Fat Book Pages

The first pages inside the fat book. If you've been following my blog you may have seen some of the items on these pages, for instance on the left page above is one of the tast challenges [133] and a piece of clay work on the right. Both background pages have been hand painted/printed, have organza layers and painted lace.

The next two pages are also hand printed/painted. More clay on the left under plastic netting and on top of organza and hand made paper. On the right is another Tast challenge [129].

New Fabric Book

I didn't know what to call this book but as it is the fattest one I've ever done I thought I would go with fat book. I don't think I would do one this fat again.... .the first cover I did for it didn't work out too well. I used my old trusty rolling stamps on the fabric below.

SC - Trees

The sketchbook challenge theme this month is trees.

These were all drawn on my tablet, I used Photoshop Touch [above] and Autodesk Sketchbook Pro [below] on a Samsung Galaxy Note Pro.

I drew a simple line tree... then added a bit of colour

..and a bit more

Woman

Drawn on my tablet. For her mis-matched clothes I used some of my work - embroidery sample for her top and an applique for the skirt.

TAST 133

Take a stitch Tuesday - Triple chain stitch

Stitched on aida - does it look different to normal aida? It has two layers of coloured organza and a layer of net on top of the aida but below the stitching. Painted lace, more organza underneath on top of hand painted fabric.

And some personal news - my son and his girlfriend came back from a trip to New York engaged. It's taken him a while to propose, I think it is eleven years they've been going out together. The strange thing is, when I put my hand in the bag of potatoes to make dinner I came out with a heart shaped potato. How weird is that?

Altered Calendar Journal

A friend thought I could do something with an old Somerset Studio art journal calendar dated 2003 so I have decided to alter it. I'm leaving one side of each page as it is which is art works and am altering the calendar part of the book. On this collage I have used a page from an old book, music, envelope, print of a postcard, vintage negative film which I stitched on and real flowers under plastic held on with tape.

Mixed Media Leaf Picture

Embroidered and layered background and tablet art leaf drawing on top.

Droopy Tulips

A tablet drawing.

I've almost finished another fabric book, just got the end pages for each side and the cover to do, then join it all together.........etc.....

Doodle

Birds

Collage, pen, brusho, aquamarkers

Flower Girl

A page from my sketchbook

Bunny in a Pocket

The first page of a new sketchbook, I say new but I actually did this in April.

Collage.

Pot Coaster and Peg Dolls

Two more 'play' day. Last week at Helen's we used more of her bondawebbed backed scraps, this time with the addition of brightly coloured iron on binding. I stitched over it later and put on a backing and wadding. I made a right dogs dinner of the edges which I could alter but it doesn't show up so much on my black granite worktop so I'll probably leave it..

The last play day we decorated old fashioned dolly pegs.

I wasn't too happy with my offering. She's standing over the edge of a glass, that is why her shirt sticks up on one side. Pipe cleaners for arms.

But I thought Helen's looks really good. 

Pink Flower Head

I used the mirror tool in sketchbook pro on my tablet so both the sides are the same.

TAST 132

Sharon at Take a stitch Tuesday calls this Kiko's Flower stitch which is made up of buttonhole wheel stitch and a bullion knot. I've made them into flowers and in the centre there are French knots or beads. Read more about the stitch at Pintangle.  

Vegetable Drawing

My plan was to post a photo of the new TAST stitch which I have done but I didn't notice that my camera wasn't set right and the picture looked bad. So here is a drawing of vegetables to be going on with.

Floral Art

Created on a tablet. I used the mirror tool in sketchbook pro so that both sides of the flower were the same.

Big Head

Apples

Tree, Flower and Helen's Quilt

A couple of creations drawn on my tablet. I used one of the brushes in sketchbook pro for the tree stump and branches.

I don't know if anyone remembers that I was going to enter a quilt in a competition [Imagine - Patchwork Europe] but I didn't finish it in time for entry. Well I didn't enter but my friend Helen did and this is her lovely quilt 'In the library at night'. I'm not surprised she won a prize - well done Helen! Click on the image for a closer look.

Beaded Lock Stitch

Take a stitch Tuesday [TAST 131]

Three variations of beaded lock stitch. Stitched on an aida band with cotton pearl threads.

I think I should have straightened the beads out a bit on the left hand row before taking the photo, they're supposed to be opposite each other.

Join in the challenge at Pintangle or see more embroidery.

Wood Nymph Doll

I finished my cloth doll about a week or so ago. Been waiting for a bright day to take photos.

The pattern I used for the doll body was Anastasia from the Jane Horrox book - An introduction to making cloth dolls.

For the body, arms and legs I dyed the fabric with spray on color wash by Adirondack (pesto and butterscotch). Then I applied freehand machine embroidery to the arms and legs. I used filmoplast instead of using an embroidery frame which made it easy to embroider, but it made it more difficult when I came to stitching the limbs onto the body because it was very hard to get a needle through. I probably shouldn't have embroidered right to the edge.

I used layers of organza for her outfit and decorated with beads.

I used a feather boa for her hair and I coloured a small fascinator for a hat. The fascinator I found in the pound shop. I already had a little chair that she sits nicely on.

Stumpwork Heads

This week the 'play day' with friends was at my house and I decided we should make stumpwork heads. It is years since I've made anything like this but was reminded about stumpwork after looking at a head on Queenies blog recently.

Marian made a girl with bunches

and Helen had Christmas on her mind

Variations of Lock Stitch

Take a stitch Tuesday [TAST] 129 - Lock stitch and 130 -  Double lock stitch.

Lock stitch is made up of a row of vertical stitches which are then laced. I alternated the size of the vertical stitches on the top row, two tall, two short for variation.

The fabric was a small roll I picked up at the pound shop, sold for crafts and card making.