NUMBERS FELT ACTIVITY BOOK - PART 1

Our 3 1/2 year old grandson is ALL BOY......loves any kind of vehicle, especially trucks. As is typical of kids that age, finding quiet time activities, especially ones that focus on fine motor skills can be a challenge.

So, grandma made a quiet time felt book with National NonWovens Woolfelt that hopefully will engage the young fellow!

It started with hunk of blackboard fabric.....the instructions called for 'conditioning' it.  It had been folded for probably 10 years, but I spread it out and rubbed the surface with white chalk, vertically and horizontally as instructed, before wiping it clean. What purpose the fabric was originally intended for is long forgotten!

The wrong side of this fairly thick fabric was backed with what looked like a knit white mesh.  Number templates were reversed and used to trace onto that material. It seemed to me that using a fusible on this rather vinyl like fabric wouldn't be sensible.....so in order to adhere the letters to the felt squares, I resorted to spray adhesive.  (Not a product I like using....too messy plus frankly, worries over health concerns.)

The numbers were offset on the page to allow space on the left to secure the pages into book form.  It was surprisingly easy to machine edge stitch them to the felt.

Here's the cover.

The inside cover has a place to hold chalk....

And as you can see I alternated the felt colors.

The last couple of pages are blank blackboard fabric, to be used to practice writing the numbers, after learning their shapes on each of the larger ones.

Check back for part 2......

SCREEN PRINTING ON FELT ONLINE CLASS

Ruth Lane at Felting and Fiber Studio will be offering a screen printing on felt online class.  She's a very talented felter who is incredibly generous with her vast knowledge.  Click here to learn more. 

Hurry, it begins Jan. 22nd.

Screen printed notebook cover, made by Ruth Lane.

YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT THIS IS!

So.....looking at this......you may think it's an interesting deconstructed screen printed design, right???   Wrong!

This is an image of Orlando, FL, taken by NASA in 1982!! Perhaps we could simply explore their hundreds of online photos taken from space and print them out on fabric?!?

Na......since nearly 100% of the deconstructed screen printing I do is with the Fiber Junkies......I'd miss the fun we have together.

FOCUS ON NATURE - PART 2

Yup....that wonderful uneven hole in the agate seemed like the perfect space to show off additional beads!  I enjoy creating dangles that feature interesting 'focal' beads at the end.

 Stacking beads to create clumps can be useful to add texture and depth to one's work. I puzzled for quite awhile about how to handle the many images screen printed onto the silk noil. Often times deconstructed screen printed fabrics are very busy and difficult to work with.  In the end, I decided to incorporate simple hand embroidery to highlight some areas and help pull the less interesting ones back into the visual mix.

FOCUS ON NATURE  14" x 11"    © 2016

AVAILABLE HERE

Deconstructed screen printed images on silk noil, bead embellished, hand embroidered. Mounted on canvas covered fabric backed frame with a hanging device.

*Note - the beads around the agate appear redish in this photo, however the  actual color more closely matches the orangey dyed scrim. 

FOCUS ON NATURE - NEW WORK FOR 2016

Well...here we are in 2016!! And that finds me finishing a previously started small piece of wall art. 

 The inspiration was this piece of deconstructed screen printed silk noil.  

 After isolating a section that would best coordinate with this interesting blue agate slice....the stabilized fabric was fitted into a Q-Snap frame. Beading in a frame provides ample support for this heavy object and it helps avoid fabric distortion during that process.

The beads are stitched in a specific pattern that creates a cage which holds the agate in position. The hole in the slice is simply too tempting......it is screaming for attention. Do come back tomorrow to see how it is enhanced.

NFL SUNDAY

We Cheeseheads are worried.....not just a little worried....VERY worried about the outcome of the Packer vs Vikings game today. Sure they already have a playoff spot......but if they can't win this game......the next one will probably be their last. Such a disappointment after the exciting and productive start earlier this season.  

BUT....such is football.....and we will be fans no matter what.  We are also teaching the offspring to wear the green and gold too......

Grandson Raiden (3 1/2) & Elan (3 months)

GO PACK GO!!!!

GOODBYE 2015 - HELLO 2016

Many bloggers write thoughtful posts reflecting upon their activities, accomplishments, and ups and downs of the departing year. It's fun to read their memories.  However, I'm more of a 'look forward' kinda gal......so you won't be seeing any of that here.  

Instead, let me take this time to thank all of you for allowing my world to evade your space!  I'm so grateful for your visits and comments.  The connections with new and old friends have meant a lot. Please always feel free to jump in and chat.

Let's look forward to a new year filled with creativity, good health and happiness.

A LAUGH FOR THE DAY

Totally true!!!  

(Thank you Lynn for sharing this cartoon!)

QUILT LEGEND GEORGIA BONESTEEL

Georgia Bonesteel, and her PBS TV show, Lap Quilting, can surely be credited for getting a huge majority of quilters hooked on quilting.

I'm pleased to know her first as a colleague, traveling the quilting circuit and now as a member of our local 14 person PTA group (Professional Textile Artists - a photo of us can be seen about midway through the show....it's the first one when Georgia talks about her groups.) I feel honored to call her a good friend!

'The Quilt Show' visited Georgia at her home and her stomping grounds in Flat Rock, NC......the episode is being aired for free now until Jan. 3rd.  Click here to enjoy her important journey!

ON ANY SUNDAY

With only 2 more games to go........I'm nervous.  The injured ridden Packers are not the same team that started out the season.

They will be facing the Cardinals today, an energized team who have been picked to win by the experts.  Nonsense......  BUT.....on any given Sunday......any team can add a W.....  Let's hope it falls in the Green and Gold column.

GO PACK GO    GO PACK GO