ad libitum

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:

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.

AN AFTERNOON'S WORTH OF NATURAL DYEING

A few years ago, I took a class from Lorri Scott in the natural dyeing of fabrics (by the way, if you ever get a chance to take a class from Lorri, do so). I love the idea of using leaves, flower petals, and rusty objects to color my fabrics. A few weekends ago, I spent the afternoon dyeing muslin with rose petals, maple leaves, onion skins, rusty nails and other bits, and blueberries. Below are some of the results.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PRINTED, PAINTED, FREEFORM-STITCHED, BEADED FABRIC

I finally finished beading the piece of fabric I had mono-printed, painted, and covered with freeform stitching. Pictures cannot convey the wonderful feel (the hand) of this piece. I started out with the idea of using some beads as a bit of embellishment; but I just kept beading and beading. This piece is about 12x13 inches.

Below are photos of details of the piece. You can see more of the painted fabric and sewing in these photos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

To answer the most logical question, I am not sure what I am going to do with this piece. It may end up as a wall hanging, but it may be incorporated into something else. There's no hurry to decide.

FABRIC MONOPRINTS

I had a large piece of muslin left over from a project. I decided to tear it up into rectangles and sqares and then play with paints, my gelli plate, stencils and stamps. (And, to answer the most commonly asked question, I plan to use the fabric pieces for a variety of projects: purses, altered clothing, quilts and wall hangings; but I don't have a specific plan for all of them.) I used acrylic paints. The pieces are in a variety of stages of completion. As I work on them, I will decide what they need and when each is finished.

Below is a piece that has a lot of work to be done:

The piece below has a circle theme. The big circles are from a stamp I carved.

On this piece, I used a stencil I made, an attempt to make a picture of my younger daughter.

Below is my start on a steam punk piece using a commercial stencil.

 

I used a letter stencil on the piece below; I'm thinking I may use it on a journal cover.

 

I used a tree mask on the piece below in an attempt to make a fantasy forest. I'm pleased with the start, but have to think about what comes next.

 

People who know me won't be surprised to hear that I have a lot more fabric pieces (I have a total of 28 fabric pieces in this project; all the pieces are about 14x14 inches). I'll post more as I continue to work on them.

 

A FEW MORE INCHIES

Sometimes I have bits of time to work on my fabric inchies I'm currently trying to make 100 white ones. I'm half way there. Here are a few.

EMBROIDERING MONOPRINTS

Some of the monoprints that I did on fabric need something to give them a little pizazz; so, I decided to break out the embroidery thread and do some embellishing.

 

Here is a detail showing some of the stitching and the beads I decided to add.

 

 

Below is the finished piece.

Having completed one, I've started work on another.

INCHIES AND TWINCHIES

Often, when I'm in a bit of an artistic slump, I find it useful to make component parts (see previous posts on stamp carving and paper painting). It makes me feel productive; and, I know I'll use them later (often "as is," sometimes with modifications). That said - I've been working on fabric inchies (one inch squares) and twinchies (two inch squares). I have some scraps from my cutter quilts that seemed perfect for turning into twinchies and inchies.

I cut out several squares and I am slowly working on embellishing them.

Here are the twinchies that I have embellished.

And, below are the inchies.

FABRIC DYEING WITH RUST AND PLANTS

Yesterday, my friend Catherine came over and we dyed ribbons and pieces of fabric with rust and with plants (note to self: get organized about which plants and leaves actually work; a bright flower petal is no indiction of the color, if any, that results).

I used mostly maple leaves, poke berries, bachelor buttons, and rose petals on this long silk ribbon.

Below are ribbons and fabric dyed with rust.

You can't see it in this photo, but there are a few places where the rust ate through the silk. I neutralized the pieces after I dyed them (using salt water), but rust is corrosive.

More rust pieces below.

I used a lot of muslin as well as silk ribbons.

Bits of rust give this silk ribbon some character.