Thursday, September 4, 2014

A bit of fabric printing and painting

For a few weeks, I've had colors, images and motifs for a piece of fiber art floating around in my head-- blues, greens, golds and tans, the ever changing colors of sand, sea and sky. Beach grasses waving in the wind, wild peas sprawling over the sands.
Last week I collected some beach grasses in hopes of using them to do some sun prints. I've finally got a sunny day and have the time but it's windy, so I googled sun printing with a piece of plexi glass laid over the painted fabric with the grasses laid underneath to keep them from blowing away. Since I didn't find much, I'm testing a piece.

I know there'll be a line across where the glass ends but I think that size will suit. I'll do more if it works.
I've started to carve a sand dollar from Speedy Carve and plan to do a star fish as well.

Referring to the beach photos that I've taken over the summer, I've gone through my stash, choosing some colors.

This is sometimes how I work-- gathering the ideas, the fabrics, making stamps, painting fabric. I plan to do some strip piecing this afternoon for a bit. Once I've gathered enough painted, printed and stitched fabrics, I will start arranging on the design wall. Perhaps, I will do a few sketches at this point.
I didn't start with a sketch because I need to see how my imagined pieces will turn out first. All the little sketches I've done over the summer have been good fodder.
While I was clearing a large piece of layered painted canvas from my drawing table so I could do the painted fabric for the sun print, I started thinking about how to use the canvas. It will be used eventually in various bags and containers, but I decided to do a small piece to be used for bookmarks. I use them for little gifts and recently had a request for some.
I screen printed and stamped a small strip. It will be pressed, stitched and cut up for the bookmarks.

Nice colors, screen printed, printed, paint dabbed.

Now, I'm heading to my sewing studio. I was surprised, yesterday, to get a call for an MRI on my knee this afternoon. I expected to wait much longer. Now, I just have to wait to get an appointment with the specialist. Getting somewhere at least.

2 comments:

rtquilter said...

What kind of paints are you using for the sun prints?

Watercolour and Textile Artist, Eileen Gidman said...

Wow, I like that layered canvas piece.