Quilt As You Go

Today I went to a "quilt-as-you-go" workshop with WAQA.

I was NOT a good student! Hand stitching was mentioned and my blood ran cold so I decided to make my quilt based on a You-Tube I saw last night!

All the pieces are pieced and quilted at the same time which makes it a very fast technique. I finished this in a single day!

Here are the You-Tube tutorials from Not Your Mama's Quilt Store.

Improv Quit Top

Last weekend I attended a quilt workshop "No Maths Sampler" with Phil Thomas from WAQA, The idea was to make many different quilt blocks and put them together in a random way; no planning. I still didn't manage to cut or sew straight!

This is a big quilt top, the biggest I have made at about 90cm by 130cm. Now all I have to do is put the wadding and backing on, quilt it and finish the edges....I might be some time!

Fibres West Part 1 - Surface Design with Mary Hettmansperger

I've just returned from the fabulous Fibres West art retreat. There were ten, 5 day, workshops to choose from and I was lucky enough to get my first choice in "New directions for surface embellishment" with Mary Hettmansperger.

During the class we had chance to explore metalwork and jewellery, discharging fabric, weaving and basket making, book making, and more. I concentrated on metalwork which I had never done before. I'm planning to incorporate my pieces into textile art. Above and below are some of my items displayed against fabric and paper collages to give you an idea of how I might combine them.

Here are some close-up pictures of my metal items.

We covered techniques such as annealing and colouring copper, connecting with rivets and other cold connections, shaping copper, making hinges, enamelling, adding silver, wire work, embossing, box making, bezels, and sewing with wire.

We also rusted, burnt and discharged fabrics for background pieces.

Mary is a fantastic, enthusiastic and hilarious teacher. Below are some of her samples from the class. If you get the chance to take one of her workshops be sure not to miss it!

More Creative Sketchbooks

Gelli print, stencil, bleached photograph, acrylic, markers.

I'm still working my way through the Creative Sketchbooks course from DMTV. My pages are getting more art journal like with a combination of drawing, painting, printing and photos. This sketchbook is nearly full, I'll film a journal flip for you when it's finished.

Cut page with photo behind, Gelli print, collage, acrylics, markers.

Rubbing, oil pastel, Gelli print, collage, watercolour

Watercolour with salt texture, rubbings, bleach, oil pastel, Gelli print, collage, markers

Ink, bleach, Gelli print, collage, graphite, water-soluble pencil.

Gelli print, collage, tracing, markers, acrylic, "gold"leaf, sheet music.

Ink, bleach, watercolour, oil pastel

Gelli print, stencil, bleached photo, acrylic, markers, stamp, sponge print.

Gelli plate, acrylic, "gold" leaf, markers.

Watercolour, marker, graphite, water-soluble pencil.

Ink, bleach, collage, rubbing, oil pastel, watercolour, markers.

Collage, hand-made paper, acrylic, "gold" leaf, markers, tracing, photocopy, mono-print.

Altered photo, markers, acrylic, Gelli print, "gold" leaf.

Altered photo, acrylic, markers, sheet music, sponge print.

Putting Together Sketchbooks

I haven't had much time lately to work on my sketchbook. I've managed to add in some collage elements and a few drawings though. To give interest some of the pages have been cut out or extended outside the book.