Mixed Media Rust Quilt....

Click Images to Enlarge:

The central image of the trees and birds was the inspiration for this mixed media journal quilt.

I found a scrap of rust fabric leftover from a previous quilt and decided to go with a monochromatic color theme.

A used coffee filter and some old keys and butterfly hinge helped give this piece the "grunge" look.

"In the Moment"

Mixed Media Journal Quilt

I couldn't bare to cut the top off straight and remove that wonderful line of rust, so I left it at a 45 degree angle.

Random wavy lines of machine quilting added the perfect texture.

Wax coated string on the right

Rolled leather-like cord on the left

Gave this piece more dimension along with the hinge and keys.

I also bound the edge with the rolled cord.

CLICK HERE to view a Tutorial on Cord Bound Edge

Challenge yourself to go through your junk drawers, garage and yes the kitchen trash, to see what you can create. It is like a treasure hunt!

Lay out all your findings on the table.....then see what they inspire you to do...

CLICK HERE to see more Mixed Media Quilts

CLICK HERE to see my New Work

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

Quilting the Mixed Media Bird Quilt...

I decided to quilt grasses and leaves on this bird quiltlet.

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Machine Quilting Thread Audition

The quilting needs to be subtle and not compete with the strong visual images on this mixed media journal quilt.

This YLI Variations green thread should work...

Size 60 Needles

Because this piece contains paper, I am using a tiny 60 needle so I make very tiny holes in the paper portions.

The YLI Variations thread also works nicely in a 60 needle.

It is a 35 wt thread, but only 2 ply, so is thin.

Bobbin Thread

John Flynn designed this "So Fine" thread with Superior Threads.

It is wonderful in the bobbin.

It blends in beautifully on the back side of the quilt and does not call attention to itself, especially when the quilting is not the best it could be.

Bobbin Tension

So Fine thread is very skinny.

Be sure to tighten the tension screw on the side of the bobbin housing.

Righty Tight - Lefty Loosey

Adding some vine trim

I found this at the craft store with all the ribbons and trims.

I have had it for a year or more, and it has finally found a home on this quiltlet.

I Pinned it in place, then free motion quilted over the vine and leaves.

Detail View

" The Audition"

My friend, Virginia, saw the bird on the sheet music and decided he was waiting for his audition.........what a perfect name!

Camellia Bush

Thread Shed.....March 2010

CLICK HERE to see the previous post on this quilt.

CLICK HERE to see Tutorials

CLICK HERE to see the Design Wall

CLICK HERE to see my quilts on The Quilt Show

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

For The Birds......Mixed Media Textile Art

Playing with Mixed Media Supplies...

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Mixed Media Journal Quilt

Audition 1

Fabric Foundation has stabilizer on the back.

Song Book Paper, Bird image from a book, Packet of Seeds, Subscription card from a Magazine, Fabric with musical notes

Audition 2

I just had to add this second gold finch!

The more yellow I add to this piece, the better it gets.

Audition 3

I moved the little bird down to the bottom and moved the packet of seeds up top.

This allows the bigger finch to remain the focal point.

I used Gel Medium to hold everything down to the foundation fabric.

I am now ready to baste and get this under the needle...

Speaking of Birds.....

Bald Eagle

This big guy was in our back yard today.

This is his favorite tree.

He looks down on the river below and does his fishing from here.

CLICK HERE to view this completed journal quilt

CLICK HERE to see my Photography

CLICK HERE to see Tutorials

May Your Bobbin Be Full,

LuAnn

Sun Dyeing, Rust Dyeing, Gel Glue Resist, Threadplay, Paper Quilts

What a fun weekend.....Sun Dyeing, Rusty Dyeing, Gel Glue Resist, Threadplay, Paper Quilts.

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This is Hillary's Sun Dyed piece.

She came to spend a long weekend with me in the Thread Shed.

We managed to find time to make a few fun pieces.

This is my sun dyed piece.

Oak leaves and dandelions baking in the sun.

We used Tulip spray paint on white muslin fabric.

This is my Elmer's Gel Glue Resist piece.

Also made with Tulip spray paints.

I am patiently waiting 72 hours for the paint to cure before I wash out the glue.

This is the back side of the gel resist piece.

My next piece will hang directly from the clothesline while I apply the paint.

I am hoping to get some dripping lines in the paint.

This is what my rust dye piece looked like after 5 days of rusting in vinegar and salt.

On the 6th day I removed the plastic covering to allow it to completely dry.

It really darkened up in the oxygen.

This is the rust dye after soaking in baking soda and a good washing.

I plan to applique' big horses running across the fabric.

Maybe add a little metallic paint too...

It is getting down to the nitty gritty of what I can get completed for the quilt exhibit in September. I put a few journal quilts, in progress, up on the design wall to see which ones "move" me to work on them...

Suzy

Threadplay on Phototransfer

This journal quilt of my son's dog, Suzy, was the first to come off the design wall.

I really enjoyed thread painting Suzy's face.

The thread added such texture, even though it was white on white.

This is a close-up view of Suzy.

The photo transfer is clearly visible through the heavy thread play.

My thread of choice is Superior Thread Bottom Line. It is a fine 60 wt trilobal polyester that is perfect for heavy stitch work. It allows the photo to come through even after all of the thread work is done.

Home Sweet Home

Blue Jay Paper Quilt

This was the next quilt to come off the design wall.

Decorative stitching was all that was needed on this piece.

No free-motion quilting at all.

Suzy is recovering nicely from her surgery last week.

She looks like a flashlight with this plastic collar around her neck.

Thread Shed Hollyhocks

Old Fashion Single Flower

Orange Dinner Plate Dahlia

My favorite time to photograph the flowers is right after watering.

The droplets look wonderful on the petals.

Pink & Yellow Glads

Hillary went along her merry way today.......we had so much fun. I will miss her and I will think of her each time I look at the textiles we created together this weekend.

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

To see my New Work CLICK HERE

To see the Thread Shed CLICK HERE

To see my Exhibit Quilts CLICK HERE

To see Tutorials CLICK HERE

Quilts and Cattle

Yesterday I put together a few paper quilt tops

for a class I am teaching later this month.

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Home Sweet Home

Paper Quilt

Papers from a vintage song book and a vintage tree book.

I rip the pages free hand, I like the rough edge it creates.

Flower Song

Paper Quilt

I plan to do quite a bit of threadwork on the large rose in the center.

Doors

Paper Quilt

I found an old book of doors........so many great doors. I want to make another quilt like this with rustic barn doors.

Bison

Paper Quilt

These images came from several different books. I found some great old national geographic books at the thrift store with so many beautiful images.

All of these paper quilts are ironed onto a sheet of fusible web. This not only holds the papers together, but stabilizes everything. These will be layered onto batting and fabric backing and free-motion quilted and bound.

Rainy today.........good day to head to the Thread Shed and stitch.

When I opened the door, I could see I wouldn't be alone today while I sewed.

The yearling cattle were just outside the window near the barn.

Today I did some applique work on the Sunflower Quilt. I am trying to finish this 100 x 100 inch quilt this month. I have a few more days of stitching, adding a few more sunflowers, chickens and grass, basting and quilting to do. I hope to have it completed for an exhibit in September.

To see more on the Sunflower Quilt CLICK HERE

To see more on Paper Quilts CLICK HERE

To see my New Work CLICK HERE

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn