Friday, October 16, 2015

CREATING MY OWN FALL COLOR

My project list has been stalled lately...but now I'm back on track.  Here's how I'm spending my evenings.

 This felted wool fabric has been dyed, shibori painted, ice-microwave dyed, and in a final attempt to turn it into a usable piece of fabric.....it was mono-printed and now I'm a happy camper.  (I used the other half of this piece here.)

It screamed fall to me.....so I've gathered beads and set out to create a maple leaf.
 Marking this type of fabric is very problematic....but I figured out a solution for projects like this a long time ago.  The design is sketched onto a piece of Pellon non-fusible interfacing which I always use anyway as a stablizer when beading.(it's white but looks tan in this photo...sorry about that)
 I'm not a fan of spray basting but do utilize it for this step.....by lightly spraying the wrong side of the fabric to secure the interfacing.  Next, using an open toe embroidery foot...and contrasting thread in the bobbin.....the design lines are stitched.
 ........Which are visible on the right side.  Not quite so much in this photo but well enough for me to see when I'm beading.
 I ALWAYS secure my work in a Q-snap frame for beading.....and use a portable cutting/pressing board to help support. My work station for evening stitching is a denim couch and all too often accompanied by a large black lab!!
The veins are finished and the tedious (yet enjoyable for me) task of securing seed beads onto the felted wool has begun. Getting the right angle of the lines has been a challenge, causing more removal than I would like but I think I'm now on the right track.

I'm linking to:  Nina-Marie's Off The Wall Friday, Sarah's Whoop, Whoop Friday, Crazy Mom Sews, and Richard and Tanya Quilts.  

9 comments:

Julie Bagamary said...

Beautiful Mary!

Kathy said...

OMG! When you bead, you REALLY bead! Filling in a space that much has never been on my to-do list, but it looks absolutely fabulous! Can't wait to see the finished piece. It's looking gorgeous so far!

Roben said...

That is going to be amazing! Beautiful bead work.

Norma Schlager said...

The beading on that leaf is fabulous! and your colors are spot-onI I know what you mean when you say that something can be tedious and enjoyable at the same time.

Angela said...

I love leaves and this one is spectacular!

Robbie said...

Well, you know you had me at 'bead'! I love this piece!!!! Isn't it so relaxing to bead like this! Even 'unbeading'! HA

margaret said...

that is a very handy hint for transferring a design thanks. Certainly you are going to need masses of beads to do this leaf it is going to look tremendous. Loving how you have "manufactured" the fabric too

margaret said...

just to let you know the latest blog re your machine does not appear to be on the blog! it just says this page does not exist

The Inside Stori said...

Tx's Margaret.......I accidently published it before it was completed...then removed it...it's scheduled to post on Monday....