Thursday 16 May 2013

Healing Pause

With complications following on from my accident and broken arm/shoulder, I have sadly decided I need to pause this blog until things have healed.

Although there is little I can do at the moment, I have a lot of thinking time. I have so many exciting projects that I will launch in September - starting with:

101 Free Motion Quilting Cameos

full of new patterns, designs and ideas for free motion quilters using a domestic sewing machine.

Thanks for dropping by and I look forward to seeing you again in September.










Friday 10 May 2013

surface design with procion MX dyes

As in the previous post, these couple of abstracts are done with (an old!) credit card. This time, the card was not so loaded, so no beads of dye around the edges. I've created movement by dragging the card in a curvy waves.


The 'doodling' is again done with a needle-nosed bottle. I've aimed at imitating a script without it actually saying anything. 


I really enjoy working with the effects you can create using a needle-nosed bottle. It took me a long time to find a supplier in the UK (Art-van-go has them). Then a friend produced the bottle her home hair-dye kit comes in. Identical! So if you are having problems finding a needle-nosed bottle - go and buy some hair dye.


I've used turquoise and charcoal dyes, which of course mix to give lovely shades of teal.

Tuesday 7 May 2013

printing paper and fabric with procion MX thickened dyes

My free motion quilting project is now sadly on hold while my broken arm mends, so I thought I would use the time to post another project  I did on printing paper and fabric with procion MX thickened dyes.

These two abstract designs are done using an old credit card to scrape thickened turquoise and lemon dyes onto paper. The darker lines are made by using a heavily loaded card that leaves thick streaks. On paper, leaving white areas added texture and lightness, but didn't look so good when I tried it on cloth.


This next one has no white left. I have also added scribbles using a needle-nosed bottle. The thickened dye needs to be quite a bit runnier for this.


Saturday 4 May 2013

broken arm interrupts fmq

my plan was at least one post per week - but I've just had a bad fall and broken my right arm in 2 places, so no pictures today! No quilting for weeks either this is really bad news.

I've got some photos of already completed work which i will post in a few days.