Of course, I can’t leave my camera at home and so I’ve got dozens of photos of lovely plants to use as inspiration.  I find that the “macro” image is the one that interests me the most, so I rarely seem to end up with the whole flower or plant in the frame.

One game I like to play is imagining how I would interpret the photo in fabric, mixed media and fiber.  In fact, I’d like to go through with you and share some of my thoughts on how I’d create a fiber art piece.

Take a look and see how you’d interpret the same image – and please leave a comment if you’d like to share

I love the heavily mottled leaves of these plants – I’d make this one out of hand-dyed fabric and then machine embroider the veins on.  Hand-painting the fabric could be a great challenge too – how about dripping a fluid fabric paint like Dy-Na-Flo to reproduce some of the splotches and mottled colors?

This shot is actually from underneath the plant, with the sun shining from above.  I’d like to try making this one from a single piece of green fabric, but then heavily machine-embroidering all the veins and ribs of the plant on.  As an alternative, I might try using a dry brush method of fabric painting (thicker paint, used sparingly with a dry brush) get the shading and the thicker ribs.

I’ll share more photos and techniques tomorrow!

images: © C Findlay-Harder

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Interpreting Natural Textures in Fabric

You can save 15% on everything in the shops by entering the code “MM0709 “, but it’s only on until July 30th – so you’d better hurry if you want some cool fiber art goodies.

What kind of yummy supplies can you get?  How about…

100% Alpaca fiber roving pillows (in three different colorways).

Charming yo-yo pincushion patterns by Indygo Junction.

Or how about a 16 piece Shiva Paintsticks sampler?

Yummy yummy yummy…

images: Interweave Press

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Stock Up On Mixed Media & Quilting Goodies!

It can be challenging to get started for some people.  They tense up and get frustrated because the line isn’t flowing as smoothly as they’d like.

Some teachers recommend beginning with drawing simple stipple patterns (like the piece of one of my art quilts shown here) on a piece of paper.

I’ve never had good luck with that though – the movement of drawing on paper is the exact opposite of quilting.  With drawing, you’re pushing the pencil across the surface of the paper.  With quilting, you’re moving the fabric under the stationary needle.

Personally, the best method I’ve found is to start small, with little fabric sandwiches.  Little practice squares are easiest to move around, so that way you’re not straining your shoulders or neck.  Relax and just guide the fabric around the machine.  Take the time to get comfortable with the technique before you try and quilt something special.

In no time you’ll be free motion quilting like a pro!

image: C Findlay-Harder

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Getting Started With Free Motion Quilting

For the first two fabric painting techniques, visit these links:
Painting fabric in a bag
Twisted fabric painting

This time, you’ll need the usual ripped or cut piece of plain muslin, acrylic paints, a large soft brush or painting sponge, tape of different widths, and a large stamp or two.

Step by step instructions

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Wiped and striped fabrics

Again, you’ll need to rip or cut a piece of plain muslin, gather up the acylic paints that you want to use, and find an old bottle (wine bottles are perfect), some paint brushes, and a rubber band.

Step by step instructions

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Twisted fabric painting

Painting your fabric in a plastic bag is a great technique to choose when you want a surprise: you never know what you’re going to end up with when you let everything swirl around together in a bag. So rip off a length of plain muslin and gather up your acrylic paints, small cups, water, and oh yeah…a gallon sized plastic bag.

Step by step instructions

You can see what I used this piece of cloth for here

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Painting fabric in a bag

image: © C Findlay-Harder

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how-to of the day: painting on fabric – cloudy skies – salting the paint

image: © C Findlay-Harder

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how-to of the day: painting on fabric – cloudy skies, part three

image: © C Findlay-Harder

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how-to of the day: painting on fabric – cloudy skies, part two

image: © C Findlay-Harder

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how-to of the day: painting on fabric – cloudy skies