My work is evolving these days as I am merging and combining many of the types of art I create, with mixed media being the foundational thread. As a teenager in the 1970's, I designed and created soft sculpted dolls and teddy bears, by college I had started quilting. For many years, these two were my art form.
In 2009, I turned to bookmaking and
paper crafts incorporating mixed media and 3 dimensional projects. My education
and professional experience is as an interior architect so 3D is natural for
me. In the past year or so, I have returned to my quilting and doll making
roots. In the last few months my focus has been a combination of these two
textile expressions with what I call dimensional quilting. I decided to create
one of these projects featuring flamingo's using the supplies sent to me. Some
of these items are going to require thinking outside the box to become a
flamingo!!
To "dye” your fabric an overall color,
the fastest and easiest way is immersion in a container. I use a large jar,
but a bowl will also work. The ratio I use is approximately 60% water, 20%
fabric medium (any brand will work), and 20% acrylic paint. Fresco Paints are some
of my favorites as their chalk finish works seamlessly with fabric to leave a
great finish. The fabric medium helps the paint to bind to the fibers. After the colour is heat set, it helps the fabric to remain soft and pliable, and the fabric can still be washed.
Once
the paint/medium mixture is ready, I put the fabric into the jar. I tend to use
smallish fabric pieces, so the jar is a sufficient size. Stir the fabric to get
full coating. The more agitation, the better and more even the coverage.
The fabric shown was a grey piece with
writing and diagrams so it came out as a tone of the peachy color.
Wring out the fabric and lay it flat on old towels to dry. Once air dry, heat set using a hot iron on a steam setting, or tumble dry on a cotton setting. Heat setting will make the color permanent. My projects don't end up as usable items so machine washing isn't critical to me, but these fabrics can (typically) be washed as is appropriate for the fabric you have dyed, cool water with your usual detergent should be fine. Note: Always do an experimental trial washing before creating something important that will need cleaning.
I
decided to use the Hot Picks stamp set (HP1009) to make details for the feathers that would give
dimension and detail to the bird-bodies. I use a waterproof pigment or dye ink (for exmple Ranger Archival inks) on fabric for
better permanence. Most water-based inks will wash out, even with heat setting.
(unless you need them to wash out and then they are PERMANENT, but that's a
different story, lol).
As I looked at the hexagonal flower stamp, I realized it looked a bit like feather tips if I cut it apart after stamping. The grasses and birds stamp were stamped onto the fabric and feather shapes were free cut from the stamped fabric. I then fringed the edges of all feathers and tips.
To
add to the floral motif of the stenciling in the background of the project, I
wanted to add further 3D elements - flowers!
First, I "dyed" fabric with the light blue Fresco Finish Marbles paint. I sandwiched a layer of fusible material between two layers of the finished fabric. Fusible material comes in both sheet and roll forms. It is fused together with an iron and creates sandwich that has more thickness and less fraying. While still warm, the flowers can be gently shaped and they will hold that shape as they cool.
I stamped the little single flower onto the double layer fabric sandwich. I also used water soluble crayons to add further color.
To create the flamingo’s, I drafted a pattern for the birds and their beaks. They were then stitched, cut out, and turned. Polyester fiberfill was used as stuffing. They are stuffed firm in the head and neck and loosely in the body.
The beaks were hand stitched to the head/neck body piece. I then added the details of the head and beak using water-soluble crayons, acrylic pens, and permanent markers.
The birds were then attached to the background. The birds are only partial, so I created a dimensional frame using fabric covered thin foam for the birds to lay on.
Once the birds were in place, the flowers were attached to the background along with some silk flower leaves.
The flamingos are now ready to be wall hung and enjoyed!
