Handmade Book, Recycled Book

Two books for gifts

Handmade book - the pages were from vintage books, envelopes, music etc which I coloured with paint. I've collaged a plain thin piece of paper to each page so that it can be used for writing in. I used a zutter binder to make the holes and attach the wire.

Recycled Book, a new book from an old one. The cover was printed on t-shirt transfer paper and transferred onto fabric, which went quick thick and shiny [probably kept the iron on too long], but I liked the effect. I embellished it with a bit of stitchery and beads.

I collaged each page with art work, found papers, printed papers etc

This image below shows most of the pages, you'll have to click on it to see it more clearly.

Evolon Samples

I've been experimenting with evolon for a possible art quilt.

Evolon is a non-woven microfilament fabric which you can paint, dye, distress, sew, cut, glue and embroider.

Top - I used heat transfer paints on paper and then transferred the image by ironing onto the evolon. The fabric will melt if it gets too hot but I didn't have any melting problems with this sample. I drew some of the decorative marks on afterwards with a fabric pen. 

I dismissed this option for the quilt as I find it very difficult to get an even colour, notice the lighter patches although it's probably my ironing technique and I'm not too sure about the look of it.

Below - Inkjet print. I ironed a piece to freezer paper and used it in the printer. The fabric had been folded and had creases which I tried ironing lightly to remove but as you can see they are still there. It has printed very well but the ink caught on the crease and left some black marks. These are only tiny but it has put me off using the printer in case I ruin it. I would need to print some larger pieces for the quilt so I have dismissed this method for the quilt. You can purchase evolon in sheets for an inkjet, but I purchased yardage.

TAST 16 and Orange Bird

Take a Stitch Tuesday - the stitch this week is French Knots. I like this stitch and I use it a lot in my embroidery. On my fabric journal page I also have running stitch, feather stitch and blanket stitch. The base is a patterned upholstery fabric and on this is transfer printed lace [2 pieces], a small square of digitally printed fabric [my design] and a flower which was machine stitched and adorned with beads and French Knots. If you would like to see more of my embroidery look here

I made this little felt bird last week, both sides are embroidered but differently.

Transfer Printed Doodle Ribbons

A friend gave me a roll of paper a while ago, looks a bit like a till roll but I don't know if it was one. Anyway  I thought I would use it to transfer print some ribbon. I have a few different kinds of transfer crayons such as the ones shown in the above photograph. Most ribbons are ideal for transfer printing as they are made from man made fibres which is the kind of fabric you need for the most successful transfer prints. The colours always look different to the actual crayons. I used the roll of paper for the wide ribbon but for the narrow I just used a slice cut from a sheet of inket printer paper [don't use thick paper, the thinner the better]. After drawing your doodle on the paper, iron it onto the ribbon.

Crayons being quite fat, you'll not get delicate looking patterns, but you would not find any like these in a shop!

Oriental Sea Transfer Printed Fabric

After doing the swarm picture the other day I remembered about a length of cloth I did similar to the background which has been just sitting in my drawer for a number of years. I didn't have any photos of it on the computer as it was made when I was at college -pre digital camera. It is a transfer print - ie I painted the paper with transfer paints then transferred the design onto man made fabric with a large heat press. Even on a large heat press the fabric had to be moved along as the fabric measures 294 cm x 60 cm. [nearly 3 metres long] To add extra interest to the painting I stitched the fabric and sandwiched objects such as dyed feathers and dyed cord, paper etc between the transfer paper and fabric. Another reason why I hadn't done photos of it is because I couldn't find anywhere to hang it to show all the length. Curtain poles are not high enough, my rooms are not high enough, so I laid it on the floor for the pictures below. The colours start light at the top and then deepen, the darkest being at the bottom. I still like it, but it doesn't go with anything in my house.

The piece was hung in the Durham Oriental Museum with the work of the other college students. Why do I call it oriental sea you may ask? Because the work was inspired by the sea paintings of Katsushika Hokusai.

Transfer Printed Shopping Bag

Another bag I did late last year. this one is made up digitally and printed on transfer paper, then ironed onto the ready made bag. It's a bit yellowy, maybe I left the iron on a bit too long! The woman was a photo of a sculpture [it was in a flat my daughter was renting] and there are altered lace images including one I put around the neck, and a vintage letter and postcard

Bookmaking - Album 2

I've been making another book, another album for Emma's step Gran.

I don't have a sewing frame, so I just used the edge of the desk.

For the ends, I cut up an artists canvas board [I got some in a sale at the supermarket] and covered it with white cotton fabric [& wadding]. The fabric was deocorated [before covering the boards] with a photo I printed onto a heat transfer sheet [T- shirt transfer] and two strips of lace. The lace was held in place with Raised Chain Stitch - the foundation stitches were in two colours [I had stitched them too far apart, so stitched in between with a different colour - it looked quite attractive without the chain stitch]. I also stitched a few French Knots on the lace and all around the photograph.