Fabric Collage again

Well, I wanted to go to my Free Motion Machine Embroidery group today with something to show and tell about. So I beavered away yesterday and have finished the piece. It is only A4 size (about 21 x 29cm). I had envisaged the background fabric being visible but then I sewed it and some edges were complete and some not, so that wasn't going to work. I had to make it a bit bigger in spots so that it would wrap around the edges. Now it is a fully collaged piece.

I cut a piece of foamcore to slightly less than A4 (that was the size designated by the online group that inspired the piece). 

Then I sewed it on the back with the trampoline stitch (I really must look it up and check that I am actually using the correct term). Then I sewed a piece of calico onto the back to hide all the strands. 

I will put it in the upcoming Embroiderers Guild's Members' exhibition. It also fits the challenge for one of my online groups. Then I might put it in the Christmas (so soon!!) exhibition for the Alcove Art Shop, at the Box Hill Community Arts Centre. So, even if it doesn't sell at any of the exhibitions, it will have been useful. 

I have not used any sticky products to assist me with the collage. I cut the tiny pieces of fabric, laid them out, steam-ironed them to the background - a piece of linen with interfacing on the back, not sewn. Then I free motioned the pieces on. I find that the steam iron helps to hold them in place so that I don't need to use pins or any product with glue.  I learnt this from Kathryn Harmer Fox. I have done a couple of her workshops. And I hear that she is coming back to Australia again!

I haven't been feeling all that creative recently, so am pleased that I have finished a piece. Yay me!

Upcoming Exhibiton

 The Embroiderers Guild, Victoria (they have added Australia to their links, to avoid confusion with the Embroiderers Guild, Victoria in Canada) is having it members' exhibition starting next Saturday. It is usually held in October but that didn't happen because of the dreaded virus. And lockdown. So this year's one is in March, none in October, 2022 is planned for October. )Plenty of time to get to and make some pieces.)

The exhibition, Stitch Brilliance, will be on for two weeks, visitors welcome. You don't even have to book in prior to turning up. 

We have been receiving works and hanging them this week. There are not as many exhibitors this year but many of them have put in multiple entries, so it is not that much smaller than previous years. The standard seems particularly high - maybe the really dedicated embroiderers were able to beaver away. 

I know I found it hard to do my usual practice and I have found that many members have been doing things that are absorbing but not necessarily up to their usual creative level - the effort to come up with an idea, design it , and then work out how to do it is a different energy from that required to actually make it - well, it is for me. I have seen quite a few embroiderers knitting at our Zoom meetings. 

The exhibition is going to be wonderful, the standard of the entries is great!!

Notan trees, sort of.

I just found this unpublished post, will post it now, even though it is out of sequence and the world has changed mightily.

This was done in early March, before the virus hit us and also before our beloved dog died! It has been strange to read it now. But I will still post it because I really do use this site as a visual diary for myself. I was much more light-hearted then.

My machine embroidery group at the Embroiderers Guild, Victoria, has the theme of trees this year. There are no specifications apart from the sewing part.

As I have done lots of tree pieces in the past, I have decided to either go back and see if I can finish unfinished pieces, reuse them or just come up with something slightly different with a new piece.

I came across Notan images recently. They are positive and negative images, coming from a Japanese tradition. That's about all I know really. Didn't do a lot of research, just liked what I saw and thought it might be fun to try.

I drew up an image and then cut it out. You paste that down and then do the cut out bits flipped over and you have your positive and negative image. Sounds easy!

Well, I did't do it the way I had been reading about, which uses a square or rectangular shape and you cut into all 4 sides. Sample here.

I came across a post which had trees but had only used two sides of the rectangle and had flipped them horizontally. I thought I would give that a go - without really trying the all four sides version first.

I did it with paper first. Don't ask why I chose orange paper, it was just to hand. No other reason.

This worked out ok so I tried it with fabric.
I had gone away for the weekend and took some of my sewing stuff with me. Unfortunately, I took the adhesive interfacing rather than the Vleisofix, so that made things a bit harder than I had planned!!

Not to be put off, I drew my design on the interfacing and ironed my fabric to it. The ironing obscured some of the drawing. And I realised it was going to be in reverse when I placed it on the backing fabric. Not to worry, there is no particular orientation.

Then I realised that my cut out pieces would have to be flipped and the interfacing would be on the wrong side. So I reversed the image and traced it again.

As I handled the pieces the interfacing started to peel off, so I took it all off, leaving a light residue of glue. That helped enormously with the ironing into place, ready for me to sew.

I chose a very bright background piece of fabric that reminded me of a sunset (or bushfires - can't get them out of my head yet). The reverse image didn't work at all well, so I only used the initial piece.

I wanted to see how the reverse image would look on less dominant fabric, so trialled two pieces I had.

I decided on a different grey, even though I wasn't sure I was going to be able to see the tree shapes. I can usually see them but have to concentrate on the light parts, they aren't always obvious to me. 

So now I have two pieces and no idea what to do with them! I know that they are just me playing around with an idea and seeing if it would work but it seems awfully wasteful to just put them in my experimental pile and/or visual diary. So I will keep thinking about them and see what occurs to me. 

Free motion machine embroidery group display

It is almost November! That is the month that our free motion machine embroidery group has its display. We have had the Farmyard theme this year.
I have tried to do each month's challenge and have, finally, done each one so far. December is working dog or cat - what is a working cat??
Anyway, I suspect that I won't get to do that one. Our display has to go up next Sunday and there is not much incentive to be doing the December challenge.

I have - finally - done a Sheep/Goat image that isn't too terrible. I have tried several times and they have all been disasters. This one isn't great but it is done!
It is based on wool - coming from sheep. I love the Hedrena brand of clothing. So do the moths!! So I have plenty of pieces of clothing with holes. I decided to use some of them for the background. And the layer beneath is wool too. The sheep are made using wool wadding/batting.

The image isn't all that good but it is what I have ended up with.

Then I realised that I have one for the November challenge, something to do with water supply or windmills. I actually made this image earlier in the year, thinking it would do for the machinery theme.

So now I have made one based on a picture I took several years ago, at a weekend workshop for tapestry weaving, at Tandwancoort. It was of an abandoned car and some equipment.

I used the eucalyptus oil image transfer that I tried recently. The image didn't transfer all that well this time. It may be because the calico I used may not have been washed properly and may have still have size on it. Or I may not have done it properly. Or it just didn't remember how it worked last time.
Anyway, I have done some heavier machine sewing than I intended but it is ok.

I have framed it and tried to do a mount board frame around it. It is a while since I did the framing course and it didn't turn out all that well. But, as it isn't for sale and no-one else has to deal with it, I am just going to go with it as it is.

Rust dyeing.

I've been reminded that today is 19/6/19 and that I should post.

Yesterday I went to the Embroiderers Guild, Victoria (not to be confused with the Embroiderers Guild of Victoria) to our monthly play day. The demonstration was of rust dyeing.
I took along some old rusted nails, a woodworking clamp, some other bits and pieces and some powdered rust that was in the containers.

We were told to bring a spray bottle with half and half water and vinegar but I only put the vinegar in because I could fill it with water when I got there. However, our demonstrators had done research from various sources and concluded that you could use pure vinegar if you preferred. So I did, just to see what would happen.

We dampened the fabric, put some rusty items on it, rolled it over, put more rusty items on it, rolled it over, etc. Then tied it with string. I sprayed it again to make sure it was damp all over.

The pieces of fabric were natural - cotton and silk, prepared for dye (washed to get the sizing off).

The fabric was then put into ziplock bags and left to do its thing.

It was recommended that we should keep the bag warm and occasionally open it to let air in because rusting happens well with oxygen.

I brought it home and put it on top of the heating vent, the current weather not being conducive to good brewing of the rust.

It was recommended that we leave it for several days but I could see that it was going well - and I was impatient. (After all, it is the 19th of the 19th!)

So here it is.
You can see some of the nail impressions, the screw part of the clamp, etc.

The fabric is actually a little darker than the images show. Some of the dye ran out when I rinsed it but not much.

Not sure what I will use the fabric for as the pieces are only very small. But now I know I can easily make more to go with them. So I'll put them aside for the time being and let ideas brew - a bit like the rust did.

Taking advice

Thanks to My Camera and Me: see comments on previous post.

I have used the automatic selection tool and it got most of the image. Then I used the 'Inverse' command and this is the result.  Is this what you meant??
Anyway, I like it.

But I will have to let it sit there a while before I decide how to use it.
I do have a challenge coming up, for a tapestry group. So I will have a think about how I would weave it - if I can weave it.

But thanks for the idea.

On another note:
The Machine Embroiderers Group met at the Embroiderers Guild, Victoria today.
November is our month for displaying some of our work.
We have had the monthly challenge, Inspired by ... (various artists). Only a few of us have done all of them so far (one person has even done next month's one - overachiever that she is). So I was able to put my other group's Inspired by Van Gogh pieces in too.

Inspired by - Hundertwasser, Mondrian and Salvadore Dali

Inspired by - John Olsen and Degas

Inspired by - Van Gogh, Monet and Hans Heysen

Inspired by - Ainsley Roberts, Warhol, Miro and Matisse.

I have hung my small Matisse-inspired piece on a slant, due to my not knowing the best orientation. Twice, people tried to straighten it! So I expect it will be 'fixed up' by the time I see it again.

Demonstrating a technique

Our Ebb and Flow exhibition is still on and I was rostered to be a demonstrator tonight.
I made three pieces for the exhibition and didn't have anything on the go for tonight.

However, I am also in an online group that has a challenge going - to be inspired by an artist and to produce something from that inspiration. That is due next Sunday - panic stations!

I think I have already mentioned that I am currently being inspired by Van Gogh but am also wanting to continue trying the Kathryn Harmer Fox technique that I learnt earlier in the year.

So ... Van Gogh did an almond blossom piece. We have a very small almond tree in the back yard, it is spring and it was flowering recently. I took photos. I manipulated one photo to have a clearer idea of where the tones are. I had those two photos printed out A3 size, as well as a black and white version.

The background is a water tank and some balcony fencing, I might have to change that as I go. 

I traced the outlines onto a piece of linen, backed with interfacing.
I wanted to have, at least, started to put some fabric on before I took it for demonstration.

Then, after a lot of procrastination, I got to put a bit more on while I was demonstrating. There wasn't a lot of actual sewing done, it was more me trying to work out where to put the little bits of fabric (and some were most definitely little). I sewed the pieces on as I was going, didn't even use pins. Some of the cheeky pieces moved when I was taking it to the machine (how dare they??) but I just ploughed on and decided that any mistakes can be adapted or sewn over later.

Actually, seeing in this smaller, photographic form, I can almost see it starting to take shape. I couldn't really see it while I was working on it. 

I hope to do a bit more in the next couple of days so that I will be able to have a clearer image to work on when I demonstrate on Saturday. I am rostered on all day, so I had better have a clearer idea of what I am doing.

Demonstration table at the Guild rooms. 

Ebb and Flow exhibition

The Embroiderers Guild, Victoria's annual members's exhibition opened last night.
It was a great success! Lots of people having a wonderful time, good speeches, lots of amazing works to see!

I have been helping with the preparation of the exhibition and it was very exciting to see the culmination last night.

There are so many talented artists around!

The exhibition is on for two weeks. If you have the chance, call in and see the amazing variety of works.

Not being an expert, I didn't really notice that there was not as much traditional embroidery as in past years. There are over 150 entries, with a large range of techniques.

I had thought that there would be a lot of seascapes, and there are a few, but there are also many interesting interpretations of the theme.

Getting ready to set up, some sorting done, lots more to do.

One of the good things about the exhibition is that you are encouraged to work to the theme but you may also put in pieces that are not related, as long as they have been made in the last two years.  It is a great chance for members to be part of a wonderful exhibition.

I helped out in the Gift Boutique today. There are lots of items for sale. They have been made during the year specially for this exhibition. I was, almost, inspired to try some hand sewing after seeing all the gorgeous pieces. Then I realised that I really prefer to use the machine and play around with idea for that sort of embroidery. Whew!

Trying to settle on an idea

I am in several online groups as well as some guild groups. Each one has some sort of challenge going, or something that is meant to get us going.
I have mentioned the challenge to be inspired by an artist, for my machine embroidery group, at the Embroiderers Guild, Victoria.
One of my online groups was looking for some inspiration and I mentioned that as an idea. So now we are doing 4 art quilts in a year, inspired by an artist, any artist, any technique, any size. Rather a large choice really.

We have had quite a while to get it ready but I have left it a bit late, it is due within two weeks.

I have been looking around at several artists, mainly Hundertwasser and Kandinsky. I have even done some collages that relate to them - remotely. This is yet another thing I am trying for inspiration, working with a couple of friends to try to get ideas flowing.

I think I may have too many ideas to be working on at one time!

Then, last Saturday, I was given a free ticket to the Van Gogh exhibition at the National Gallery, Victoria. As it was the second last weekend, there were LOTS of people there. Fortunately, I was with a family group and one of the boys, about 8 years old, was very enthusiastic. His enthusiasm has rubbed off on me, so now I am looking at Van Gogh as my inspiration.

The machine embroidery group has a couple of members who have been using their own photos to develop in the style of the artist of the month. I have decided, because of their inspiration, to use a photo of my own and try to do it in a Van Gogh style.

That's it, so far. I have just had the idea.

Oh, an extra thing, I found a site online that changes your pictures to a Van Gogh style image, among other ideas. It changed the colours greatly. I love it but I am not sure I am going to try for this image this time. Maybe my series could all be of the one image, in different techniques. I do rather like this one.

Discovering the automatic stitches on the sewing machine

I missed the date yesterday: 11/6/17. Oh well.

Today I (finally) got to do some sewing. I have been thinking about the new challenge for the Embroiderers Guild, Victoria's challenge - Take a Shell.
I took a shell.
Then I put it away.
Absolutely no inspiration.

I have been browsing Pinterest. And I have seen a couple of works there, and in person, that have used the built in stitches on the machine.

I bought my machine about a year and a bit ago - nice exact information there.

I usually only use the straight stitch. When I did the workshop with Kathryn Harmer Fox I used the zigzag stitch too. But that is all I have used on my machine.

Today was learning day!
I had Taken a Shell - today I actually looked at it.

Here is my take on the shell. It might not win any prizes in the challenge but I have finally started sewing again.

First, I attached a piece of wadding to the fabric. I am thinking of mounting it on a preprepared canvas, so it has to be the right size, with enough leftover fabric to wrap around the side. I am not particularly good at mounting works, so it will be interesting to see if this preparation is good enough. 

Then I drew a rough pattern, based on the shell. I hope the so-called water-erasable pen actually does erase! I have left it in the sun on previous occasions and the sun seems to have set it. It is winter and I  didn't get going till twilight, so it should erase. 

The rater large selection of stitches on my Husqvarna. I haven't used them before, it was a learning experience to simple choose the stitches, let alone the size and width. 

Work in progress. I had a bit of fun choosing the various stitches and turning them to fit the pattern. No free motion sewing here, I had to let the feed dogs be up, set the tension and actually fiddle with the width of the stitches. 

Here it is, rinsed out to get rid of the marker. It is still damp, so will be lighter when I work out how to attach the actual shell - if I do. I thought about ironing it dry but don't want to interfere with the stitching and the texture, so will let it dry naturally. 

I may put the shell the other way, if it looks ok with the sewing - it doesn't seem to mimic the arc all that well. 

Oh well, at least I experimented and learnt about the various stitch choices on the machine. 

Next artist to inspire us ... Hundertwasser.

As I have already mentioned, our machine embroidery group at the Embroiderers Guild, Victoria, is working on a small A5 piece each month, inspired by a different artist.
I thought I would love this month, it being Hundertwasser but I have actually found it a bit difficult.

He has the most amazing colours, brush strokes, hidden faces, immediately-identifiable trees, etc. But I was just replicating his work, which I had promised myself I would try not to do.

So I waited a couple of weeks. In the midst of other things, I have been playing around with trying to do some collages. I found a visual diary that I had used before, for a tapestry based on the theme of My Place.

I realised that I might be able to adapt it to this challenge. So I got out my tiny pieces of scraps of fabric and fiddled around with them.  Eventually I laid them out according to a map of the local area.
I have used images of Darebin Parklands before (a lot, actually).

 

Here is the piece in its infant stage. It wasn't particularly reminding me of Hundertwasser. Then I came across a tiny scrap of fabric with some circles that reminded me of his trees. After much searching (thank goodness I did some sorting a little while ago) I found a larger scrap and could cut out some little pieces that I thought would do the trick.

Now I have finished, it is not something that you will say "Oh, that looks like it is inspired by Hundertwasser" but I know that it is. And now you do too, because you have read this!

You  can see the little trees cut out and put in the park area.