Vessels for Africa

I am working on my vessel construction.  I have been having technical problems with re-visiting the vessel I made in Mary McCauley's workshop.  (The wonderful twist is just not quite right. ) But---- I have a deadline to get two vessels ready for the friends that are hosting my grand-daughter in Zambia. So, while I work on the three-sided twist, I have made a pattern for a flat sided, open bowl.

My third oldest granddaughter has been talking for years about a trip to Africa to visit friends met here in America while the head of their family completed schooling.  At the time, they had 2 little girls and a third born while they were here.  My granddaughter babysat the children and become very close to them.  Since then,  the families have stayed in touch and after high school graduation and before school or career kicked in, an opportunity presented itself for her to visit.

She is there for three months - during  Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's.  Fabric vessels are light weight and a thank you gift is definitely in order.

The first vessel/basket has been constructed per Mary's lesson, with zigzag seams pinched to the outside of the unit.  This method allows the seams to be a design detail, and I have used a nice blue thread to compliment the orange commercial fabric.

The three-sided twisted vessel has been conquered! Thanks to the return of a copy of the pattern from a good friend.  I was "off" pattern by enough to have to start over.

Again, a bright commercial fabric was used and the same zigzagged seams were used on the outside to complete the vessel.  They will be hand delivered in January by my daughter.  I am anxious to hear all about the visit and all she learned.

Thanksgiving

I have much to be thankful for!  I live in a country of bounty.  I have  time and materials to be creative.  I have a supportive family.  I have had a rich upbringing, full of thought, experimentation, creativity. I have curiosity.  I like to learn. I have a church and faith. I am thankful.

A Small Stamping Project

I just do not want to get out boxes of stuff to do a quick 5 minute stamping project!!!!

Mary McCauley suggested using old file folders as trial vessel patterns.  They are the correct weight, seem to be laying around most homes and are recycled free supplies. I also use them for my final pattern pieces.  File folders are a much better option for non-standard templates than the 1930's cereal boxes.

For my project, I need to stamp a piece of fabric 10" x 16".  I used one side of an old-fashioned sheet protector.  You know - the hard cellophane like material, three hole punched with a piece of black paper inside.  If you have old file folders around the house you probably have a few of these.  I have used the stiff clear plastic to audition quilting designs, choose the perfect section of a fabric design and as a surface for a small amount of paint to do a small stamping.  It doesn't take up much table space, is flat, does not absorb paint and cleans up easily.

No muss - no fuss for a quick small project.

Veronica Challenge

We had another challenge from a photo.  This was done last year.  The picture was of ground cover, Veronica and succulents among rocks.

I mentioned in a previous post that I took it out of dog-sight.  Being displayed on the floor  made it a prime target for a teething pup.  You can see why in the picture below.

I worked on it and did not complete it because of the library show and the holidays.  I know----no excuses.  I almost gave up on the piece and put it aside as a learning experience not worthy of presentation,.  After working with Katie, I  changed the color of the flowers and made the feel and texture of the flowers more like the surrounding rocks.  There was a disconnect between the commercial flower fabric I had chosen and the hand created fabric I used for the rocks.  The dyed cheese cloth was much better, more natural.

I  worked on the transitions between elements in the piece and incorporated more hand- stitching .

After 3 months of staring and working, I thought Veronica was finished. The piece was a  vertical rectangle and I  put a small black binding on it.  I  added more French knots in the flower sections and reduced the puffiness of the purple flower, making them less exaggerated.

I worked with the SDA critique group and agreed the flowers were still not textured enough. They were still too puffy. More French knots.  And, I removed the binding, and trimmed the edges of the piece to create an organic shape. 

I have the piece displayed underneath a desk. I learned a lot on this journey.

Fabric vessels and Golden acrylic products

I constructed a trial vessel with a swirled pattern. I zig-zagged it together with the seams to the inside .  They were left raw.  I added some embellishment to the outside, just to see how it might look.  The construction was not precise - just together enough to get a feel for the form.

I am satisfied enough to attempt a finished product with this pattern and fabric.  I am using the sample to experiment with some Golden products as an exterior finish.

I brushed GAC- 700 on one section
I used matte medium on one section
I used heavy gel on one section
I used GAC- 400 on one section

I checked it out this morning.  I had marked each section with the product I applied. (organize and document).  The fabric had not darkened with any of the applications to a noticeable degree. 

The feel of the surface was definitely different.  So-      there is a decision to be made.  And I think that decision will be made on an individual basis.  To coat or not to coat.  On one hand a construction from fabric, feels like fabric whether it is interfaced for support or dyed or hand painted. The 'hand' and drape are  different but it still feels like fabric. Using a surface application such as these is like using product in your hair.  The hair feels different but is able to be styled in a certain way.

The GAC-700 is a clear sealing polymer.  I mixed it with paint. The result obscured the fabric print and was opaque, just as this acrylic paint would have been if used alone.  I would like to try it with a glaze.  For applying paint, I may want the fabric to be sealed as well.  This would be a good choice.

The matte medium dried leaving the section lumpy as if it slumped or shrunk while drying.  I don't think this a good choice for my purposes.

The heavy Gel (Gloss) has real potential for me.  In pieces that I want to imitate porcelain, this product creates a surface that shines, encapsulates surface applique, and looks solid and substantial. The surface feels smooth to the touch and has lost the sense of fabric while maintaining the detail and color of the print. It did leave brush strokes which may or may not be appropriate to a given piece.  The brush strokes may be eliminated with a different brush or a second application.  I will experiment more with this product.

The GAC-400 stiffens textile/fabric and is used in fabric sculpting. This section of the vase was not changed in color or print detail. It had no shine and did not create any reflection from light. It had a smother feel than untreated the fabric and was stronger.  I like this product.

I tried to crease each section and none cracked or held the crease.  Of course I didn't step on them. 
There are other product for me to look into.  Some I have in my studio.  New products will be made available.  This is an evolving experience.

Christmas Decorations

We are having a guest between Christmas and New Year's.  Now, just before Thanksgiving, I am considering getting the Christmas decorations put up inside the house.  Because of our guest, I am having second thoughts.

Our guest's name is Scout.  He is a 6 month old Black Lab puppy.  In a moment of weakness, my husband told our granddaughter he would watch him while they were out of town.

What can I put up?  Where can I decorate?  What will he eat?

The first thing I did was to take all the quilts that were casually, and really carefully, place on chairs in the living room and put them in the spare room.  It is not really a spare room, it is a needed and much used place to keep my art, some over sized and/or flat or rolled supplies and UFO's.  I took up my Veronica piece from its place on the floor under the desk and added it to the pile.  That was a no-brainer. Some doors will have to be closed!  I just can't put everything chewable  somewhere over 4' high.  Besides I'd never be able to reach the top of the piles.

I am a spreader and I do not have abundant room.  I don't always put things away.  Nothing is handy stuck away in a box on the shelf.  I know, excuses, excuses.

So - I have a few weeks to puppy proof the house and make it festive. Wish me luck.

Fabric Vessels

Mary McCauley - wow!  I took a class from Mary last year, designing vessel shapes and producing them in fabric.  It was a great workshop. I did a three sided vessel or 'form', since it did not have a bottom, it may not be a vessel.  It was amazing how the three sides lay flat as they were sewn together and the shape with a twist was made when the final side closed the vessel.
Torque! a standard vase or pot would not have had this result.

I am playing with vessel shapes, trying to produce forms, linings and original exteriors. I have read several natural history books lately and I think a vase, basket or vessel would be a good surface to use for small natural presentations, like bark or flowers or other details in nature.

During the last weeks I have had the time to rough out some ideas in my mind.  I have 'virtually' created.  Now I have to see if they can be physically created. It is a good feeling to have fabric in my hands again.