Yesterday I talked about the things that sparked the idea for Glory, a work that is currently on display at the Herbert C. Young Community Center in Cary, NC.
Sometimes it's a visual stimulation that sparks an idea - like walking ankle deep through colorful leaves. Sometimes it's a technique I want to play with - like digital printing on fabric. Sometimes its' a deadline - most often - it's a deadline. This time it was the convergence of all three.
Step one - pick up a handful of irresistibly glorious fall leaves every morning. Scan them at a very high resolution (600dpi).
Step two - Cut my Fabrisign2 Cotton Sateen into the sized sheets I want. Realize that while 13" leaves are amazingly cool - the canvases I've prepared for them are only 12".
Step 3 - Play around in photoshop and smoosh in as many colorful leaves per piece of fabric as I can. Print out tests of each printer setting to figure out how to get the best color on the fabric. Print leaves. Go OOOH!
Step 4- Fuse leaves to timtex - or whatever super heavy stabilizer I happen to have on hand.
Step 5- Free motion quilt the veins of each leaf. Straight stitch around the edge, cut it out, then free motion zig-zag around the edges.Step 6- 10 year old computerized machine finally fries the board. Go on Ebay and buy a Bernina 930 in frustration. I've wanted one for years anyway right? No computer. Workhorse! I'll be passing it on my my kids. Give up sewing for the night.
Step 7- Borrow a friend's machine, finish the edges. Use matt gel medium to glue each leaf to the painted canvas. Paint over the whole thing with gloss gel medium. I think I like the shine and it gives the leaves a bit more richness and depth but the stitching is still a wonderful element.
Which one is your favorite?
12 comments:
The textures on these are fantastic. Love that last one - gorgeous.
I also love the last one, but the others are pretty spectacular also.
Way cool! Thanks for sharing this technique which inspires me to give it a try. Sometimes wish my board would fry so I could go for a Bernina. You will have to let us know your experience with it.
Hi Lyric
I am curious if you did the freemotion zig-zag around the edges of the leaves with a Bernina? And, about what settings you used.
Love the color of your leaves! Thanks for all the detail on your method.
Judy
Judy - I had a Bernina 180 that I was using - that died.
I drop the feed dogs, use a free motion foot, and set the stitch width to whatever I prefer. Then I can go backwards or forward at whatever speed I wish to cover the edges. There are places that I change the thread color and go back over the stitching of another color to blend them a bit.
The "new" Bernina 980 looks a bit beat up and well used - but it hums along like a good old work horse. No computerized parts. The thing weighs about a ton. I'm happy. Still haven't heard back yet about whether or not the 180 is reparable.
Yum. Yum. Yummy Yum! Yum!!
WHOOAAAA... Lyric... I LOVE THIS IDEA... Ok.. I going to go dig in my box of press leave RIGHT NOW. Thanks for the inspiration!
What an amazing idea, it is beautiful. Thanks for sharing your process. I'm inspired!
OHMYGOD are these ever GORGEOUS!!! I love the stitching and gel medium together, and the composition is fabulous. Thanks for sharing!
Jane
They are all so pretty. I like the backgrounds as much as the leaves. Might have to drive out to Cary to visit them!
If you can make it, dome on the 11th at 10:30 am for a gallery walk with me - then a potluck lunch at my place!
Exquisite! I really like the first one -- the leaf looks like leather! But I LOVE the "decay" one for its wabi sabi nature and its gorgeous colors.
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