I bought a simple T-shirt dress that I wanted to personalize. I found a stencil I liked for the design. using my Tsukeniko inks mixed with shaving cream, I sponged on the colour. I used Sky Blue lightly at the top getting darker and then mixing with Lilac and then fading out towards the bottom.
After the ink dryed and I heat set it, I added some hand stitching. Using a double thickness of heavy button thread I echo stitched around the stenciled image.
I think it looks adorable!
First Mavericks meeting of 2019. We got to see some hand dyed fabrics, see a piece in progress that needs some yarn embellishments and got to plan the next exhibit and challenge.
Hand dyeing fabric with natural dyes is very popular. Mavericks had a two day class in early January. Here are the results.
Do you want to know how to alleviate 90% of all your sewing troubles? Just learn about thread, sewing machine needles and the tension dials on you machine. If you do this with your machine, I guarantee you will have less frustration later and Aboid some of the typical problems.
That is exactly what we did today at our Fibre Artists Meet and Exchange (FAME) day. First we spent one hour going through a handbook I created and discussing needles, threads and tension. Everyone added their suggestions too so we had a lot of great information! Then we played with our machines to discover preset tensions and how to change tensions with regular 50 Weight thread in regular and free motion. Everyone discovered the ‘personality’ of their machine!
After lunch we had show and tell. Great work and ideas! Then back to playing with our machines by trying couching and bobbin work. Followed by some playing with make-and-take bookmarks and needle minders.
Everyone agreed that they would not take the time at home to ‘get to know’ their machine and were glad to discover so many tips in today’s class! Now we are ready for next weeks class on thread painting!
A few of the FAME participants trying out thread, needles and tension on their machines.
Ruth showing her Spoonflower print of a photo of a watercolour picture she painted. Ready for quilting.
Susan showing a pieces quilt featuring many of her own hand dyed fabrics.
Needle Minder directions and close up of the finished piece. It conveniently sits beside my sewing machine with a decorative straight pin marking the type of needle I have placed in my machine.
I mostly use Topstitch needles now. They work perfectly for piecing, appliqué, thread painting, garment sewing, etc. Basically any kind of sewing!
I love Topstitch needles for three reasons. 1. All topstitch needles have an elongated eye. That makes them easy to thread but more importantly there is less friction on the thread as it passes through the eye and consequently the thread doesn’t fray;
2. Topstitch needles have a deep groove for the thread to travel in (again reducing friction and fraying issues);
3. Topstitch needles are sharp enough to penetrate most fabrics and layers of fabrics.
Also, Topstitch needles are now available coated in titanium which lengthens the life of your needle almost 10 times. Basically, you don’t have to change your needle after 8 hours as previously recommended but only when you hear a change in the sound of your needle going through the fabric (about 60 hours) or when the needle breaks.
You can buy titanium coated Topstitch needles from Superior. They come in a plastic case of five needles for around $7. Or you can buy them directly from Organ, who makes them, in a foil envelope for even cheaper. Check at you Local Quilt Shop (LQS); if they don’t have them suggest they get them. A sewer really doesn’t need any other type of needle. Make sure you get all four sizes of Topstitch needles. You will want 70 for fine threads, 80 or 90 for regular weight threads and 100 for thick threads.
The only other needles I buy are Microtex needles. These are great for very fine detail work where you don’t want to see a hole where you stitch, or when using finicky metallic and Mylar threads. However, since switching to titanium coated Topstitch needles I use the Microtex needles less often.
Imagine.... what if not having sanitary supplies meant DAYS without school. DAYS without income. DAYS without leaving the house?
Girls use socks, mattress stuffing, newspaper, corn husks, anything they can find . . . But often miss 3 - 5 DAYS of school every month.
Resolving this issue is key to social change for women all over the world. The poverty cycle can be broken when girls stay in school.
Imagine..... What if your love for sewing, or your stash of fabric or cash donation, or your willingness to cut/iron fabric could help girls break free from poverty and reach their full potential? What if YOU could make a difference? You can!
And I can! And I did. At a sewing session at Mad B’s. Thanks to "DAYS for Girls - Gold Canyon AZ Team".
What is in a DAYS for Girls kit? 1 drawstring bag. 2 moisture barrier shields. 8 absorbent tri-fold liners. 2 large Ziplock freezer bags. 1 washcloth. 2 pairs of panties. 1 travel sized soap.
Many festivals featuring light occur here in the desert. Scottsdale has an annual Canal Convergence where artists creat art installations that are set up along the canal for 10 days. Very interesting and festive mood!
Infinity Crystal - uses form, light and mirrors to create the illusion of infinity.
Re-Cyclone - 20 foot tall sculpture made of 5000 upcycled plastic water bottles that illuminated as participants rotate it with a hand wheel.
Flotus - 12 polished aluminum lotus sculptures with LED lights and the ability to shoot flames up to 30 feet in the air. Spectacular light, fire and music show!
The November Mavericks meeting focused on various challenges issued a year ago.
The first photo is of the challenge "Free Reign" based on depicting carousel images.
The second challenge was "Fractired Flowers" where each participant made a simple flower block. Then the blocks were cut into four pieces, mixed and given out for the participant to finish. Here are some of the transfigurations.
Another challenge was "Yellow Brick Road". Each participant received a piece of paper with a flowing line traced on to it. Each participant was to use that pattern to design a piece of a yellow brick road.
The next two photos show work from a stamping class at Marla’s Marvellous Mansion with Randy Kemp.
The last photo is of an interesting scarf made from old silk ties made by Wanda. It is a great idea and set my mind to wandering!
