Neocolor II Portrait Class......Photoshop Tutorial

Several students have requested help altering images

for portrait quilts.

If you are taking my

Adventures in Portrait Quilts Class,

I will provide an image printed on fabric for you.

However, you are welcome to print your own if you prefer.

Photoshop Elements Tutorial

Neocolor II Portrait

Preparing the image to print on fabric:

This is the image to be altered in Photoshop

American Goldfinch

Open your Photoshop Elements Program

Photoshop Elements 4

The program is open and ready to go !

Click on.......File

Scroll down & click on.......Open

A new window will open:

Choose the American Goldfinch image

The American Goldfinch image has been opened in Photoshop

Top right hand side

Click on.......Standard Edit:

Click on.......Styles & Effects

Scroll down and double click........Photocopy

This will remove all of the color from the image

The image is now in black & white:

The image may be too large for the window...

At the bottom left side of the window...

Click on...... 100%

Click on........Fit on Screen

The image will now fit in the window

There are sliders on the top right side...

You can adjust the Detail & Darkness

of the black and white image if necessary.

Then, Click.......OK

Your altered image is complete

You may need to crop the image:

Click on........Image

Scroll down and click........Crop

The software crops the photo

(see the darker areas, they will be cut off)

I moved the cropped areas so the bird is in the center.

(notice the dark areas have changed from above)

Click.......Crop

The cropping is complete on this image

You need to check the Image Size

This will enable you to print the proper size image onto your fabric.

Click on.....Image

Scroll down to.....Resize

Slide over and click on.....Image Size

This new window will open up:

Look for:

Document Size

Width & Height

If you are printing your image onto

8.5 x 11 inch commercial fabric sheets,

put 11 in for the width.

The height will automatically set itself.

When I print on my widepath printer

I set the width and height for 13 x 19 inches.

SAVE your new altered image

CLOSE the new altered image file

This is the new altered image icon

on the desk top

Your altered image is now ready to be printed on fabric.

You can use commercial fabric sheets purchased from your local quilt shop, fabric or craft stores.

You can also iron fabric to the shiny/waxy side of freezer paper and run that through the printer.

CLICK HERE to view Portrait Class Information

Sign Up Now !

CLICK HERE to view Neocolor II Portrait Tutorial

CLICK HERE to view Full Curl Portrait Quilt

CLICK HERE to view Zinnia Portrait Quilt

CLICK HERE to view the Portraits on Fabric Class Slideshow

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full of Portraits,

LuAnn

Cord Bound Edge Treatment......Tutorial

I thought I would share a quick tutorial on an

alternative edge treatment for an art quilt.

This is how I add a cord to the edge of the quilt:

Click Images to Enlarge:

This corded edge is another option for your art quilt bindings.

Choose a decorative stitch...

Stitch it all the way around the edge of your quilt.

I prefer a stiff cord...

like this rolled leather-like cording.

I use a thread that matches the cord color.

Zig Zag Stitch the cord to the edge of the quilt.

Be sure the needle goes all the way to the

right outside edge of the cord.

Do not stitch into the cord.

When you come to a corner stop stitching a few inches away.

Bend the cording to line up with the corner, like in the photo below.

By bending the cord before you get to the corner,

there is no distortion of the quilt.

Continue sewing down until you reach the bottom of the quilt...

An open toe applique foot gives the best visibility for this technique.

Keep the needle in the down position on the outside edge of the cord.

Keep the cord pushed up against the needle.

Raise up the presser foot...

Gently pivot the quilt around...

Keeping the cord against the needle.

When lined up straight with the next side of the quilt,

Drop the presser foot and continue to sew the next side.

Repeat this process until you are on the fourth and last side of the quilt.

Continue stitching until you are a few inches from the beginning of the cording where you started from.

Trim the end so it is flush against the beginning of the cord.

You just want the two ends to kiss together.

Continue to stitch the cord to the side of the quilt edge.

I stitch over the beginning stitches for a half inch or so.

Then I do a teeny tiny straight stitch to lock it in place.

This makes a nice finish.

Alternative Edge Treatments are just one more way to add the last bit of design work to your art quilts.

CLICK HERE to see the completed quilt

Learn this Cord Bound Edge Treatment in my

Adventures in Mixed Media Class

CLICK HERE to find out more

CLICK HERE to view my Art Quilts

CLICK HERE to view Traditional Binding Tips

CLICK HERE to view Curved Binding Tips

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full of Bindings,

LuAnn

Painting Fabric Tote Bags.....Tutorial

I spent the day with Textile Paints...

What Fun!

Click Images to Enlarge:

Painted Fabric Tote Bags

I broke out the stencils...

Here is a quick tutorial:

Stencils with big, open areas work best for textile painting.

Secure the stencil to your fabric with blue painters tape or spray adhesive on the back side of the stencil.

These are Cedar Canyon Stencils

JanniLou Creations Quilt Shop carries them.

Plastic margarine lids make a great palette for your paints.

Lumiere Metallic Textile Paints are my choice on Black Fabrics.

Just a light coating of paint on your stencil brush is all you need.

Notice how I pounce the paint onto the palette, this eliminates too much paint on the brush.

Use a separate brush for each paint color....very important!

Start with the lightest of the 3 paints...mine is Gold

Using a stencil brush, pounce the paint along the veins of the leaf.

(use an up and down pouncing motion to work the paints into the fabric)

Do not move your brush in a circular motion.

If you look at a leaf, the veins are brighter than the leaf. By choosing your lightest color of paint, you will highlight the vein areas.

Next, use your medium color....mine is Bronze.

Fill in half of the available unpainted areas.

Leave room for your last color.

Last, apply your darkest color.....mine is Russet.

Fill in the last of the unpainted area.

Then, lightly pounce over the entire leaf...

This will blend all 3 colors together.

The BIG Reveal...

Carefully peel back your stencil...

Maple Leaf

The edges are crisp because I use a dry brush.

If you have paint leakage, you are using too much paint, or your stencil is moving.

This leaf is lonely.....needs more.

Maple Leaf..... Tote Bag

I like the extra leaves to run off the edges...

Oak Leaf.....Tote Bag

Painted Fabric Tote Bags

These are last minute holiday gifts!

A Special Thanks to my fellow instructor,

Nancy Bryant, for introducing me to the world of Textile Painting.

You are a Peach Nancy!

CLICK HERE to view all of my Tutorials

CLICK HERE to view Photo Transfer Work

CLICK HERE to view Woven Quilts

CLICK HERE to view Adventures in Textile Painting

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn