Recently my daughter Beth tried her hand at felting, an interesting fiber art.  She had watched the latest season of Quilting Arts TV and became fascinated by Beryl Taylor’s machine felting.

Photo & Felted Fiber Art by Beth A. Mastin

Beth doesn’t have a felting machine, so she did hers by using hand felters.  Then she added beading and decorative stitching.

For more details about her felting ventures and more photos, including close-ups, visit her Meandering Threads blog.

What have been your experiences with felting?

I always enjoy having my readers share their ideas about various craft topics, including what projects they’re working on and providing tips that might help others.

Shawnery commented on my post, Organizing Beads and Embellishments, and shared her inexpensive methods of storing these items:

When I first started, we didn’t have a lot of spare money so buying a lot of new containers was out of the question. We were on [a] diet at the time so we ate a lot of eggs. I had a ton of the two dozen egg containers laying around and it turns out to be the perfect containers. I arranged each tray color. They stacked on top of each other easily so it helped out with space.

When I took a class at the college and needed to transport my stuff, I borrowed my sons tackle bag which had 3 lure storage trays. Those worked great also.

We have moved several times and each time I put cotton balls to fill the gaps [in the egg cartons] and then wrap the whole thing with saran wrap. A few beads sneak out but everything is mostly in tact and organized each time we unpack.

Image: sxc.hu

Thanks, Shawnery, for letting us know about these great organizing and storage ideas.

 QuiltingAndPatchwork.com

  More quilters are discovering the fascination of art quilts, those you hang on the wall and use for decorative effect.  You might place them on a bed but generally use only for adornment.  Perhaps you’ll use fabric art pieces in clothing, too.

To embellish their art quilts, quilters and fabric artists often choose beads and buttons, some of which they may make themselves.  I ran a poll to determine whether my readers are into this type of embellishment.

Question - Do You Use Beads and Buttons to Embellish Your Quilts?

10%  - Yes, frequently

70% - Yes, occasionally

20% - No, never

It would seem that throughout the quilting world, embellishments are becoming popular.  Some fabric artists, like my daughter, make beads from a variety of materials to add to their work.

How about telling me how you use beads and buttons.  Do you have any pictures of projects on your blog or web site you’d like to share?

(c)2007 Mary Emma Allen

Responses I’ve received to my post, Beading Retreats - Do Quilters Attend These? inspired me to set up a poll at Quilting & Patchwork.

Check it out and let me know your thoughts.  Also, share in the comments, your experiences with using beads and/or buttons in your quilting and quilting art.

I’ve asked:  Do you use beads and buttons to embellish your quilts? 

You can choose the following answers:

Yes, frequently

Yes, occasionally

No, never

Cyndi at Layers Upon Layers announced, “I’m going on a beading retreat.“ 

Now I’ve heard of many types of retreats, but never one for beaders before.  I’m looking forward to Cyndi’s report about her trip to this event about halfway across the USA from where she lives.

Quilters have begun to find beads important as embellishments in their work.  My daughter collects beads and even makes them to add interest to her quilt hangings and fabric art.

What have you been doing with beads?  Have you ever attended a “beading retreat?”

   You won’t want to miss the Arts and Design Channel’s Showcase.  The theme this month is Christmas in July, and it’s hosted by Tammy Powley at her Jewelry and Beading blog.

Here you’ll find many arts and crafty ideas for starting your holiday shopping and creating during Christmas in July season, thus getting a head start to avoid the last minute rush in December.

At Quilting and Patchwork, I’ve given a number of sites where you can find quilting patterns, supplies and ideas, along with books to read and help you create.  You’ll find these here at Quilters Think Christmas Thoughts in July.

One of the attractive innovations in the quilting and fabric art world consists of adding beads, buttons, and other adornment or embellishment to your project. 

Some of these involve using only a few beads (of different types, colors, and sizes) for highlights.  With other projects, the quilt artist may almost cover entirely the fabric surface. 

How about expanding your creativity with beads and buttons interwoven into your art?  I’d enjoy hearing what you’re doing.

As I looked at Tammy’s  post and the colorful beads, Looking 4 Easter Jewelry,  at Jewelry & Beading, I wondered how many quilters and fabric artists were incorporating beads into their Easter projects.  I’ve discovered, as I’ve watched my daughter with her art work, that beads have begun to play a large roll as embellishments. 

Now I’m on the lookout for beads when browsing second hand shops and yard sales.  I was thrilled not long ago to find a whole box of these little gems.  And the box was separated into little compartments for the various size and shape beads. 

            How are you using beads in your quilts and fabric art?  Some quilters just use a few as eye-catchers.  Others almost cover the whole piece. 

Over at b5media’s Tangled Thread, Chloe Findlay takes us through a seven step process to fuse fabric for quilting, called Machine Fusion Fabric.  It almost seems like magic as she combines fabrics, paints, and embellishments, along with machine quilting to produce a work of art.

This shows how, in this mixed media world, quiltmaking has taken on a whole new direction for those who want to experiment and combine traditional with experimental.

My daughter and I browse through the second hand store in our little town for quilting “treasure.”  Sometimes we find clothing for the children, mittens for cold weather, an interesting dish or cup, cook books, and other odds and ends.

When we stop by, the owners remark, “You’re having a mother/daughter outing,” and laugh because we often make it no further than their shop.

However, during our search through the store, we’re on the lookout for materials we can use for quilt hangings and fabric art.  Today Beth found a kimona type robe made of silky fabric of Oriental design.  It also had unique “frog” closings.  She doesn’t know how she’ll use this, but you can be sure it will find its way into some of her art.

I found a box with many compartments filled with beads of various types and colors.  For a dollar I couldn’t leave it behind.  These will come in handy for some of my fabric postcards and small hangings.

Another time Beth found a vest with a great deal of beading on it.  The vest didn’t interest her as something to wear.  She bought it for the beads which she has since used in many of her art pieces….and she still has quite a few left.

Keep on the alert when you have an opportunity to browse through second hand stores.  You never know what treasures you’ll discover to enhance your quilting and fabric art.