Textile Postcard Project Week #64

December 16th - 22nd 2018

'Christmas is nigh!'

Yes, it is the week before Christmas. I have chosen red for this postcard because red is rather symbolic of the Christmas Season. I wonder why? Red as a colour represents warmth. People who live in the Northern Hemisphere need warm clothes and warm fires at Christmas time. Australians, who live in the Southern Hemisphere, enjoy and sometimes only just tolerate the warmth of our Summer Christmas Season.
The made fabric sample on shown has been dyed red with Procian Dyes. The decoration on this base colour was firstly screen printed,
then machine stitched with a variegated thread.
 Finally a 'Shiva Stick' was added to give to
 give an irregular sheen to the fabric. It was great
fun developing the finished impression.

A detailed view of the resulting fabric

Textile Postcard Project Week #63

December 9th - 15th 2018

 Another postcard featuring SLOW STITCH, but with another pattern. It has been fun deciding how I will stitch each card. Of course some patterns are more effective than others. The Eco leaf images can seen on the soft cotton fabric as if in the background!

Variegated thread adds to the interest in this piece of work. 
The photo below shows a much closer view.

Textile Postcard Project Week #62

December 2nd - 8th 2018 

Raw edge sampler

 
I have made a number of samples demonstrating the art of the
       SLOW STITCH.
Experimentation with different dyed fabric and a variety of thread offer another appearance. It has been fun to see the resulting patterns which are achieved by small differences.
This sample was stitched on pre-loved and echo dyed cotton fabric using a hand dyed cotton thread. The result is interesting especially if you squint your eyes and peer at it. Rows of alternate stitching give quite a raised look and the eucalypt leaf shapes can be seen behind the stitching.

This detail of my postcard clearly shows the ragged and torn edges.

Textile Postcard Project Week #61

November 24th - December 1st 2018

 

My first sampler of SLOW STITCH

A new inspiration! I acquired a beautiful new book called SLOW STITCH by Claire Wellesley Smith. It was actually first published in 2015. Slow Stitch is a new name for a simple running stitch. It is a stitch that one does carefully and with time for contemplation. Our busy lives enjoy a break of time for thought and concentration so this is an ideal way to stitch for anyone who loves fabric and cloth and needs a break from a hectic program. 


There  are many trails you can follow with Slow Stitch. It lends itself to a large variety of ideas. The introduction of various coloured threads adds a great deal to the finished result. This is one of the first samplers I tried. The cotton fabric has a very faint print of eucalypt leaves on it. Squinting your eyes will make them become more obvious.

Slow Stitch in a curved design - close up view

Textile Postcard Project Week # 60

November 18th - 24th 2018

Completed wall-hanging 'Drought Mud'

Post card # 60

 Most everyone have seen dried and cracked mud in the summer or especially during a drought period when rain has not fallen to keep the earth in a moist condition. 
 Eventually the technique was used as a small quilt which was part of a series of quilts I did called 'Back of Beyond'. This experimental  sample began as a mono print. The fabric paint  was firstly painted onto a sheet of glass. The crack marks were drawn into the paint. While still wet the fabric was pressed and rolled onto this single pattern. After the printing process, the fabric was machine stitched and burnished  with Treasure Gold with a touch of a blue Shiva Stick. It gave a great impression of 'Drought Mud' which was the name I chose for this small wall hanging.

Close up view of 'cracked mud' impression.

Textile Postard Project Week # 59

November 11th - 17th 2018

Whole postcard shows the spirals working their way across the rocks.

 This is a third postcard made from a small section of the quilt Ancient Art. I just loved the fabrics I have used. It serves as a great recognition of Aboriginal Art of the Outback. 

The reverse side of this postcard shows rusted paper. It is fun to rust paper using chemicals and the results are generally very successful  (not sure where the blue colour comes from on this piece. I suspect the paper may have been over-dyed after another experiment.) The chemicals are Ferris Sulfate, Caustic Soda and T Bags.
If you are interested in learning more about rusting paper please leave a message or get in contact with me.

Textile Postcard Project Week #58

November 4th - 10th 2018

A chain of spirals on rock

This card is very closely related to the one I posted last week. I really love the 2 cotton fabrics together.They certainly suit the image I was trying to portray.
From memory both fabrics were Batik style fabric. Traditionally the patterns on Batik fabrics were drawn in place with wax, then the fabric itself was dyed. The wax acted as a resist to the dye. Some wonderful designs have been printed this way.

Two images of the quilt 'Ancient Art'