Fabric Stitched Projects - Material Mondays

 

Welcome to Material Mondays! I'm Amanda, if this is your first time here, and I'm thrilled to have you join me today. Whether you're new here or a regular viewer, thank you for stopping by. In today's session, we'll explore fabric art panels and delve into the creative process behind their creation. I'll share some of the fabric pieces I've been working on lately and guide you on how to incorporate similar ideas into your own projects. So, let's dive right in!

If you've been following my recent videos, you might have noticed that I've been focusing on various projects like stitching leaves and other ways to embellish them.

I have now moved back to working on some of the stitched projects that have been calling me. I've incorporated stitched words onto the fabric pieces. Initially, I sewed the words onto a large piece of fabric, and when I'm ready for a new word, I simply cut it out and attach it to the project. The contrast created by these stitched words adds a beautiful touch to the overall composition.  I can always go back and add details with different color threads and I can either use a sewing machine or hand stitch.

With some of the other fabric pieces that are currently in progress, each of them consists of separate fabric panels, each undergoing different techniques. Some are dyed, while others are stenciled, painted, or written on. They are now waiting to be attached to larger fabric backing. One piece that stands out is the one called "Vision." I love the combination of colors and the circular motion created by the stitching, evoking a sense of movement. Consider adding seed beads to create dimension and texture in certain areas. The possibilities are endless when it comes to infusing your fabric art with different materials and techniques.

I always have a few projects going at the same time, and I have found that this allows me to continuously engage in the creative process and stay inspired.

If you're interested in seeing some of these pieces check out the video. 

I want to emphasize the importance of gathering fabric pieces and engaging in stitching as a meditative activity. Spending just 20 minutes on a project can be incredibly therapeutic, If you're feeling inspired, consider creating a fabric word sheet like the one I've shown you. These fabric words can be stitched onto your panels, adding a personalized touch to your artwork. It's all about finding joy in the process and allowing your creativity to flourish.

Remember, don't be afraid to change your mind about a piece or experiment with different elements. Artistic expression is all about exploration and embracing the development of your ideas. 

Check out The Free Summit - The Art of The Intuitive Mind

Sign up for this FREE Event HERE

Fabric Wax Resist - A Technique - Material Mondays

 

Have you tried a wax resist technique on fabric?  In week 20 of Material Mondays I share one of the techniques that I use to create the designs on my fabric.

Dyeing your own fabric is a great way to create your own designs, and the fabric can either be used as a whole or cut up and used in smaller projects.

I start out with an image loosely sketched on the fabric, I usually do a combination of faces and patterns

The next step is to add the wax either on the lines you have drawn or in-between the lines which will create varying patterns.

I combine a selection of dyes together to get the color that I want, you can do swatches so that you are able to recreate the colors when needed.

Once dried the wax is removed.  I use an iron and place paper over the fabric.  It is a great way to apply color and pattern to some of the fabrics that you may have, and you can experiment and see what effects that you are able to create.

If you are interested in checking out some of the supplies, you can check out my Wax Resist Supplies List on Amazon

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:

Material Mondays - Week 14 - Painting on Fabric

Material Mondays Painted Fabric Art

In the video this week, we're going to be painting on fabric before stitching! This is a great way to add some extra interest to your fabric project and make it look more unique.

Painted art journal page with glitter

You can use a variety of creative supplies and paints. I am using the brand called Tulip and I have listed the supplies below that I use to paint on fabric.

I usually use recycled fabric, cottons etc where I need them for specific projects I will order them online.

By painting on fabric before stitching, you'll be able to create some really beautiful and unique pieces. You can see the other videos in the Material Monday's series.

Preparing the fabric with paint

Check out the video to see how the fabric progressed:

Supplies used

Tulip Paints

Fabric Glue

Glitter

Pallet knife

Dimensional Paints

Permanent Ink

Other Resources

I am teaching - Check out my FREE Courses HERE

My Amazon store - Click HERE to see my Store suggestions

Check out my Art Supplies on Kit: https://kit.co/Realityarts

Thank you for joining me in my art studio. We all have 5 minutes that we can give to creative play, why not see how you can fit creativity into your every day

Subscribe to my YouTube channel HERE

For More inspiration please visit my Patreon page.

Material Mondays - Textile Art Project - Week 12

Welcome to Material Mondays, this week we are working on a lovely art piece that I had started a while back and it was calling to be complete. I managed to get it a bit further along.  You can check out the video below.

I had got the piece to this stage and checking what kind of beading that I want to have attached to the piece.

I added some seed beads and will see how I feel about them as to whether I will add some more.  It is great to be able to use the supplies, some of the beads have come from clothing, charity or thrift store and other I have brought over time.

I was contemplating whether to turn it into a journal cover

Check out the video below to see how it went.

Let me know if you are working on any textile pieces or would like to incorporate it into your mixed media work.

*************************************************************

A reminder to Enter the Giveaway below

LEARN MORE

*************************************************************

Check out some courses while you are at it!

Click HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION

Material Mondays - Working with Fabric Paints

 

Welcome to Material Mondays this week where we look at working with Fabric paints to create designs on our fabric pieces.  You can check out the video above.

You can use them as a layer on your fabric or as a finishing touch.  I like to add stitching as well as other elements.

Today I share how I use the fabric paint to lay down color and then add mark making and other designs using a range of different brands.

I also use stencils and sometimes stamps creating on the surface of the fabric.  I use the metallic dimensional paint to add highlights on the surface of the fabric rather than have the dimension.  This piece will then have either some more mark-making done on top or I might draw a figure.

 

Material Mondays

You can also check out some of the other videos in the Material Mondays Series below.

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Check out my latest course, and also while you are there check out the free resources available.

Material Mondays - Play with Textiles is Back!

Join me for Material Mondays, a weekly look at stitched project, painted and dyed fabric and more

Check out the video below

What kind of fabric or textile projects are you working on at the moment?  leave a comment and let me know.  I like having at least a few on the go at the same time or have them at different stages, adding variety.

Celebrating Textiles - Textile Challenge.

Celebrating Textiles

A couple of years ago I was asked by the previous curator of The Queens Park Gallery - Janice Whittle to take part in an exhibition - my first exhibiting some of my new textile work.  She also mentioned Boro Shashiko which I was not familiar with at the time and gave me two challenges to explore Boro and to go much larger in size with my work than I had previously gone.  

You can check out the video below of the exhibition

What is Boro?

Derived from the Japanese Boro, meaning something tattered or repaired, boro refers to the practice of reworking and repairing textiles (often clothes or bedding) through piecing, patching and stitching, in order to extend their use.

At first I couldn't imagine how I would tackle such a large piece and also learn a new technique and create a piece for an exhibition but Janice encouraged  and I became excited at how I would execute the challenge.

It took me months to get started - just as well she had given me 10 months notice!  I decided to create a series of small pieces, the size that I was used to and then join them all together.

This made the world of difference, I could just focus on that piece and then move on.  I found the stitches to be also relaxing, Boro is also known as 'The Mending Stitch'

I gathered my jeans fabric and set about creating stitches on them

I also added elements such as painted fabric, laying  and using alternative colors on the fabric.

This is the finished piece.  The wood is Moringa and Cotton Tree wood harvested from my garden

Art by Amanda Trought - Wall Hanging

My challenge for this piece was to learn something new and go much bigger in size than I normally do.  What have you challenged yourself with this month that has stretched you?

Stay blessed and be a Blessing

Amanda

********************************************

I am also taking part in the Ultimate Blog Challenge and you can check out all the posts HERE

********************************************

Mixed Media Art Courses to Check out

SALE - Enjoy $10 OFF all courses until 30th April Click on the image to see the course.

Use the Code at the checkout - create2

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.

Mixed Media Art Collaborations, Textile Love and Courses Offers!

 

I am taking part in a monthly art collaboration and will be painting this image.  The video goes live tomorrow, and you can set a reminder - if you do join I will be in the chat answering any questions that may pop up as we see how the painting takes shape.

  

The monthly collaboration is a great way to get together virtually with other artists and share the love we have for creativity.  In this collaboration we do not have any prompts you just create what you are inspired to do.  One of the things that I would like to share over time is my love for creating sculptural art and working with recycled materials.  

As a mixed media artist I love creating full stop, and I always have a million and one ideas of things I want to work on, or experiment with - and I give myself the time each and every day.  I schedule the time for myself and show up even if I don't have a particular project in mind.

I also do a lot of work with fabric - painting my fabric, creating sculptural elements in the art and the stitching of these pieces are very therapeutic.

The arts (across the board) have a very positive effect on health and wellbeing and it is important that you try and do something every day.  The arts have been used in may medical environments - hospital waiting rooms, recovery rooms, corridors, my dentist has a nature scene on his ceiling which has a relaxing affect as you try and drown out the sound of the drill.

What ever you do I hope you are able to take the time to do something creative this week, and I would love to know what creative activities you find the time to do.

Stay blessed and be a blessing

If you would like to see the stamps daily you can check out my Instagram HERE

********************************************

 I am taking part in the Ultimate Blog Challenge and you can check out the previous posts HERE

********************************************

Mixed Media Art Courses to Check out

SALE - Enjoy $10 OFF all courses until 30th April Click on the image to see the course.

Use the Code at the checkout - create2