Thursday, June 23, 2016

Sketching, Stitching, and Printing Feathers

From one day to the next I never know how I will feel or what I will work on. Since yesterday was sunny and breezy, I did some gardening. I'm slowly weeding, moving and adding plants to my back beds a few feet at a time. Hubby helps with the big stuff. I'm careful but still often need to switch activities the next day.

During my feet up time after lunch today, I sketched a few of my feathers and a small nest. I know, I know, I've already got a few pieces on the go. This one is swirling around in my head though and needs out.

I enjoy painting and printing my own fabrics, so a book caught my eye this summer. In this one I saw the idea of stitching on craft foam to make a stamp or texture plate and I've been itching to try it wondering how it would work.


I bought the book on kindle and liked it so much that I ordered the paper copy. It is so colorful and packed with ideas and exercises.
I lightly penciled on an outline first and then free motion stitched. I must say the foam sews like butter.

There's an area that bugs me though. I got confused with the lines as it was under the machine and turned upside down. Easy to do more and to layer them.

I think it's quite pretty stamped onto paper. It looks quite delicate, an effect better achieved with stitching than by engraving marks into the foam with a pen as I've often done.

I'm looking forward to doing more feathers, a nest and some birds to layer onto fabric.

While I had the paints out, I wanted to add some flowers to this canvas piece that I cut to make myself a pen and pencil case. There are some bare spots.

Here it is with some brush work flowers added.

I'll set it nearby for a day when I'm looking for some no brainer free motion stitching.

I hope you're having a good week and firing some time to be creative in some way.

 

3 comments:

Robbie said...

The foam stamped on paper is very delicate looking! How interesting...have you tried it on fabric yet? Could be a nice addition to a background. thanks for sharing pics and technique!

Mereknits said...

I love your creativity.
Hugs,
Meredith

Anonymous said...

Love...love...love the stamp. I had another of Traci's books and enjoyed it immensely. This one looks good too.