Working with Fabrics - Wall Hangings

Fabric Wall Hangings

In the video I share with you a series of wall hangings I created called Forgotten Stories.  Here is how they progressed.

At this point I had painted the fabric pieces and started to add the jewelry and the beading.

I taught myself some simple quilting techniques and ran with it.  I knew I didn't want to make a large quilt, just used some of tips that I needed as I learnt.

Very often we stop ourselves from doing things because we don't have the resources, or skills, but you can learn the techniques as you go along, don't wait until you are an expert as you might find that you get some great results from the process as you go along.  In my research I learnt about the quilts of the Underground Railroad, the messages and symbols contained in them and will share more in another post.

There were several things that I loved doing with these wall hangings, 

•  the process of painting the pieces of fabric, 
• using the range of colors and also 
• creating the marks and designs that seem to come together when they were taken to the next stage and stitched

I called the series of wall hangings the Forgotten Stories.

Forgotten Stories Series

I started creating the series quite a while back and spent a lot of time selecting fabric and hand painting the fabric using a variety of acrylics, fabric paints and later on embellishments.  I never used to have so much patience to create the amount of detail that you see in these pieces, but learnt that the messages come out over time, and in different ways. 

The idea behind the series for me is the forgotten stories that  are told in communities and would traditionally be handed down as you sit around a fire, or people would gather round the village stories tellers.  I also wanted them to capture the essence of a short story that I had written where a young girl accompanies her mother to a fabric store and the owner begins to share how far the fabric has traveled and what all the signs and symbols mean.

With each pattern having a meaning. These stories tells of the kings and queens, the daily lives of a village who did what their accomplishments, the travelers of the land, the trade between the villages and the things they produced.  The carrying of spices, and precious jewels across sand dunes, forests and seas.

The symbols that tells of the strength the technology and skills that were the cornerstone of populations

Charting the journey of the different tribes, showing the gifts the abilities that resides unto this day.

Once each panel was complete I began to add the beading and embellishments to decorate.  You can see a bit of the process in the video above.

Forgotten Stories - Blue

I love the way the pieces turned out and the color mixes.

As my fabric pieces tell their story I hope they will inspire you to share yours.  Art for me is about how we use it to express our ideas, thoughts - our truth and is a tool that can bring a voice to every situation.

Let me know how you use fabric in your work and to express ideas.  If you are looking for additional ideas for using fabric then check out some of the links below for ideas, supplies and more!

Adorn it 

Dollar Tree 

Blick 

Stampington 

C& T Publishing

Craftsy Kits

Material Mondays - Fabric Wall Hangings - Love is the Key

It has been a while since I make one of these as they are quite detailed and there are so many different directions that I love working in as a mixed media artist.  I think that these satisfy the side of me that likes order, my left brain side that wants things organised and put in its place.

With each one I make I learn and experiment that much more in an attempt to encourage the tools to do what I am visioning in my mind.

Sourcing the embellishments and jewelry to use are also great fun, and then the placement of each is equally as important as selecting the colours to use in the overall composition.

The colours and the textures blending together all with a purpose, a story, thought or memory as the backdrop to the piece.

I have several more that I am working on that will be part of the 'Piece of Me' exhibition next year, and I look forward to telling you more about it soon.  

Next week I will be sharing with you ways in which you can use Chamois leather in your creative projects!

If your interested in learning new techniques check out Craftsy below.

  

Crochet, Knitting and much more! Every Monday on Material Mondays I share a project that involves either working with fabric in some way or crochet. If you want to learn how to crochet or work with fabric and a number of other courses, then check out Craftsy. For all new subscribers they have a selection of free online classes, and are always running a special offer on some of their fee paid classes.

Mini Wall Hangings

Mini Wall Hangings and Art on display

As part of my stall last year at the EEC Christmas Fair weekend I had created some mini wall hangings, that proved to be very popular.  I had made a range of them, finding it quite relaxing to put them together.  They can be given as an accompaniment to a gift or on its own wrapped in tissue and presented in their own bags.

Here are some of the selection, they can be made with messages or words that mean something specific to you

  

I played around with beads and embellishments to change the look and the feel of each of the wall hangings

You can add additional personal messages at the back of the wall hangings. They are really easy to make and look so effective.

  

I will be sharing next week a tutorial on how to make them so do come back and have a go yourself, you will be surprised to know that you probably have all of the materials that you need.

Stay blessed and be a blessing!

Material Mondays - Wall Hanging - Fabric Art - Expression

It has been a while since I did a post for Material Mondays and I have been busy trying to complete the stitching and also source embellishments and beads, which have been great fun, in between doing other creative projects.

Here is the one I have finished and I have called it Expression - measuring 8.5 x 8.5 inches.  I really enjoyed completing this one with the beads and other embellishments.  I had found some really pretty jewelry pieces that I was able to add to the painting.  

The pink and white beads are slightly iridescent and have a shimmer to them when the light hits them.  All the colours complement each other and the piece is finished off with a bamboo rod with a silver chain so that it can be hung.

Let me know what you think.  Have you experimented with fabrics,  and embellishments, what is your favorite?  If you would like to purchase this I will be putting it for sale on my Etsy store

Material Mondays - The Conversation - Mixed Media Fabric Wall Hanging

Welcome to Material Mondays, it is great to have you come and visit and see what I have been up to in the studio.  I have found over the past year as I am sure that I have said in previous posts, that I have really enjoyed working with fabric.  From painting, sewing, embellishing and seeing not only what you can come up with creatively but where you can take the fabric that you are working on using different mediums and tools to enhance your project.

These fabric pieces have been real projects for me as they take time to complete due to the more intricate work that goes into adding the beads to the pieces.

But the joy is not only in adding the beads but selecting, and sorting.  I have been making many trips to my charity store to see what jewelry and embellishments they have, and have come across some unusual and very pretty finds.

This latest piece is called The Conversation.

 Do let me know what you think, leave a comment and share what you have been working on, does it inspire you to give this a go?  Or even add an element to your creative projects.

Stay blessed and be a blessing!

Material Mondays - Embrace Me - Mixed Media Wall Hanging

I have been hooked on creating these wall hangings for quite a while, and haven't lost my zeal for creating them.  I have a few more ideas that I want to try out and because of the time it takes to complete need to make room for them.

I started this one about a month ago, laying down the initial colours and adding the machine stitching.

It is called 'Embrace Me' measuring approximately 4"x8" and the majority of my work that I create is about relationships. 

The relationships that we have with others and the one that we have with ourselves, how we encourage and support our selves, being gentle with our hearts.

The thing that takes time is the embellishing but it is such a therapeutic activity that you can get lost in.  It is also an activity that you can do while sitting with the family and not feel as if you have shut yourself away in the studio, again these wall hangings remind me about the relationships that I have with others.

   

Thanks for stopping by Material Mondays where I share a project that involves either working with fabric in some way or crochet.  If you want to learn how to crochet or work with fabric and a number of other courses, then check out Craftsy.  For all new subscribers they have a selection of free online classes, and are always running a special offer on some of their fee paid classes

Check out some of their courses!

Material Mondays - Quilted Art Wall Hangings

 Fabric Art

Beginning layers of paint are applied

About a couple of months ago I started some fabric art projects, that used  some quilting techniques, while including beading and other mixed media materials.  I have been quite pleased with them and shared them HERE.

I have been progressing with the fabric projects and produced one above and shared it in its early stages on my instagram account.  

I liked using the paints on the fabric and using colours some of which were my favorite.  I quite liked the piece as it was but wanted to add additional paints, and then incorporate beads and stitching within.

The paint and gave the figure a bit more form and as I continued a story began to unfold.

wall hanging as it progresses

The piece measures 22.5 cm by 23 cms and was the type of project that you couldn't complete in one sitting.  I loved adding the beading, and the hand and machine stitching.  In the background I used a variety of stencils and doodling with pens and metallic paint.  It is a great way to add additional colour and sparkle!

Here is the finished piece, I attached a willow stick to the back of the fabric and added a cord to allow it to hang

Adding the beads to the fabric was very therapeutic, having to take the time for each individual bead allowed me to think about the creative process and unwind.  I also visited the charity shop and got some jewelry and found some really lovely pieces that I will be using in future projects.

Every hand stitch and machine stitch was part of the creative process.  I used the machine as if using a pen, and allowed doodles to form on the fabric.

I allowed myself to experiment, there was no right or wrong just allowing freedom in expression...

I realize how much I enjoy making these wall hangings and will be making more and make some available for purchase.  I find that these mini wall hangings allow me to get involved in all the disciplines that I enjoy without it being a massive project, it also allows for stories to come forth - not only in words but in materials, patterns and color.

Get out your fabric and other supplies and see what you can come up with!  I would love to have your comments, blessings!

Recycled Projects - Mini Wall Hangings

What do you do with all your paper and card scraps?  Why not create some mini wall hangings?

Mini wall hangings

I have wanted to make these mini wall hangings for such a long time but kept putting it off and finally got round to it.  

What delights do you have in your scrap boxes

They are a great way for recycling cardboard, scraps and odds and ends in your supplies that are too nice to throw away but are too small to be used on their own. 

Simple additions make mini pieces of art!

I have 3 containers labelled as ‘scrap’ that had come from the off cuts when I was creating other projects and I am determined before the end this year to use them up and make room for other things.

On each of the sections you can also create them and apply a selection of images of your favourite things, encouraging words, even some art work.  

You can change up the shape of the arrangement of the wall hangings....

create a variety of sizes

......depending on where your imagination takes you and the space you have to hang them, choosing to make a feature of them or use them as creative reminders.

They could make lovely presents and you can create some that the recipient can put their own photos.   

Creative reminders

Some other ideas that I might try is trying some transfer images, or making them thicker and larger in size.  Because they are made from cardboard they are also lighter in weight than if you were to make them from clay.  I really like them and look forward to seeing what you create and how many ways you can come up with the layout. 

I hope you have a blessed weekend, and allow your creativity to push back the boundaries in order to allow yourself to really soar!

Come back on Tuesday to see how I made the Wall Hangings in Tutorial Tuesday. Do share creative ways in which you have used recycled materials and leave a comment below.