Collage Mania is about to start!

Virginia Spiegel dropped me a line to remind me that Collage Mania is Monday and Tuesday, in other words May 5 and 6.

I think it is going to be 2 days of total crazyness for Virginia as all you have to do is choose an artwork, e-mail Virginia and make a donation and that is that. So over the weekend I took time out and toddled off to check out the site. It was fatal as I spent hours browsing the gallery. Literally half a day was spent looking at one piece or the other so for eye candy don’t miss this site! The images here are just a bit of a taster. (Please see the image credits at the bottom of the post)

There are hundreds of collaged pieces to browse and delight the eye. So if you enjoy collage of either paper or fabric you will have hours of satisfaction browsing these images.

Do pop over and take a look and remember that all proceeds are donated to the American Cancer Society through Fiberart For A Cause.

While I was on Virginia’s site I checked out her blog. Apart from details about Collage Mania a few posts back I stumbled upon a very thoughtful post on “What Makes A Series Work” which is worth thinking about. The other project I delighted in is Virginia Spiegel’s personal challenge the Garbage Day Project. Do check it out as it had me wanting to reach for a camera and join in

Image Credits

Image 1 Collage by Karen Bettencourt
Title: e onziéme étourneau (the eleventh starling)
10″h x 8″w Old papers, acrylic paint, image transfer on canvas.

Image 2 Collage by Jennifer Black
Many Gatherings
7.25″h x 5″w Vintage sheet music, photo, envelope, and other papers; tissue papers; spine of an old book; paint, thread and old buttons.

Image 3 Collage by Susan Lenz
Remains of a Quilt
10″h x 8″w Leftover snippets from a silk painted quilt, paper, thread, acrylic gel.

 

A little thoughtful reading

This morning I have a little thought provoking reading so its time to pop the kettle on for a cuppa, and settle in for a few moments as these two links lead to some considered writing about craft and craft practice. Or you can take time out over the weekend and enjoy them then.

Lainie of Red thread studio has written an informative and thought provoking article on Sustainable Textile Resources

The first issue of the Journal of Modern Craft is free. The journal is a serious look at the subject of craft and addresses forms of making that “set themselves apart from mass production” So for those who say they create artefacts that are artworks or describe the objects they make as designed or part of the cultural revival of the hand made this journal is full of articles to make you think. In fact the contents will keep you busy for at least a week and give you something to ponder while working on your current project. Check it out as I said it free so mosey over there and browse the articles.

 

Fibre and Stitch is out!

Make a cuppa as Fiber and Stitch is out and there is 63 pages of inspiration, tutorials, articles and eye candy to enjoy.

Virginia A Spiegel has a very interesting article From Studio Journal to Art Quilt and Sue Bleiweiss illustrates how to customize a journal with her Fabric Wrap Journal instructions.

Added to my techniques to try is Sue Bleiweiss’s Paper Bag Surfaces as a base for surface design and further on in the magazine she has shown us how to create a painted canvas tote.

Margaret Roberts shows us how to make a felted dish and Terri Stegmiller’s article Scrappy wrapped coasters introduces a technique for creating bowls baskets vessels etc is very intriguing. Not only is the technique economical, it could be used with fabrics that are to be recycled but the technique looks to be versatile and quick.

Linda Stokes creates colourful shibori fabrics with transfer dyes. Jill Dian Izzard shows us how to create a silk paper banner while Debra Jo Hardman uses wash away stabilizer to create a thread scarf. Marylin Huskamp creates a fabric collage heart.

Terri Stegmiller continues her series of Text on textiles and Helen Suzanne Alexander in Depth and Distance discusses techniques for creating landscapes in fiber.

Inspired by a classic design from the 1500’s Carol McFee puts a very contemporary twist on a sweet bag

Anyone who is interested in contemporary textiles will be interested in the techniques highlighted in this issue of Fibre and Stitch . All projects and techniques are clearly photographed and illustrated which only makes for a more ‘I am itching to try this’ reaction. All up a very enjoyable issue which is well worth the cost of subscription. (I am not affiliated with this magazine and do not gain financially from it)

OK, after all this reading and browsing some great eye candy the ideas are popping and I am off the computer and into my studio.

 

Two links

Candida thoughtfully sent me this link to the Fashion Color Report for Fall 2008 - Check out the colours they look great

Arlee of Albedo has new tutorial on her site on making fabric ATCs and postcards Arlee style. This tutorial is described as emailable and printer friendly.

 

Gossamar Fuse - a product review

After my review of MistyFuse Dale at The Thread Studio sent me a sample of Gossamer Fuse which is a strong yet light weight web like fusable. It is an environmentally responsible product manufactured in Europe under strict green conditions. Dale also tells me that Gossamar fuse is packaged in Perth by Westcare which provides employment for disabled people.

Gossamar Fuse can can bond two fabric together and be used on all fabrics from a fine chiffon to heavy velvet. For me the key aspects of products like this is that the fabric still handles well after bonding. As a hand embroiderer I do not like any stiffness to result because of using a fusable.

When you place fabric bonded MistyFuse and fabric bonded with Gossamar Fuse side by side you can just feel the difference between the two. I tested both products on a fine silk using the same fabric and Gossamar fuse is ever so slightly firmer in the hand. Although this is of key importance to hand embroiderers like myself if you are a machine embroiderer I really think you would have trouble telling the difference but as a hand embroiderer I could feel the difference.

I thought you might like to see the fabric postcard I worked as my ‘test piece’. As you can see I once again put the product through its paces using a number of different thread types and stitches and it stood up very well! If you are interested in Gossamar fuse contact Dale at The Thread Studio

Please note: I am not affiliated with any of these businesses

 

Constance Howard Resource and Research Centre

I have been poking about the Constance Howard Resource and Research Centre in Textiles housed on VADS which is hosted by Goldsmiths College, University of London.

The collection houses images from Constance Howard’s Study Collection. Make your self a cuppa settle back and enjoy browsing these textiles.

I particularly enjoyed this modern sampler of geometric blocks and lines exploring surface and counted stitches, and this modern pulled work sampler, and this modern sampler of short lengths of different stitches. A sampler was worked in the 1930s and contains counted thread, drawn thread work, couching, needle weaving and a large variety of surface stitches. A small panel of appliquéd rag done in the 1980s still looks as if it could have been done last month. I really liked this metal thread work panel of a landscape.

There are many contemporary samplers on the site which I think people will enjoy. This sampler done in the 1960s is an interesting piece of canvas work and this piece looked as if it has been worked for TAST. I simply loved this little sample.

As I say make yourself a cuppa settle back and enjoy this collection as there is a lot there to look at and think about.

 

A call to collage and mixed media artists

I am not sure about you I know in between the bustle of Christmas and holiday season planning I am thinking about next year.
Virginia Spiegel is too as she has announced her latest fundraiser for the American Cancer Society on her blog.

Collage Mania II will be held in 2008 in early May. Scroll down this page for details.

As you can see this is a collage challenge as all materials are acceptable, but collages should contain some fiber (paper, fabric, or other fibrous material). This opens the doors to paper artists who may want to participate in Fiberart For A Cause. If you want to see some more eye candy from last year have look here

Image details:
Artist: Virginia Spiegel
Title: July 14
Size:8 in. h x 5.5 in. w
Materials: Tissue paper, rice paper, acrylic paint, ink.
Mounted on 8 in. w x 10 in. h Bristol board, signed, and dated
Copyright Virginia Spiegel

 

Virginia is fundraising again

Virginia Spiegel of Fiberart For A Cause, has started a series of giveaways of her online book, “Art, Nature, Creativity, Life.” as part of a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society. If you want more information about this see her blog here

And I just had to share this as a treat …

 

Who has used MistyFuse?

Sue Bleiweiss has posted a challenge on a No reverse applique technique using fusible web to applique complex shapes such as lettering. Sue uses a product called Mistyfuse which I have never seen available in Australia.

The only product I have ever used is Thermo Web Heat n Bond lite which although the product says it is ideal for sewing and quilting. However it still leaves the fabric feeling a little stiff which when it comes to hand sewing, annoys me. The firm foundation is great for machine embroidery and although it is possible to hand embroider through it for me it is not pleasant to work. Put simply, I prefer to do needle turned applique rather than use it. However for very small or particularly complex shapes you will need a product like this. For instance, I used this technique with Heat n Bond Lite for the negative shape in the brown section of this fabric postcard and for the Sax player and the jesters hat on this block. I could not have done these so neatly by hand. So these were stitched with gritted teeth!

Mistyfuse also claims to have run aging studies on their product. A study into the effects of adhesives such as fusible battings, interfacings, and basting sprays has been produced by the International Quilt Study Center at the University of Nebraska. It is available under the long title of The Effects of Light Exposure and Heat-Aging on Selected Quilting Products Containing Adhesives. The study carried out light and heat aging tests on many of the commercial products such as Stitch Witchery, Wonder-under, HeatnBond - which is the product I have been using. This report is well worth reading for anyone who uses any of these products but to return to my main train of thought I am very attracted to trying MistyFuse out because of their claims as to Mistyfuse being stable under UV light over long periods of time.
The Mistyfuse site does not say they will ship internationally. I have dropped them an email to find out. [update: they have replied saying they do ship internationally] I assume I can order it online from the site but does anyone in Australia know of a supplier of Mistyfuse here? Also has anyone tried both products and if so, how do they compare when it comes to the feel of the fabric when it is in your hand? I would love to know and may just have to buy some of the stuff to find out. I am sure others would too, so leave a comment if you have any information about these two products.

 

Fibre and Stitch is out!

It’s the 28th here and soon around the globe the date will tick over. With the holiday season just around the corner many of us are running around with long to do lists, and organising gifts, holiday plans or the worst part for me is cleaning! But you may like to take some time out for yourself, put your feet up, and read Fibre and Stitch as the second issue is out. What is in it this month? Loads of goodies.

There was a lot of chatter around the net about the first issue of Fibre and Stitch and I don’t think subscribers will be disappointed with the 70 page second issue. The magazine aims at textile practitioners who are interested in techniques that include, printing, painting, dyeing, and manipulating fiber to create complex textures for use as a foundation for, or along side contemporary embellishing techniques. If you are a traditionalist this is not a magazine for you.

This issue has two articles that were immediately printed and pasted into my notebook for future reference as they contain useful and informative information. In the first installment of a series on using text on textiles Sue Bleiweiss has written a detailed article on working with pens and markers. There is some very useful information in this article including how particular brands behave when washed. Margaret Roberts demonstrates how to print on fabric using an ink jet printer in Ink Jet Textiles and compares various products on the market.

There is a distinct book theme running throughout this issue. Carol Clasper in from Sketch to Stitch illustrates how she made her own sketchbook using Evolon and Punchinella which is otherwise known as sequin waste. This is a highly illustrated and detailed 7 page article that gets the creative juices going. In Keeping Tabs Teri Stegmiller creates a functional and ususual book using tabbed index cards. Gina Ferrari really sparked my interest with her small origami folded books which have decorated bonded covers as a Christmas gift problem might just be solved with this project. Another gift idea was provided by Carol Mcfee who shows us in clearly illustrated article how to make a concertina book with hand made papers. Sara Lechner in Book-Bag to go, creates an usual bag from wool roving and an embellisher and Linda Feldman show us how to make a fabric photo album

Non woven forms of fabric construction and manipulation is an area of texiles that enjoying a growth of interest. Felting is of course a time honoured manner of taking a a fiber and manipulating it until it is a textile. In this issue Marie Johansen looks a needle felting to make a contemporary small bag. By far the most interesting article to me is Sue Bleiweiss’s technique of using different shrinkage rates in fibers to create fabrics with interesting surface textures.

For those who enjoy free machine embroidery Carol Mcfee uses water soluble fabric to create a treasure box. Also contemporary thread painting for free motion embroiderers Terry White thoroughly explores pattern in Cover it with Stitches. Margaret Roberts shows you how to create small folding screens.

As you can sense I think the magazine is great with loads of ideas, inspiration and eye candy for anyone who interested in contemporary textiles. I was thinking I just need to find time to try them all when I read Sues “letter from the editor” as she has a few time management tips. Mmmmm… I guess its time for me to get on with day…