ad libitum

CUFFS

I have a renewed obsession with making fabric cuffs. I stitched up simple fabric collages, cut them into cuff strips, sewed over them and embellished them.

Here is a close up of the beaded ruffle I made.

 

A close up showing my polymer buttons and the resin paper I sewed onto the cuff.

A row of pearls sewn onto the edge and three rows of beads sewn next to a row of trim.

Vintage buttons, folded trim, netting, ribbon and a resin covered photo of my mother and uncle.

More  resin paper and varied beads and one of my polymer buttons over lace.

A close up of the end of the of the above cuff.

 

 

PAPER ANGELS

I love angels and angel images. 'Tis the Season to think about angels; so, I made several paper angels. My angels have a variety of faces that I have drawn, faces from family photos, and faces from clip art. Their gowns are made from painted and gelli-printed deli paper. Their wings are painted water color paper with a stencil pattern (some gold paint, some silver paint). I have made some into a garland and I will deck my halls with others. (It probably won't surprise people who know me that I made more angels than I have photographed here.)

 

 

A JOURNAL FOR A CHRISTMAS PRESENT

For one of my art groups, we have a surprise Christmas gift exchange; we each make one present, but we don't know who will get it (we draw numbers). This is fun because you don't have the responsibility of making a gift for someone specific; you just make a present. I decided to make a journal. I over-dyed some commercial fabric hat has words on it (I figured words are a good theme for a journal cover). I used the fabric as the journal cover, which I folded over a spiral notebook in the same way we used to fold cut up paper bags over our school books in the '50s and 60's. I prepared the spiral notebook by glueing pages together, then sewing them together, and then covering with gesso. After the gesso dried, I either painted the pages or glued some gelli printed deli paper on them.

Below, are photos of the journal.

The back cover:

A journal page spread (the lines of the notebook peeking through, to use or ignore):

The last page of the journal with a folded pocket for some tags:

THE END OF SUMMER, THE BEGINNING OF FALL

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is my favorite time of year!

 

PRAYER FLAGS UP AND FLYING

I wanted to put my prayer flags from my swap (see previous post) up on my deck - so I can look at them from my kitchen and studio (I spend a lot of time in both places). I aded extra flags that I made to the beautiful flags I got in the swap.

FABRIC PRAYER FLAGS

I just finished a fabric prayer flag swap (5 for 5 or multiple of 5 for multiple of 5). I sent them all off this afternoon (except for the Kalamazoo participants, to whom I will hand deliver flags this week). It was an exchange of 4 inch by 6 inch portrait oriented flags. There were 27 participants (including me). It will not surprise anyone who knows me that I made extra sets and extra flags .I will string up some of the extras with the flags I got from the swap; and I will keep some to send to friends as presents.

I loved this project. I found that working on the flags was a very positive experience for me. I also loved the flags that I received in the swap. My artist friends really put part of themselves into these small pieces of art.

Below are photos of a sampling of the sets of flags I made. When I get my flags strung together, I will post a photo.

these are made from commercial fabric; my polymer buttons; and, free form sewn words...

These are made from a cutter quilt.

These are made from cut up jeans.

These are from raw silk that I dyed in a class.

below, I cut up an embellished monoprint to make flags

These are a a Photoshop image I printed out on fabric.

Another photoshopped photo.

Below, I used tea-dyed vintage crocheted doilies.

Monoprinted fabric and polymer buttons.

These are reverse applique.

Naturally dyed fabric.

More commercial fabric and polymer buttons, below.

Below are flags made from monoprinted fabric and embroidered words.

BEAUTIFUL NOVA SCOTIA

I spent a delightful time in Port Mouton in Nova Scotia this past week. Martha Brown was a great host and tour guide and weather whisperer (she kept the rain at bay while we went about taking photos, eating well, and meeting people).

Below are too many photos (and Photoshop variations).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PEACOCK VARIATIONS

original photo

photo cropped and edited in photoshop

 

painting filter

 

 

oil painting filter, heightened reflection

SUMMER RESPITE

I'm at the end of a delightful summer vacation and I think this photo (with a boost from Photoshop and my Topaz filter program) captures the beauty of my trip.

NEW FILTERS TO PLAY WITH IN PHOTOSHOP

I recently purchased some new Photoshop filters (Topaz Lab) and have spent this morning playing with pictures I took yesterday in Chaddsford, PA.

This is the front of the bed and breakfast we stayed in.

Below is an old building on the grounds of the bed and breakfast.

It was a beautiful day and people were canoeing on the Brandywine River.