Update on Work and some Older work

I have been but not very busy but not with sewing, family and other stuff however I am now back to work/play and thought I would show the work so far and also something I did some  time back. This was from one of Bonnie McCaffery's video's with Ellen Linden in Florida (I did'nt know about this lady when I lived this there!!!!!!!) I was in  a non creative dip and just went into my studio to look, think, tidy, you know how it goes, anyway I found a stretched canvas and the Golden stuff and thought why not  give it a try,( from memory) and off I went. I was surprised how fast it came together and how much I enjoyed myself.Also because I just went for it, no thinking involved, I found it very freeing and I  will try this again  I  used diluted   paint  on the white on white fabric  and just worked with whatever scraps I had to hand.

This  piece is  from another piece of work I posted some time ago, I gave up working on it because it just did nothing for me, then I read about Loch Lomond Quilt Show 2013 and I decided  to cut it up and re-make and I really like the way its working out.What do you think?
Take Care
Janette 

My Attempt At Dyeing

Its .been quite some time since I last dyed fabric and at that time I had no problem with excess dye however I now live in the middle of nowhere with a septic tank system so had to dye MY way. These are the results of my efforts.
The first batch was dyed  with transfer dyes and ice and came out pale but usable.
The second batch I used Dylon dyes and they were sdtronger in colour, I also over dyed  with red, yellow, blue and orange.I like what happened and over all I am pleased with the results.I like the "accidental" way of dyeing as I only want a small ammount to use and do not need to repeat  colours.
My next plan is to use Procion dyes and the exhaust method thus reducing the need tlike to wash away excess dye.

Please leave feedback if you can as I like to hear what others think and how I can improve.
Thank You
Janette

Recent Work

As promised here are the photos of my most recent play time, it is in a frame but only for taking this  is a jacket I am making for myself from Harris tweed.As you can see it is still a work in progress and I cannot decide what size of button would work??? What do you  think large or small??? Oooopppssss my studio is tidy!
Janette























photo I still have no idea what I will really do with it.I hve also been working on a Harris tweed jacket fo myself so here are some photos of that to comment on.

Recent Work

I'm still here!! and recent work.

Few I thought I had lost this blog somehow, with helpfrom blogger I seem to be able to once again sign in and post. My most recent work comes as a result of reading an article (ripped froom a mag. dont know which one)  by Kim Thittichai about painted bondaweb (wonder under).When doing my C&G I did paint and use this medium but not since so off I went.I had used all my bondaweb but had steam a seam so used that, not painted between two layers of sheer fabroc with bits bonded to it and then I used my heat gun to distress.Mmmmm, I like the overall look but the distressing didnt quite work out, maybe steam a seam has different properties and also I did not paint it so more play required.I have taken photos of said work and will post them soon.Comments invited.
Janette

Thoughts and Afterthoughts

I have enjoyed working on this challenge because it made me, 1) Use my stash better, colour choices etc. 2) Made me look at my threads and make decisions and discoveries regarding my thread collection. I found that I had more of one or two colours and hardly any of another colour so I can now add what I need rahter than duplicate what I like and at the same time I discovered some truely ugly threads both colour and machine friendly.Some time ago I bought on e-bay some fab.looking threads, they were from India (I had missed that info.) they arrived and are very good colours but hopeless in the machine so this  led to 3) Use threads in the bobbin that dont work on the top, I've found that most problem threads will work o.k. in the bobbin so I have not wasted time and money on something I cannot use. I also had quite a number of needles break partly due to me and due to the thick areas I asked them to quilt. I like the work of Ellen Eddie and visit her blog often, she uses thread work a lot and I find something new to learn each visit this time I found that she too breaks needles so I dont feel so bad now. I hope to do some thread work and see how it goes so watch this space.
Take Care
Janette

Ooooooppppssss

I have no idea how I managed to make the photos so big!!!!!!