Category Archives: fiber art

Thanks and Fabric Giveaways

I’m so happy that I have been able to share my artwork, thank you for supporting me and commenting. I’ve learned a lot from many of you too.

I received two surprises not too long ago, one was an email from the kind person who purchased one of my painted and stitched panel. Below is the project she made with it; prefect for this season. Thank you Lynda! I love seeing how others incorporate my art into theirs.

The other surprise was happy mail from Karen G, who sent me a large piece of her own eco dyed fabric. The background is more a taupe color than shown in the photo but the photo does show the wonderful texture she achieved. Thank you, Karen. I just don’t know how I’ll ever be able to cut into it! If you have a question for Lynda or Karen leave a comment and hopefully they will see it.

A couple days ago I painted fabric using some different objects and techniques, and though I did film the processes I haven’t had time to edit the video. I hope you can get an idea what the fabrics look like from this photo. The smallest piece is approximately 18″ x 12″ and the largest 19 1/2″ x 15″. The darker blue is 28″ x 8 1/2″.

I will be giving the newly painted fabric and 6 1/2″ squares of commercial fabrics away to two separate winners later this month. The winner’s names will be posted in the December 29 blog post. I hope to share the painted fabric video next blog post (but I’ll be getting my booster soon, so we will see).

The commercial squares will be six pieces of a rainbow of colors along with some black and whites. Here is a sampling… Pinks, reds, and greens.

Sweepstakes/giveaway begins Dec.15, 2021 and ends at 9pm (Pacific Time), Dec. 27, 2021.

To enter: You must live in the US only (no international entries). One entry per person. NOTE: (If applicable) If your name is drawn as the first winner it will be removed for the second drawing.

Leave a comment that you would like to win the painted fabric either/or the fabric squares and include your first and last name (or last initial).

After December 27th I’ll use a random drawer and announce the winners on my next blog post.

Winner/s will email me their mailing information and I will mail the fabric packages ASAP. If I don’t hear from the winner within five days of drawing date, I will run another random draw. Good luck!

Work in Progress

I’m looking forward to sharing the photograph and fiber/fabric pieces, that other artists have given me permission to share, in an upcoming blog post. For now I’ll give you a little look in to the piece I’m working on for that blog post. I’m not going to show it with the photograph until the piece is finished.

After a good bit of time examining the photograph that will be a part of this piece I decided the direction I’d take my design.

I started by painting a sky using Jacquard Textile Colors (JTC).

After I ripped the fabric I realized it was too small for my frame and so I used pins to stretch it.

I painted a woodsy hillside using JTC and used NeoColor ll wax pastels for the lower half. I pulled off some silk threads from a piece of raw silk fabric to audition where I might add tree trunks. If this had been a collage without stitching I would have glued those silk threads using gel medium. I really liked how they looked.

A rough layout…

I embroidered knots. First I pulled threads from a piece of dupioni silk fabric because I wanted the simmer, shine, and the threads were thicker than the actually silk spools I have. Unfortunately, the knots weren’t looking good so I switched to regular floss. In the end, in the big picture, it isn’t really going to matter.

They hardly resemble a French Knots so I just call them knots.

More painting – this time a plastic edge tapped in JTC and pulled horizontally across the NeoColor area. After that I brushed a blue paint wash over that area to darken it. When it was dry it was still a bit light for what I was going for. At this point I have myself convinced that quilting it will make it right.

Pulled paint using sharp edge over NeoColor ll

I used the same sharp edge, (it was just a piece of plastic advertising that was a bit thinner than a credit card), to make the trunks. I was going to just quilt the trunks but was playing with the paint and couldn’t help myself. I think I will still quilt them or maybe not!

This was taken when it was wet, the lower area dried much lighter.

I always learn something when making any Photograph on Fiber piece, sometimes many things. They’re always a challenge but a fun one. We will see where this one takes me and what I learn.

A Reminder – Next post, June 16, I will announce the winners of the painted fabric.

Starting Point

There’s always a starting point and in quilt making it often begins with a main fabric. When I was working on my Photograph on Fiber series, rather than start with a main fabric and grab other fabrics to coordinate with it, my starting point was an actual photograph. I would decide if I’d be echoing the photo or extending the background out from it. I’d think about fabrics and how I could paint, stitch, and maybe add applique as well.

This is an example of echoing the photo. Title: Leaf

This series is comprised of photographs that have been applied to plexiglass and mounted on spacers 3/4″ above the fabric/fiber background and through a board, then wired for hanging.

Most of the photographs were taken by son who thought I was nuts when I told him I wanted to use his actual photographs (not printed on fabric) in my fiber art. I had to make a tiny prototype for him to “get” it. And then he really got it!

This is an example of extending out from the photograph. Title: Awaiting Occupation (Private collection)

Photograph of the very textural Rex Begonia.

Photograph by C.B. Scott

The commercial fabrics in Rex Begonia are the black border, the black and white swirls background, and dotted fabric which I added paint to.

Rex Begonia
Rex Begonia detail

Many of the pieces were exhibited in a number of venues, including a solo show at VAM in 2013. I was asked over and over about the process and so decided to developed a way to make a Photograph on Fiber piece without the plexiglass; a much more doable project and one that I could teach. The photo is still above the fabric/fiber but, in this much easier process, the piece is placed in a frame, (sort of a shallow shadow box but not as deep), and the photo is mounted but doesn’t touch the glass.

This photo, taken by my cousin, was the starting point for the three (wip) pieces below. Notice that there are actually more options than only echoing and extending, all to showcase the photo.

Original photograph Rose Window
Rose Window 1 wip

Two commercial fabrics and painted cheesecloth leaves make this the easiest and quickest design. the photo is actually about 3/4″ above the red fabric. The detail below shows the finished quilting, which also held the leaves on (they are squished from being in storage).

Rose Window 1 detail

The piece below was a wip when photographed, using fabric where the frame would be. All of the fabrics are commercial, the roses and leaves have been “clever cut” (think fussy cut). Again, very easy, just more time consuming. I stitched the thorns using free motion quilting. I didn’t quilt the rose heads but looking at it now I think they need it.

Rose Window 2 wip
Rose Window 2 detail

The final piece has roses and leaves that are made from eco-felt (sheets), the cut pieces have been burned around the edges. The stems are made from a grape vine wreath (soaked, straightened, dried, and stitched on). Nothing touches the glass. It also has commercial (Stonehenge by Northcott) fabrics that I’ve quilted.

Rose Window 3

The detail photo was taken using my phone and the piece is behind glass, it’s not very good but it shows a bit of the dimension and some of the burnt edges.

Rose Window 3 detail

The Photograph on Fiber series photographs were applied to the plexi by me, using a special double sided film and a hand turn, cold roller laminator. After about nineteen pieces it got to be too stressful for me so I paid a professional company to apply the photographs, which of course, added to the cost/price. From inception to finish each piece involved many, many hours, and though I loved making them, (the plexiglass) Photograph on Fiber series had to come to an end. I’m very pleased that a few pieces are in private collections and some of the remaining pieces are for sale. Most of the pieces may be seen on my website under the Photograph on Fiber tab.

My son still send photos that make me want to keep going and making them definitely pushed me as an artist, but there is no more wall space in my home, and storing them a way seems a crime. Maybe some day I’ll teach the framed version of Photographs on Fiber class live.

Have you used your photographs in your art/memory quilts or mixed media projects? If you have and would be willing, I’d love to share some of your photographs and fiber/fabric art, here on my blog. Just send me an email with a photo/s of the piece/s and a bit about them. If you have a blog or website be sure to include it so I can link to it. Please note the photos used in your art must be yours or used with permission.

Snow Bunny

Stitching Inn

One good thing about being pretty much in isolation is getting some things made that are not especially fun but necessary. I’ve been stitching more masks, fabric covers for KN95 masks, and a rice filled warmer for our cat’s “IV” type fluid bag.

Now the more creative side – I have been embroidering a bit on a new piece, if you follow me on Instagram you may have seen it. I started it by painting fabric to make an abstract background. I stitched a lot of white floss and then spent two hours tearing it out because it just wasn’t working. I do like the little bit of white left around the petal edge. I guess there may be an advantage to purchasing a kit with instructions and floss, but I obviously prefer a challenge.

hand embroidered wip.

I also started a hand applique mini-mini landscape (approximately 7″ x 8.5″) using a leftover piece of my painted sky fabric. It was actually only going to be 6″ tall but had I squared the piece up I would have cut off too much of the small boulders (which are about half a dime size)… So, enter grassy meadow. I like it much better but I’ll still be adding borders.

In keeping with hanging out at home and working on a variety of little projects here is a short video of my 30 days of stitching in November 2020. I hope you enjoy it and thanks for watching.

https://youtu.be/ujulnVE_a3M

Painted Sky Fabric and Winners!

If you left a comment for the fabric and Oceanscape top giveaway, thank you!

The winners are…

Karen G. won the Woods fabric piece.

Hand painted fabric Woods

Carol in AK won the Sky Over Oceanscape.

Sky Over Oceanscape

Congratulations! Please email your mailing information to me at fiberdesignsbyann@gmail.com

Below is my latest painted sky fabric. I’m editing the How-to paint this sky fabric video now and should post it next week. The hill/mountain pieces are only being auditioned here (not sewn or fused yet), and on the right the pieces have been darkened in Photoshopped.

Which landscape do you prefer?

I hope you will follow along, and remember there will be another giveaway in February.

Stay safe and well.

Stitching the Year Out

Fiber art, sewing, quilting, stitching, mark-making, what have you especially enjoyed working on this year?

Hand stitching has been something that has brought me great comfort during 2020. Here are a few of the pieces I’ve finished… Well, the thread work is finished, most have yet to be mounted or framed.

I used solid white, painted, stenciled, and gel plate printed, some commercial fabric for the backgrounds, one even has fused petals. I also discovered that the fabric I love to paint and use for applique, which in the fabric used for most often for batiks, is not as easy to embroider through as a nice regular quilter’s cotton because of the fine thread and tight weave. Click on image to enlarge.

I appreciate you stopping by and I hope your wishes for the New Year come true.

Be safe, healthy, and happy.

Sweepstakes – Giveaway Winner

Thanks to those of you who commented on the giveaway post to be included in the postcard sweepstakes. The random drawing winner is…

Congratulations, Joanna! Please email your mailing address to me within a week and I’ll mail the postcards to you as soon as possible.

I’m looking forward to the next giveaway in the New Year (a piece of hand painted fabric perhaps).

Warm Wishes to all, have a happy and safe holiday season.

For Sale and Giveaways

I hope this finds you safe and healthy. I’m very fortunate to be able to continue making and sharing artwork and art projects.

I’m looking forward to some new beginnings in the New Year and I’m starting now with a quilt for sale and a giveaway (see details below). If you haven’t already please subscribe to my blog so you’ll get email notifications for posts, future giveaways, and more.

This is Koi Patch an art quilt… and it’s for sale!

Koi Patch is a quilt I made in 2006, it measures 48″ x 43″ and is hand pieced, appliqued, and quilted (some minimal machine stitching). Made using commercial fabrics. It has a label and hanging sleeve. More detail images below. It is in “like new” condition, price $195 plus shipping, US only, no international sales. Payment accepted via PayPal. Please leave a comment or email me if interested in purchasing this quilt.

Sweepstakes – Giveaway… I’m giving away a set of four stitched fabric (one is painted paper) postcards that were created for my postcard class. Sweepstakes/giveaway begins Dec. 16, 2020 and ends Dec. 22, 2020.

To enter: You must live in the US only (no international entries), one entry per person. Leave a comment below that you would like to win the postcards and include your first and last name (or last initial). On Dec 23, 2020 I’ll use a random drawer and post the winner on my blog. Winner will email me their mailing information and I will mail the postcards ASAP. If I don’t hear from the winner within a week drawing date, I will run another random draw.

Stay tuned for future giveaways and thanks for stopping by!

Beaded Leaves

I hope everyone is healthy and safe.

I have painted the fabric and taught the class and I still love making my painted fabric leaves. I have stitched and beaded several and I’m offering a few for sale. I will be posting them to my Instagram page but decide to post them here first.

Each leaf has the painted fabric top that is raw edge, a Timtex center layer (which may be showing through the beads), and a felt back.

Unfortunately, I still don’t have the store open on my website but if you’re interested in purchasing here are the details…

Please leave a comment with the leaf/leaves # you would like to purchase and I will contact you via email to let you know if it is still available. After payment is received I’ll ask if you would like a pin or magnet on the back. Price $18 each, free shipping, payment accepted via PayPal only, and no international sales.

Coordinating felt back waiting for pin or magnet.

I’ve been going through cupboards and drawers finding all kinds of treasures (one person’s treasure…) and have come to the reality that I don’t need to keep a lot of what I have rediscovered. So I plan to have some giveaways in the future.

Thanks for stopping by and warm wishes to you where ever you are!

November Quickie

Previous post I shared the palm tree from the #Needlevember challenges; here is the free-motion video . I’ve had fun stitching everyday this month so far. It’s been a challenge first drawing something and then looking at it for reference while stitching on my machine. But I must admit the hand embroidery pieces have been a good speed (slow) for me at this time.

I’ve also produced a new video challenge project for Visions Art Museum member challenge titled: Fall Flag panel.

I hope you are staying safe and healthy.

As always, thanks for stopping by.