Block Printing with Foam #5

Adding Salt for Texture

(For those who are just now joining in you can follow along from the beginning by linking to:  Step #1, Step #2, and Step #3  and Step 4.)

While the fabric was still saturated with layers of Setacolor fabric paint washes, I took out my improvised shaker of kosher salt that had been a taco sauce bottle.

Converted Taco Sauce Bottle

To make the bottle into a shaker I used an awl to punch holes in the lid.

Bottle Cap Top with Punched Holes

I then sprinkled salt all over the wet fabric.

Shaking Salt onto Wet Paint Washes

I usually do this step with the fabric in sunlight, but it was night and I wanted to see if the salt would draw up color without the benefit of the sunlight magic.  It worked, although not as dramatically as if the sun had been on it.  For the purpose of this work, the result was fine.  Yay!  Hard "edges" of color were softened and visual texture was created.

Close-up:  Result of Adding Salt to Paint Washings

Tomorrow I will post about a couple of images that I want to applique to this block printed,  painted background fabric.
Note:  These posts are my participation in the 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge.  If you, too, would like to participate, link to Cheryl Sleboda's:  http://muppin.com/…/inde…/the-31-day-blog-writing-challenge/

Until tomorrow...

Always remember, never fear to experiment.  

Sometimes wonderful things happen.

© Linda Friedman 2015.  All rights reserved

Peacock Crown in Fiber

The peacock quilted work that I am creating to mount on a 18" x 36" stretched canvas with tail feathers extending beyond the edge is progressing.  The background onto which the bird will be appliqued is complete and the feather crown has been created.  (To have a glimpse into the colors and size of the peacock, see my February 25, 2015 post.)

Thread Painted Feather Crown

Close-Up of Thread Painted Feather Crown

Now that the entire background work has been completed, I'm moving on to thread work on the peacock's tail feathers.

Stitching with Bronze Metallic and Floriani threads

 The thread painting on this came to an abrupt halt at the very start because the threads wanted to knot and flay (not fray).  A dear friend and accomplished fiber artists, Cynthia Catlin, led me to the Floriani Chrome needles by Schmetz at Red Rock Threads.  These needles seem to have been created specifically for the beautiful Floriani threads because once they were delivered and I started using them, all the fun came back to working on this creation.  They go through all three layers, including very thick, fusible Pellon,™ like a knife cutting through warm butter and there is absolutely no problem with the threads. 

Onward...

"Stay tuned." 

 I'll be back with more posts as the work progresses.  

Always remember, never fear to experiment.  

Sometimes wonderful things happen.

© Linda Friedman 2015.  All rights reserved

Enjoying the Process - Peacock fiber art

I can't show how the peacock fiber art work is coming along in full until it is exhibited, but I thought you might like a peek at me enjoying the process.  This morning I pinned the peacock to my design cartoon to see if it still remained fairly true to the plan.

 And here is a close-up of my take on one of a peacock feather's eye.

Eye of Peacock Feather

I'm just about finished quilting the background fabric and can't wait to start thread painting the peacock.  Here's a photo of it when I first started quilting it. The quilting pattern has changed somewhat, but that is half the fun of putting the pedal to the metal and free motion quilting without a preset guide.  The blue painter's tape is on the fabric to indicate where the fabric will be stretched around an 18" x 36" canvas.

Quilting on hand dyed and hand painted background fabric.

 

 

 

My plan is to complete the background quilting today so that I can start using beautiful threads to thread paint the peacock. 

Until the next post...

Always remember, never fear to experiment.  

Sometimes wonderful things happen.

© Linda Friedman 2014.  All rights reserved