Material Mondays - Moon and Stars Wall Hanging

I created this piece a while back and only just completed it.  It is my Moon and Stars wall hanging.  It truly is a mixed media piece and incorporates clay, fabric, card, paint, and beads and jewelry findings.

I have really enjoyed incorporating clay more and more into my work and you may have seen some of my art dolls on my site.  This allows me to combine the clay with fabric and create some interesting pieces.

The beads and jewelry findings were great to add, and if you wanted you could add pieces of jewelry that you may have laying around.

Wall hangings make great gifts and can be done in so many different ways.  Also check out the card hangings that I created.  I had promised to create a tutorial and will be working on that very soon.  Also check out some of the previous projects I made for Material Mondays

Check back next week for the next project, subscribe and do leave a comment, it would be great to hear from you.

Blessings!

Material Mondays - Mixed Media Necklace

It has been a while since I posted to the Material Mondays and I thought I would kick off with something that I had great fun in making.

Mixed Media Necklace

It is a mixed Media necklace that uses broken pieces of jewelry, embellishments, beads and things and then is wrapped in fabric and then painted and is very light to wear. I have been finding it so refreshing giving new life to some of my favorite pieces of jewelry that had previously broken.

I hadn't done any jewelry type projects for a while so this one satisfied the mixed media side and wanting to do something slightly new.

I have a few different things that I will share with you for the Material Mondays that over the course of the months I have either been itching to try or have started and they got shelved.  I think we all have those times where we create and either get bored or distracted and start on something else, I can't be the only one.  Sometimes I really have to reign myself in so that I can get a project complete.  At the end of the day you have to be happy with the way you work and I think that I have found my pace.

Do come back for Material Mondays to see what I share next week.  You can check out some of the previous projects HERE.  I am hoping to get some videos going to show you how you can put your own pieces together so stay tuned!

I would love to have your comments, and if you haven't already subscribe to my blog make sure you do so that you can be alerted for any new posts.  Blessings!

Tutorial Tuesday - Clay Birds with character

Yet another bird came to town, this time in the form of 'Hortense'.  I think that she is a duck, well my Grandson stated quite clearly that he thought it was a duck - who am I to disagree!  

Doing something different with the clay

She is not the final bird I will be making but I thought it would be a good idea to get on the road to finishing the many projects that I have laying around and that are bursting to be completed.

I think that I have finally convinced myself that I like working with clay and sculpting and my sculpture pinterest board is building up some amazing pieces of work by very talented artists who are also an inspiration.

I would really encourage you to give it a try, there are loads of courses, tutorials and videos that will show you the ropes, all you have to do is get some clay and start to play and don't worry what your first piece looks like, as you progress you will be surprised at the results.  Working with clay also has some therapeutic benefits that are worth exploring.

This bird was fun to make especially adding the accessories

Selection of the birds I have made so far

I will have some more art dolls to share and some larger pieces at the end of the week, and I am super excited by these pieces and can't wait to show you them along with some other paintings that I have been doing.  Until then stay blessed and be a blessing!

Birds of a Feather... Clay Birds

Birds of a feather

While trying to practice my clay techniques, I have been inspired to create some birds which were quite fun to make.  You can see my dolls by clicking on the link in the pages section.  Heather Santos did a lesson on Soul Food to show how she makes her clay birds and many other things.

Here are a couple of examples of the birds that I have made, I have one waiting to be finished.

The great thing about birds is that they can be quirky and it doesn’t have to look like a real bird, but I think that you can see that it is one of our feathered friends – however your creativity wants to be expressed.

What I am really glad to be able to do is combine many mediums that I enjoy using in their own right and use them on one project.  

The birds were really fun to make, and I have a few others to come, you should give it a go.  it might be something that you really take to.

Change can come - Painting Process

Have you ever started a painting and not liked where it was going, and felt dissatisfied that you wanted to take it into a new direction?  I have been practicing by working on old paintings that have not been completed for one reason or another, persevered and then tried to take them in a different direction.

It is not always easy, but if you persevere you'll get the look that you want.  That is also true for life, and any changes that you might want to make.  As you step out and continue to do so on a regular basis you'll see the difference that is made in the circumstances, it might not always be easy, but will be worth the effort.

Hope you enjoy this video, I really enjoyed making it.

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 - Jewel - Mixed media wall hanging -

Here is another wall hanging, so glad to get some more pieces done.  This piece was so fun to create with a combination of machine and hand stitching, giving it a quilted effect, and then finding the jewelry and beads to add to the piece, this part of creating is quite therapeutic...

Fabric Art wall hanging - Amanda Trought

The wall hanging has been made using cotton fabric that is then painted, stitched, and decorated with thread, beads and sequins.

 Willow stick and faux-leather cord attached.
The jewelry that is used has been recycled

Measures 4.5 x 9 inch

I am setting up an Etsy Store, so keep an eye out for it there!  Blessings

Material Mondays - Fabric Art, Mixing the Media

I have come to the conclusion that I really enjoy using different mediums in my work, and this has come over the years of experimenting, trying different things.  Creating using fabric, and decorating using the sewing machine and then embellishing is not only a fulfilling activity, bring joy, and excitement at using the different materials, it is also a relaxing activity with the different types of activity that you have to do.

Each activity in itself has its own rhythm, when I am adding the paint to the fabric there is some freedom and abandonment as you let the pain, colours, textures, stamps and stencils meet together on the fabric, and from that I allow the images to form.

I have been using the sewing machine as a drawing tool as well, defining the images.  There is a rhythm in the sound of the machine as you allow it to play with the fabric, joining the stitches and bring order to the piece.

Once this is done, I enjoy looking for the right embellishments, and jewelry that will complete the piece, and not only raid my own supplies, but go to the charity shop and see what jewelry that I can pick up that can be added.  This part of the process gets you to slow down, each bead threaded by hand, and combining the beads to attach to the piece takes time.

This art panel combines some of my favorite colours, mainly the light blue, and picks up some of the pinks and yellows within.  The clear beads also have a hint of blue and green in them and this brings balance to the whole piece.

I really enjoyed creating this fabric art panel and finishing it off with a willow stick and faux leather string. I will be putting this up for sale soon in my Etsy store and on my website. 

Every Monday I share a project that involves either working with Fabric, Jewelry, Crochet, Knitting and much more!  If you want to learn how to crochet or work with fabric, jewelry and a number of other courses, then check out Craftsy. 

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.

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!

Material Mondays - Fabric Dolls

I have always loved looking at the many designs and varieties of fabric dolls.  As part of the Soul Food course over at Community Thrive.  I am still making my way through some of the lessons, and savoring the inspiring teaching.  Artist Susana Tavares showed us how she makes her dolls, and I gave it a go and came up with a couple of designs, one of which I will share today.

Mixed media art doll

It has been great making this one, which I first painted then cut out the pattern and sewed together.  I have made a few additions and she decided that she would be and ideas doll.  Her purpose is to hang around with a note pad and pens and be there when an idea strikes me so that I can take out the pad and write it down. 

Pocket created in the back to carry notebook and pens

To her back I put a couple of pockets that could hold a mini journal and some pens.  The pocket was recycled and painted from one of my sons old school uniform trousers.

Jeweled out with accessories

Her hair and head dress was made from wool and crocheted flower headband - it kind of reminds me of the 80's style

I made some simple earrings using beads and jewelry findings, and picked up a necklace and broach at the charity shop.

Weighed down with stones

I used small stones to weigh down the doll so that she would stand up, though you can use rice or other grain.

She likes going everywhere, and I thought that I would spend some time in the garden getting some inspiration, I might have to make another one to keep her company, and a few smaller ones with encouraging words.  Come back next week for Material Mondays to see what I make out of fabric  Check out Susana's site, she has lots of other things that will be a feast for the eyes and may be inspire you to create.