Stencilling, Stamping and Altering Fabric

Many textile artists and embroiderers have fabrics in their stash that no longer inspire them to create. Sometimes it is easy to alter them and give them a new life. The simplest is to look at the back of the fabric, the reverse can often provide a subtle and textured background or perhaps a sky. Overdyeing can also be effective. This month in our meeting we looked at using paint, inks and traditional paper craft mediums for work that will not be washed.

First up was a discussion about various mediums and techniques with lots of samples to refer to and then a few demonstrations.

Then it was time for everyone to try out the techniques that interested them.

Over stamping using acrylic paint mixed with textile medium

Stencilling

Mono printing

Painting or sponging 

Carol took a considered approach

And then tried everything or so it seemed

 

And for something completely different

Constructed fabric from Jenny using her needle felting machine

Detail of Laurene’s white work, lace cut outs attached to background fabric. The piece is quite long and perhaps a scroll.

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Messy Saturday

Each 5th Saturday of the month our group rents a large studio space at Shearer’s Arms to do the messy work we cannot do in our normal meeting place. This month we had 5 mini workshops which kept us all extremely busy. Thank you to all those who brought along materials and demonstrated techniques this month-Gillian, Anne, Laurene, Carol and Jo.

First up we coated calico in flour paste and hung to dry, some dried in time to paint, others will have to be finished at home-they will make good show and tell for our May meeting.

Anne then demonstrated several printing techniques using lino cuts and carved meat trays. Many ways of printing were shared including Pauline’s 2 year old home-made gelli plate. We all had a go at carving a piece of polystyrene meat tray and experimented with various other printing methods.

Next up Laurene demonstrated a very cool technique with sharpies and methylated spirits on lace and fabric. On with more experimenting!

 

Carol brought her very large folder of wonderful stencils and demonstrated her technique with brusho powder paints and gelato pigment sticks over stencils. That technique kept everyone busy for a long time as well as borrowing some of her variety of stencil designs.

Last technique was traditional marbling using dyes on fabric. Most of the work here was in preparation of the fabric-washing, scouring and alum soak and the mixing of the carrageenan bath. The first couple of pulls were a little grainy but improved as everyone had a try (photos to come).

Hope to see everyone at our May meeting for stitching on paper.

 

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Colourful October

This month’s meeting was entitled colouring cloth and many techniques were shared and experimented with;  dyeing lace, gelli prints, rubbings, stencilling and stamping. Here is a photo montage of the girls at work having fun!

 

 

 

Hope to see you all at the exhibition next week.

 

 

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Two Month Catch Up

We have just had another experimentation day with our Creative textile group and I managed to remember the camera, so this post will be a catch up for September as well.

Our September meeting was experimenting with stamping on pellon. Here are some gorgeous rich samples:

We also tried out some foiling on panne velvet:

 In our October workshop we all managed some fantastic results using felt or panne and cotton velvet, gesso, UTEE, embossing powders and stamps. This technique was very popular and I can see these motifs finding their way onto book covers, bags and other pieces of art.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our second technique this month was fusing chiffon onto stitched watercolour paper and stencilling xpandaprint.

These are samples before painting and gilding (I just love this effect!)

And after adding some colour:

These projects were all guided by Beryl Taylor’s great techniques book ‘Mixed Media Explorations’

And finally some wonderful cutwork applique that was brought for show and tell:

Just a reminder that the Golden Plains Art Trail is on the weekend of 24th/25th October. If you go to the link you can download the program. There is a group of fantastic textile artists displaying on the Saturday in Bannockburn. I will be going in the afternoon, so email me if you want to meet for a coffee.

Our November meeting will be playing with Tyvek and stitching metal. You should have the requirements as they were emailed last month. (Just email if you need another copy)

Cheers

 

 

 

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