Tuesday, February 7, 2012

playing with paper cloth

For the last several days I have been having hives, likely caused more by my autoimmune conditions than by allergies. I've had them come and go for years, and for anyone who has had them you know how crazy it can make you! When I keep busy, I can distract myself some but it gets worse at night and thus keeps me awake.
I've been taking Benedryl and sleep medication, so of course then I slept in past the alarm and I was drowsy. Oh well, as they say, this too shall pass.
I'm not really complaining ( maybe a teensy bit). I merely want to explain my state of mind today. This is what my table in my studio looked like this morning after I dragged out unfinished projects and pottered about trying to settle on something..

I decided to have a go at the paper collage piece from yesterday. The directions called for a watered down layer of paint on top of the collage to soften it. Since I decided my piece would be stitched, I put a layer of tissue paper on top using thinned white glue. It dried while I went out for an appointment.

Next I thinned some acrylic paints with water and using a foam brush, lightly applied the blues and greens. This time I took a hair drier to it, so I could keep going. I also decided to cut them up this point because I want to make book marks and I had different stamps in mind. I would definitely recommend leaving it in one piece as it would have been a lot easier to work with.Because of the paper textures the stamp images are quite broken up.

I used a part of a screen on the one below left. Again. because of the rough texture, it bled a little. I don't mind that; I'll be layering onto it anyway.

 I got started with some free motion stitching with a copper color thread, but I had to stop for a snack and a cup of tea.                                              

I'm linking up today with the Needle and Thread Network for WIP Wednesday, lots of interesting things to see  there.

8 comments:

Susan J Barker said...

Intriguing the use of paper and glue and paint to create the effects you do! I will keep coming back to see what next is on your plate -- sorry about the hive, I am lucky i have not had that experience, tho.

Anonymous said...

Intriguing process Holly. I'm so glad I stopped by from W.I.P. Wednesday.
Stay inspired!

Riel Nason said...

Hi Holly, I love that you post in detail about your method. Happy Sewing! RIel

Marjorie's Busy Corner said...

I like your details...interesting...have a great day..take care of those darn hives....so irritating aren't they

elle said...

oh darn. We hard working creative types don't need down times! ;^) But I'm luving your processing here. Carry on!

Dolores said...

I've wanted to make some paper cloth but haven't gotten around to it yet. I like your beginnings.

Cheryl Coville said...

This is very intriguing, Holly. Very cool! I've had hives!!! Not fun. Hope you're feeling better soon.

imquilternity said...

So sorry to hear about your hives! They are the w-o-r-s-t!! Hope you get over them soon!

You are so creative! I never know what you are going to do next. I'm so impressed. I really want to try the paper collage thing like you've done. It looks like a lot of fun.