Fabric Art and Slow Stitching Projects - Material Musings

 

Welcome to Material Musings, where we embark on a journey through the exciting world of fabric art! From exploring various fabric products to delving into inspiring books for creative sparks, there's so much to discover together.

I am currently immersed in several fabric art projects, and we will be choosing a few to work on over the next couple of weeks. I will be adding some additional stitching and also going though my bead selection.

Check out the video above and I have included time stamps in the video description to make for easier viewing.

Check us out on the FREE membership on Patreon for some tips for you to consider while on the stitching journey: - Check it out Here

Embrace Imperfection

Don't be afraid to let go of perfectionism: ....Learn more Here

Experiment with Texture

Explore texture in your fabric art by: Learn more Here

Before You Go

Here are some of the other projects and resources mentioned for you to take a look at

Dragonfly stitched project - https://youtu.be/8Zody9EG9Z4

Red Bead Stitched Project - Part 1 https://youtu.be/aiqsmpk8D8s Part 2: https://youtu.be/PsHo0cntWIE Fabric Kits/course to purchase: https://realityarts.thinkific.com/courses/fragments

The Ultimate Flower Book - https://amzn.to/49FS2To

Creative Applique to Make and Wear - Hardcover - https://amzn.to/3JqmVR3

Stitch inspiration: Bianca Springer @thanksimadethem on IG or https://biancaspringer.com/ I am teaching - Check out my FREE Courses HERE - https://realityarts.thinkific.com/ 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 Here http://youtube.com/amandatrought For More inspiration please visit my Patreon page HERE. https://www.patreon.com/realityarts

Check out Bianca Springers Book 'Represent - Embroidery' on Amazon HERE

Check out her Blog too HERE- 

Material Mondays - Intertwined Fabric Feasts

 

Welcome to Material Mondays, today we get to look at a few projects and we start a new fabric panel with hand dyed and wax resist material.

I previously shared a review of the book Intertwined which looks at how you can spin your own yarn and also gives examples of things that you can make.  I have been collecting wool over time and wanted to look at ways I could use them more in my stitched projects.

I will be showing you some of the mini looms that I have created and some of the sculptural looms that have been further embellished.  There are many ways that the woven projects can be used and you will be shown a few examples to encourage you in your creative projects.

Sculptural Loom and Slow Stitched Project

Check out the video and think about some of the supplies you have in your creative space and the ways in which some of them can be used.

Before You Go

Join us for Artsy Meetup Marathon

Material Mondays - Dragonfly Slow Stitching and Beading Project

I have a stitched project from my last Material Mondays to complete and in the video that I share I show you how I would continue to work on this project.

I share with you how I would continue to work on this project by adding beading to the surface. I love incorporating beads into my stitched projects and I have managed to gather quite a collection over the years. Beading enhances your project and enables you to tell your story, there is also a therapeutic experience that goes hand in hand with slow stitching and quite a satisfying feeling on completion of the project.

Check out the video below to see how I go through the process of selecting the right beads for the project.

Here are some additional ways that incorporating beading to your project will impact in a positive way to your overall health and wellbeing.

Bead Selection

Choosing beads for your slow stitching projects can be a sensory journey in itself, carefully examining their colors, textures, and shapes, allows you to indulge in the pleasure of selection - deciding what looks best for your project. Each bead holds the potential to enhance your project and become a tiny work of art in its own right. As you take your time to select the right beads, you tap into your intuition and creative vision, creating a connection between your stitched design and the chosen embellishments.

A Meditative Process:

Incorporating beads into your slow stitching projects invites you to enter a state of mindfulness. As you thread each bead onto your needle and place it within the fabric, you focus and the repetitive motion of beading becomes a form of meditation.

Visual Delight:

Whatever type of beads you choose, each bead carries its unique color and sparkle. You spend time looking over your selection of beads and additional uses for projects come to mind. 

Completing a Project

Completing a slow stitching project already brings immense satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment. When beads are incorporated, this feeling is magnified. The process of threading and securing each bead adds an extra layer of dedication and attention to detail. It serves as a testament to your creativity, patience, and the story that is told through your work.

Personal Style and Storytelling: 

Beaded embellishments offer a unique opportunity to infuse your slow stitching projects with personal style and narrative. With each bead, you have the power to tell a story, evoke emotions, or be reminded of a memory. The selection and placement of beads enable you to create a deeply meaningful connection between your stitched art and your own personal journey.

Incorporating beading into your slow stitching projects comes a transformational experience, intertwining creativity, mindfulness, and personal expression. The therapeutic effects of selecting the right beads, mindfully adding them to your stitches, and seeing the project completed is so satisfying.

So, embrace the magic of beading in your slow stitching journey, and witness how each tiny bead adds a touch of sparkle and soul to your stitched masterpieces.

Before you go...

Material Mondays - The Joy of Textile Art and Slow Stitching for Health and Well-being.

Material Mondays

Welcome to Material Mondays, In this video I share some of the projects that I am working on and how I would take some of them forward.

I always find getting started on a new piece is an exciting, and I am inspired by the fabric, threads and embellishments.  I take a stitched piece to a particular point, then are drawn to other pieces. As artists, we often find ourselves surrounded by numerous incomplete projects at different stages. I find that there are quite a few benefits of having several projects on the go and will share some of them below. 

Variety is the spice of life:
Having a range of incomplete projects allows us to explore different techniques, themes, and ideas. Each project represents a unique creative journey, providing us with opportunities to experiment, learn, and grow as creatives. With multiple projects in progress, we can switch between them based on our mood, inspiration, or specific skills we wish to enhance. 


Inspiration from Different Stages:
Projects at various stages offer inspiration and new perspectives. When we review our incomplete projects, we gain new insights and ideas for their completion. The early stages of a project may spark our creativity, while those nearing completion motivate us to add the finishing touches - some of mine include extra slow stitching or beading.  We are then able to discover unexpected connections between ideas.

Stitched projects at their final stages

The Therapeutic Power of Slow Stitching:
I love slow stitching on projects, it provides a tranquil and meditative experience. Engaging in slow stitching allows us to immerse ourselves in the process, savoring each stitch, and enjoying the journey. This mindful activity promotes relaxation, reduces stress, and enhances overall mental wellbeing.  What better way to look after yourself!

Health Benefits of Creative Activities:
Participating in creative activities has been shown to have numerous health benefits. These activities promoting feelings of joy and accomplishment, and boosts self-esteem. Art also serves as a powerful tool for self-expression, enabling us to express our emotions and thoughts.

Check out the work that I share in the video, I eventually choose to work on a dragon fly design that has been wax resisted on cotton, and I will be adding stitching. 

If you find you have multiple projects to complete, go easy on yourself and don't become overwhelmed.  Allow your intuition and creative spark to guide you and know that as you are mindful about your activities you are impacting your mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing. 

So, whether you're exploring new projects, revisiting incomplete ones, or immersing yourself in slow stitching, embrace the joy of textile art.

You can check out some of the other Material Monday posts on my YouTube playlist - HERE  You can also check out some of the videos below.

Enjoy a 7 Day FREE Trial on Patreon 

Check out my Patreon, you will find over 90 different projects, videos, digital downloads and more for your to have fun with.  Let me know how you get on.

Textile and Mixed Media Reflections in the Studio

Come and join me in the studio where I look back on my textile creative journey.  It is a good idea to look at the steps you have taken, see what has worked, why you do what you do and where you want to go.

I have been loving creating with fabric and stitching, and whilst I have not yet really been making my own clothes, I love creating the wall hangings and painting on the fabric, selecting beads and all that goes into creating the pieces.

You can see how this piece is doing in the latest video

If you are interested in starting creating using textiles, you can find some ideas on my Amazon Sewing ideas board HERE

Intertwined - Book Review

Book Review - Intertwined

I shared this book in my Arts and Wellness Café, and you can check out the video above, if you are into Yarn you will love it, with many projects for you to try and different ways in which to combine yarn.  You can check it out on Amazon - HERE  

I will be trying some of the projects and letting you see them in my Material Mondays episodes where I work with fabric projects.

Let me know if you have it and what you think.

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Art and Spirituality Summit

My session went live today on the Art and Spirituality Summit and you will be able to see if for the next 3 days.  It is Free to join the summit and there are 28 teachers that are sharing their insights as well.

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Free Courses to Check out 

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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

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

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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

Painted Fabrics

Painted Fabrics

Painting Fabrics

Here is a short video in which I share with you painting on fabric. It is one of 3 short videos to get you inspired to creatively play with your supplies.

I think it is important to get a view of how things start their journey, usually at this stage as a piece of fabric that gets painted, then it is built upon.

It is great to experiment and find ways to either use the pieces as accents or main feature in a stitched piece. There are many fabrics that you can create different effects with using your art supplies.

I also have an Arts and Health NHS Network for information on activities and organisations working in the field. You are welcome to join, it is a FREE resource and if you have any activities or want to talk about your work you are welcome to send me the information and I will see that it gets uploaded. You can create your own profile on the network and connect with others who are passionate about the arts in health too.

What else is happening:

Come and join me on Patreon 

I am Teaching on Life Book 2021

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