Tag Archives: fabric landscapes

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.

Memory Lane Landscapes

More fun findings… While going through my studio file cabinet I discovered photos and pieces from my miniature landscape class and earlier. The photos were from long ago, before digital photos, I sure wish I had better photos some of these pieces. I’m so happy for digital now!

I can see now every little thing that I would do differently in these pieces.

I like how this piece has a little waterfall step down. You may be able to tell that I used the back side of the fabric in that area of the water. Now I would add little rocks on the drop edge and foamy, splashy water around them. The border inset was a small floral fabric with the perfect colors. I like how the border turned out.

Private collection. I can’t remember the title and wasn’t keeping good enough records at the time.

These are from my early class demonstrations showing how one simple line pattern could look very different just by the use of different fabrics. The students always proved me right and I loved seeing what they came up with.

Same pattern, different place and time of day.

I found magazines too. Those two works are the same pattern that I used in my very first miniature landscape, which was published in Miniature Quilts Magazine in 1997. Do you remember that magazine? I guess it went out of business years ago.

Had to laugh – “…all of the fabrics available…” Nothing like the fabrics made today AND now I like mixing paint for my landscapes and more!

When he wasn’t working in jets and helicopters (for 37 years), my late dad was a woodworker, an artist, and a frame maker. He always supported me in my art. I remember struggling with the shore/water line in the piece below. He watched as I tried several pieces. These days I would just paint the perfect fabric. When I finally found a fabric that worked for me, he was as excited as I was, so I gifted the quilt to him AND…

… no surprise, he framed it. I never recommend putting quilts under glass unless the glass is spaced away from the fabric. This may have had glare-free glass, I can’t remember (and can’t tell from this shot). I don’t remember him asking how it should be treated, he just framed away.

The last thing I’ll share from the file cabinet dig was a manila folder containing this cut out landscape laying on a piece of felt. The plan would have been for a very narrow seam allowances tucked under, and I would hand applique them. I’m sure I was using it to demonstrate shadow and light and line and distance. As much as I like it I would change things now… For one thing, the light wall in the center distance would have narrower and closer together lines, tilting lower on the right. That would help push the wall back farther and add better direction. I do love the contrast BUT the foreground land and water should be darker still. Paint would do it!

This was just drawn after looking a many photos.

I’m beginning to think that opening that file cabinet was like opening Pandora’s box!

Reminder: June 14 is the deadline to enter for a chance to win a piece of hand painted fabric. Thanks to those of you commented to enter.

Also, I’m working on a piece for my upcoming Photos in Fiber/mixed media Art blog post (TBD) and have some wonderful pieces, made by others, to share.

Until next time, thanks for stopping by.

Painted Fabric Giveaways

I was hoping to share a new fabric painting video but just as I turned on my overhead lights to video the bulbs sizzled out and I had to leave the studio because of the noxious fumes. So here’s an oldie but, I think, a goodie. Read details below for fabric giveaway/sweepstakes.

I plan to have a giveaway each month so if you’d like to get notifications for the giveaways, and other news, simply subscribe to my blog.

Sky Over Oceanscape has my hand painted sky and water fabrics but has already been stitched into a mini landscape quilt top. The grassy border fabric is commercial.

I think it would be a good piece for someone looking to hand or machine quilt a small (22″ x 16 1/2″) but unique project. The second giveaway is a 42″ x 18″ piece of hand painted fabric I titled Woods. I usually paint on a fine, tightly woven fabric (think batik) but this piece was painted on a fabric closer to a quilter’s cotton. There are many ways a piece like this could be used – Tree trunks, leaves, ground, grass, even flowers.

Sweepstakes/giveaway begins January 13, 2021 and ends January 19, 2021.

To enter: You must live in the US only (no international entries). One entry per person. NOTE: If your name is drawn as the first winner it will be removed for the second drawing. Leave a comment below that you would like to win the Sky Over Oceanscape either/or the Woods fabric and include your first and last name (or last initial).

On Jan 20, 2021 I’ll use a random drawer and post the winners on my blog. Winners will email me their mailing information and I will mail the landscape and fabric pieces ASAP. If I don’t hear from the winner within a week of drawing date, I will run another random draw. Good luck!

Be safe and well.

Revisiting Earth Day

Back on Earth Day my Mister and I took an early morning walk through the Balboa Park Cactus and Rose Gardens. It was a soft gray sky morning, which made the walk much more enjoyable.

I photographed many neat plants but this agave really caught my eye and my imagination… I see a baby bird opening its beak for a feeding.

Here is an unusual “cactus” that I hadn’t seen before.

My sister-in-law correctly identified it as being a Euphorbia. I learned it is Euphorbia grandicornis, Cow’s Horn with pink flowers and that it is not actually a cactus but from a the beautiful, interesting, (and poisonous) Euphorbiaceac family of plants (thanks Wikipedia).

And here is a little cactus landscape I designed for one of my classes. This piece is built on and sewn to Timtex The cactus and rock elements have been sewn to felt for more definitions. In this piece the sky is the only fabric I painted.

If you don’t live in San Diego but ever plan to visit, I would highly recommend Balboa Park, it is a wonderful place to explore and spend time and a great place to find inspiration!

Bonsai, Fiber, and Passion

Many years ago someone asked me “What do you do?” I answered “I make miniature landscapes.” In those days that was where my focus was. His response surprised me… He said “You do Bonsai?!” I said “Oh, no, I work in fabric.” and he replied with a disappointed “Oh” and that was the end of it for him.

could go either scape — “Could Go Either Way” a miniature landscape by Ann

Had he been interested I would have told him… (In a breathless run on sentence) “Why would I design beautiful tiny plant scapes and study the history that goes back to the 6^th century when I can create a little landscape today and recreate the exact landscape tomorrow, making it look totally different, using different fabrics, that only need to be trimmed once and they don’t require water and almost anyone can be taught to make one and it doesn’t take a life time to learn and, and, and… Uh-oh, my passion is showing!

mini landscapes fabric — Two landscapes, one pattern. Design by Ann. All commercial fabrics.

For the record – I love Bonsai and admire anyone who devotes their time and skill to designing and growing them. Thanks to Brian DeCarlo for allowing me to share his lovely Bonsai Islands video – Bonsai Art. What are you passionate about and do you show it?

Fiber Designs by Ann

Fiber art Design, Instruction, Sales