More Sunprints

This is my busy month:  I've been birding (birdwatching) since the last weekend of April, traveling to the Upper Peninsula of MI. down to Ohio, then into Ontario (Point Pelee) and finally up to Tawas Point in eastern MI. Whee.  Lots of birds. fun with good friends, and snatching a few hours of fabric painting in between trips!!

     I sunprinted this piece with leaves picked outside my back door, then added texture with some punchinella dots and small stamped flowers--really simple, fast and fun.





This is one part of the whole piece after quilting with varigated thread,

 a somewhat enlarged view of the pocket piece.

and the finished MiPad cover.

Pink Celery Roses

     My eldest daughter informed me that she loved my green celery roses and wanted the resulting cover for her iPad.  However, she also said that she has been wearing a lot of pink, so I decided to try another celery stamp.  Here are two samples of the new roses so she can have her pick--old green, Pink 1 or Pink 2 (her birthday is coming up SOON).

Pink Celery Roses I is already completed.

Pink Celery Roses II is cut out and ready. 

OK, sweetie, make your choice.  I'm taking taking the "leftovers" in to consignment tomorrow!!!



Celery Roses

    I bought a fresh bunch of celery this week and after trimming the bottom off, I remembered once using the remains as a "stamp."  However, this being a busy week, I set it aside and left it to wither.  Hmmmm.



Since results still looked tempting, I set up my printing tools and chose my paint colors--greens again with a touch of blue.

Below is the quilted body and pocket before trimming. . . .

and the resulting MiPad Cover.

  

New "MiPad" Covers

     I have been working hard this past week trying to turn the new fabric I created in AZ into covers for iPads (or other electronic tablets).  This involves "painting" (actually a quick wash of color) fabrics for the lining, free-motion quilting the top layer (fabric, batting, backing) and the lining (fabric and felt), bonding the two layers together, adding a pocket, and finishing the edges.  Whee.  Lots of steps, but I enjoy them all.

     I'm having problems with my server or the new format of my blogger page, so I can't publish anything more.  I'll try again later.

And More Fabric

     On this piece the stencil outlines show clearly in the background.  I really want to start using natural materials as "masks" (in AZ leaves and small flowers are in short supply), but will have to wait until time and weather cooperate here in MI.

     Here I tried using artificial flowers over the paint to make my initial print, but unfortunately, the silk flowers were too transparent to shut out the sun's rays.  There were some partial prints, but nothing very distinct.  Oh well, I went ahead and stamped over it with my own "flowers."

New Fabrics

     Just before leaving Arizona, I experimented with a new process (for me) using my old standby fabric paint--Setacolor.  Although I had always known about its sun-printing qualities, I had never tried it out.  OH MY!!!!  Now I'm hooked, big time.  However, what was easy in AZ (with 10 hours of bright sunshine nearly every day) is going to be a challenge here in Michigan--especially in the unpredictible spring weather.  Luckily I did print up several pieces before my return to gray skies:

 

     I first painted my base (recycled white sheets) with several shades of green Setacolor and placed two or three plastic stencils across the surface.  I then carried the print pad (plywood covered with felt) out onto the back padio and placed it on a table in full sun. It didn't take long for the prints to appear, but I waited until the paint was completely dry before removing the stencils.  The wierd thing is--the lighter areas appear under the areas that are covered.  Hmmmm.  After heat setting, I printed directly on the fabric using the same stencils and some of my stamps.  This is really a fast and fun process!

 

      Mipad Cover using the new fabric.  I love it!

Quilted Collage

     OK.  I'm back in MI and getting things organized, AGAIN.  No excuses for not blogging (both my camera and Photoshop were giving me fits), but I'm determined to try AGAIN.

     I love putting together these small 12 x 12s from left-over bits and pieces.  This one contains scraps from my gelatin prints, some older screen printing, one length from a fabric-pen design, and several "new-process" pieces (more about that later!).

 

 

     After fusing the background onto a square of felt, I zigzagged the edges and free-motioned each individual piece.  Then came the fun part--more digging and sorting my pile of trimmings from previously quilted projects.  Selecting several in the "right" colors, I cut them into small squares and rectangles, laid them out across the collage, and stitched them in place.  I'm calling this one "Spring Song."

"First" Quilt

     I have been BUSY, but not with my camera!  I keep forgetting to take pictures of the many things that I have been doing every day:  finishing another Prayer Flag; teaching fabric painting to a small class from my quilting group (larger class next Thursday); cutting and putting together blocks for my quilt; and starting my second 12 x 12 piece.  Anyway, here is my "quilt" pinned onto my design wall.



     I may still switch some blocks around to balance the colors, and I'm considering removing one row to make the quilt itself smaller and use the remaining blocks for a pillow.  I could hang the quilt in my bedroom here in AZ and put the pillow on my bed.  Still considering. . . .

Twelve Square 1

     OK, so I'm starting another new project. . . . inspired by a blog that I follow (Cynthia St. Charles again).  This time she is planning to create a small (12 x 12 inches) collaged quilt once a week until she reaches 100.  Yikes!  I know better than to even think about matching her goal, but I like the idea of creating something small and abstract, not unlike the prayer flags but less haphazard.  So here goes.





     I started with some leftover scraps from last year's projects (sound familiar?), added fusible to the pieces, arranged them into a "composition" on a square of felt, and ironed them in place. 



     After affixing each piece with free-motion zigzag, I dug out a paper chickadee (also from last year) and found a place for him that seemed to work, but I wasn't satisfied with the center of the background.  Soooo, I sorted through my scraps again, added  five more pieces to the whole, and was much happier with the result.





      Now the chickadee is stamped on fabric and painted with acrylic paints, fused to felt, and cut out to perch on a branch in the tangle of branches and berries.  Really fast and fun.

Prayer Flag 4

      I finished my fourth prayer flag in just a little over an hour this morning.  Keeping a handy bag of scraps with little bits and pieces of various projects and a folder of leftovers from this summer's journaling makes it easy to sit down and put together a new flag quickly.



       The crows and "target" were a test stamp on paper which I printed (copied actually) on a scrap of fabric taped to printer paper; the shiny piece at center bottom is a crumpled candy wrapper found in a pocket;  the bright pink items are actually bougainvillea blossoms which I picked up in the street (they are covered generously with gloss medium to adhere and protect); and finally, the letters were constructed from black fabric which was free-motion "quilted," painted with Lumiere, cut out individually, and glued down with fabric adhesive.  This flag soon joined my other flags on the patio.

First "Scratch" Quilt

  Since joining the quilting group at my RV park in AZ, I am challenging myself to create enough of my own hand-painted fabric to construct a small quilt. I decided to start with 8 fat quarters using three basic colors:  purple, green, and yellow. 

     

        

Another Quickie

     I'm really trying--to get back into blogging everyday (opps, skipped yesterday--went on a (quilt) shophop, visited a really impressive Art Quilt Show in Chandler, AZ, had a super time, and spent some money).  I also have to start remembering to take more photos of my work in progress--out of that habit, too.

     This potholder was made using the simple collage, messy stitching method I used to make some of my stash boxes, but the bindings were new for me.  Back in MI when I constructed other holders, I had lots of fabric to make the bias edges--here my stash is limited, so I purchased a pack of blue tape.  Not happy with the look of the plain blue, I dug out my small eraser stamps (used this summer in several of my journal posts) and stamped along the length of the tape with three colors of fabric paint.  I'm very pleased with the results and will definitely use this process again!

And Again. . . .

    OK, no more excuses!  I've just been lazy and gotten out of the habit of blogging--so even though New Year's resolutions should have already been in place, I'm going to try again. 

    For a quick catch-up:  I am no longer a member of the artist's co-op back in Michigan (except on consignment); I have joined a quilting group here in AZ; I am still creating my own fabric; I am playing with new ideas and processes; I am having fun!!!

    One quick project which I have been trying is to create a "prayer flag" each week (see Jane La Fazio's blog).  These small hangings are put together with various scraps of printed, painted, and purloined "fabric" (and anything else that is just laying around) with one word that inspires me to create.  Very fun and relaxing to make.  I have them hanging outside on my back patio.

     Since they only measure @ 6" X 10" it is sometimes difficult to work in the message, but that is part of the challange.  I'm trying to come up with different ways of creating the letters each week.  (We'll see how long that lasts. . .)



     Prayer Flag #3.  Monoprinted background, printed scraps, a photo transfer (transparency w/gel medium)

from a trip to Mexico, pieces of a cut-up placemat, and seedpods.  Simple and satisfying.