About 5 years ago we were in the midst of building a new house, renting too far away, dramas with teenage daughter, parents with health problems, etc,etc. You know the stuff.
I had been sitting in this no mans land for what had seemed like a long time when one day I picked up a copy of Cloth Paper Scissors at a news stand. As I browsed through this delightful mag I realized it had been years since I had produced any artwork. No wonder I felt a hole in my soul!
This magazine had little projects that I could do. Little challenges that wouldn't take up too much head space but would get the creative juices going again.
Today, I was in my studio working on my summer of colour project when I glanced up at my 'ideas' board and there looking at me was the first art quilt that I had made from a project in that first magazine.
This was all very new to me. I had painted on canvas and paper before and had sewn on fabric, but had never mixed the two. The exercise was to lay acrylic paint down onto cotton then quilt and embellish it. It wasn't until I had finished it and it sat around for a while did I notice how symbolic this image was. My doorway to a new start....
But that was a few years ago and this is now. So here I am playing again, but this time with dyes and fabric. All these different fibers went into the same batch of crimson dye. Isn't it interesting how they all take it up differently?
And here is a little peek at the layering of the fabrics on my shabby apron.
I finished the apron last night, so will put it up next week. For now its off to look for something for Paint Party Friday (maybe, if I don't go for a walk instead!)
P.S I just found my dashboard button (for blogger)after 3 days! It is the Blogger logo at the top. Of course! Silly me, trying to find a button called dashboard..... And of course you don't want to go to the dashboard from your post do you? No, you only want to make a new post then close that page which takes you to your editing page and THEN you get to press the logo to get back to the dashboard! Oh what fun! hurrumph! Test it on someone else guys!
Love your first quilt, and your red apron looks as though it will be great! Have a nice walk, Hugs, Valerie
ReplyDeleteLuscious crimson dyes...now I am looking forward to Red Week! Your symbolic first art quilt rings a bell with me, too! Hmmmm, now I feel like I must try to work out my own Blogspot frustrations....I must be missing something because I always want to get right to my dashboard, but have to go to the New Post page first, and that just doesn't seem right. I don't get it...(?) ~k
ReplyDeleteOh wow your pieces are gorgeous. Annette x
ReplyDeleteLol ~ that's telling them Julie! ;) I love your symbolic door, you should have that out somewhere to remind you of the start of a new chapter. :) Creating feeds your soul and you're so darn good at it! Yay for the drama that led you here... ;)
ReplyDeleteHi Julie. I love your first art quilt and how symbolic that little doorway has become for you. If this was your first effort I would have never know as it is fabulous! What fun reds your dye bath produced. I did the same thing years ago and was amazed at all the different shades from one same red color. Your apron sneak peek looks like lots of fun. Sunshine Smiles to you...
ReplyDeletewhat a lovely story - and how great that you kept that first piece! don't worry i struggle with technology too... ;-)
ReplyDeleteJulie I find your work really fascinating. These mixed media techniques you use with fabric and embellishments are quite inspiring with their delicacy and their beauty. And to think that you make your own paper and do all the dye work, wow, you're something! Your art quilt looks like a door to fairytale house.
ReplyDeleteWOW! Gorgeous pieces!!!
ReplyDeleteI love your first inspirational piece of art! Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your post! Thank You For Sharing. Hugs,Tee
A lovely post! I just can't wait to see your apron finished!
ReplyDeleteHugs. Jessi xox