I started out yesterday morning making some new stamps and a stencil. I was looking for my compressed sponge and found a 3 pack of stencil blanks. Who knew. Anyway I cut another circle stencil and will probably make another larger square one as well.

More square and circle stamps made with sticky back foam,

These are from corrugated paper. I used matte gel to adhere them to a foam board backing then carefully covered the corrugated paper with gell medium so they would last longer.

These were cut from some old compressed sponge. I've had it for year and occasionally use it but it was starting to swell from the ambient humidity. After opening the zip bag, I tried to suck all the air out of the bag before I closed it.

I have a plastic mat that was made for the bottom of the sink. I mixed up a solution of just plain water and MX dye in a finger spray bottle (tiny) and used the mat as a stencil. I did a few sprays and afterward the mat collected both fuchsia and intense blue droplets and I used it as a stamp.

DMTV has a new shop

DMTV has a new look and a new shop selling workshops, art supplies and cards made from Linda and Laura's quilts. They add new items all the time so I am always checking. I did buy 2 of their excellent sketchbooks because I love the paper and how well it handles water. I also bought both sets of cards. I will probably send a few (very few) but keep others as art work.

Those who worked along

Remember I invited others working along to email me pictures of their work? Well, I received work from 2 people: Marcella and Judith. In the balance is a giveaway of a handmade sketchbook (by me) and a set of watercolors. Here are their works.

Judith's sketchbook

 Marcella's Sketchbook Gelli Prints

So now you know why these are 2 of my 3 favorite playmates.