Material Musings - Fabric Art Cards

 

Check out the Video

Welcome to Material Musings, In todays episode we look at ways that you can use your fabric scraps and create a series of fabric cards.  

By stitching your scraps of a base fabric, adding decoration and stitched words you can make use of the scraps and turn them into something useful.  You could also make things like placemats, coasters, covers for art journal and more.

With the addition of stitched words you can further add to your pieces.  You can also add a small woven piece to add to your fabric cards.  All of the additional fabric has either been painted, stamped, stenciled or wax resisted. 

Try and experiment and see what combinations you can come up with.

Before You Go check out - Bag Envy

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3 Organizational Tips for Sorting your Fabric Stash

As you build your own fabric collect of painted fabrics and textiles while they can be the start of some beautiful creative projects you have to also think about how you store and maintain your collection.  When things are all over the place it can become overwhelming and a barrier to spending time in your creative space, so I have three simple tips to help you keep on top of your growing fabric collection and make them readily accessible: 

Embrace Categorization:

The first step is to create a system that separates your fabrics based on type of fabric and color. Group similar fabrics together, like all your cotton fabrics in one section, silks in another, etc. Within each type category, further subdivide them by color. This way, you can easily locate a specific fabric..

Clear Containers:

I found with the space I have that having clear plastic bins or storage boxes allows you to easily see the contents without needing to rummage through each container. I have two different sizes for the larger fabric and then smaller ones. Choose containers in various sizes to accommodate different fabrics. Think about the space you have and what would use the space more effectively.

Labelling:

Label each container clearly and you can go further to add the colors or type of fabric. You can use a label maker for a clean and professional look, or handwrite labels on sturdy cardstock and secure them with tape.

By implementing these simple tips, you'll transform your fabric collection from a jumbled mess to a well-organized haven of inspiration. Remember, a little planning goes a long way in ensuring your creative flow remains uninterrupted as you delve into your next creative adventure!


Declutter/swap:

Regular Decluttering and Donation: By regularly reviewing what you have you can think about ways to reduce, or you can do a swap with another artist and brings new and interesting fabrics into your stash. I find it difficult to part ways with my fabric but I guess it gets easier the more you do it.

Stitch and Play - Part 3, Material Mondays

 

Welcome to Material Mondays, this week I am completing the project and will share with you how I had the borders and additional beading to the project.

These projects are great fun, and I usually have an audio book or music playing in the background while I work.  I also think it is important to be able to step back and come back refreshed to a project.

There are some lovely areas of stitching that are my favorite.  I haven't yet chosen the next project to work on.  I will be sharing a sneak peek on my Patreon

Did you miss the previous episodes, you can see how the project went through the creative process.

Part 2

Part 1

Before you go

Material Mondays - Painted Fabric - Vase

 

In Material Mondays this week I share working on a painted fabric.  The surface was prepared previously and I took the time to work on a few images which included this vase with flowers and some figures.

This is a great way to prepare your fabric for stitching projects and can also be a standalone project.

Supplies used include the following:

Homemade stencils - check out my free course for making your own - https://bit.ly/messyhabit 

Tea Towel for crafts - https://amzn.to/3gutIOR 

Stencils - https://amzn.to/3Gvswpf 

Fine Brush - https://amzn.to/3UNiOCR 

Tulip Paints - https://amzn.to/3EuCZQm 

Dimensional Paints - https://amzn.to/3UZ0XbA 

Permanent Ink - https://amzn.to/3hH926F

Join me each week for Material Mondays, check out the last two episodes:

Fabric and Textile Art - Slow Stitching

Over the years I have been combining a lot of slow stitch and working with fabric within my work and have really enjoyed the process.  It started getting serious at the beginning of lockdown when the whole world seem to changed overnight and we had to come to terms with a new normal.

As I looked at the creative activities that I was doing none of them seem to still my mind until I remembered the work that I had done the previous year for a textile exhibition in Barbados at the Queens Park Gallery called Celebrating Textiles ( I will share about the exhibition tomorrow).

I realized that I liked the detail that you could get with stitch, fabric and paint - I was keen to experiment, learn new stitches and it set me on an amazing adventure of embroidery, fabric and textile art.

I had done a few fabric projects and made things from fabric as you can see in some of my 'Material Monday projects'  which mostly included crochet pieces.  The stitching, painting, dyeing started to grow.

I combined my love for painting with stitching and haven't looked back.  I start out painting my backgrounds, adding the figure and then the stitching process continues until the piece feels done, learning new embroidery stitches and being comfortable with the supplies.

I am still learning about fabrics and how to work with all the different supplies to create the look and feel that I am after.  I have been enjoying the process and continue to allow my imagination to come up with different characters and scenes.

I  immersed myself into all the fabric, threads, beads and more that I had collected over the years.  It was all there waiting for me to recognize their importance in my creative journey, and so I set about stitching, dyeing, embellishing and bringing together an array of techniques that I had developed over the years into a needle, my sewing machine and all the supplies that welcomed me with open arms, and I have not looked back.

What creative activities have you immersed yourself in over the past 2 years that has helped with your health and well-being?

Stay blessed and be a blessing.

Fabric Stash

 

Join me as I share with you my new textile stacking system.  I have rearranged the shelving so that they wouldn't topple over and be a bit neater.

Over the weeks I will share some of the contents with you which include some projects that I have started - I am challenging myself to get some of them complete

Painted Fabric - My 31 Art Studio Essentials

I am glad you could join me in my studio for the Art Studio Essentials Daily Series today, with the aim of kick starting your creativity and to look at your supplies in a new way.  

Yes we use our supplies but do you really USE them?  You will find that many supplies have a dual purpose and it is only when you spend time playing with them that you get to see their full potential.    

Today I will be playing about with my painted fabric, and showing you how I create them recycling and using the supplies in my studio, a great way to use those moments when you want to do something creative but have limited time.

Painted Fabric waiting to be taken on an adventure

What are you doing with those neglected art supplies hanging around waiting to be used? Are they buried in a draw gathering dust, and drying out?

I love recycling so have experimented with a variety of fabrics over the years 'courtesy of my son's old school uniform' and found that these fabrics work really well in a creative environment.

If you check out the video you will see some of the ways in which I have used them and what I will use them for. I hope it inspires you to look at your own fabrics in a different way and start to see where your creativity will take you.

Realityarts - Helping you to increase your creativity, and unlock your hidden talents

Check out some of these resources and free classes

Art Supplies

Acrylic Paint

Daler RowneyIntroductory Set 

Winsor and NewtonGaleria 

Winsor and NewtonWater Mixable Oil

Derwent

Derwent InktensePencils 

Inktense Blocks - 24 

Check out some free classes HERE

Craftsy Projects kits, supplies and videos - 

Check them out HERE

Thank you for the support!  Stay Blessed and be a Blessing!!