Metallic

And Now with Gold!


The lighting is not the best, but I added a first layer of metallic gold paint on the side walls of the niche.  It looks great not in this photo of course, but trust me the gold and the purple really pop!

I need to find my stash of barbed wire bits and pieces, there's a natural crease line in the timtex about a third up from the bottom that seems like a natural spot to put some barbed wire. As I've been painting this piece I've been contemplating what other colors and embellishments I want to add to this piece, aside from the tiny bit of barbed wire I haven't come up with much yet.

Auditioning Fabrics





Found some folded points, etc., in a box of vintage fabrics I picked up along the way and am now auditioning them to use in an upcoming body of work. I think I may rust dye some of the red and white gingham as it's too clean and too cheerful.  

The netting and metallic mesh was in a box on my shelf. 

Removing Excess Rust - Getting Started

Removing Excess Rust - Getting Started Removing Rust is very simple and is a form of discharge dyeing.


 
Above are three pieces of fabric I rust dyed using an old coffee can lid in 2003, each piece of fabric has varying stages of rust on the surface depending on their position in the rust bundle layer.  The piece of fabric to the far left was closest to the metal lid and therefore has acquired the greatest amount of rust on the surface.  The iron oxide particles are so thick that they shimmer as just like metal.
 

Above, detail of teh rusted fabric and rust particles.  Click on image for greater detail


Above supplies needed, excluding old tooth brush, foam brush, and nitrile gloves, includes bucket for soaking fabrics in, baking soda, water, and rusted fabrics.

Heavy Rust What To Do???



Heavy Rust What To Do??? I'm asked this question frequently especailly by quilters who are battling shredding threads, broken needles, etc.  Following is a multi part tutorial that will hopefully reduce the frustration of shredded threads etc.  

As you can see in the above photo there are heavily rusted areas that appear to be actual rusted metal.  That's because it is rusted metal.  The rusting process allows rust particles, iron oxide, to accumulate on the surface of the fibers/fabrics.  The end result, depending on the length of time the fabric is allowed to rust, is sharp jagged metallic edges that shreds thread, dulls needles, and leaves little flecks of iron oxide everywhere.

FFAC Collage Mania Pieces

Ghost Tree #6
Ghost Tree #5
Ghost Tree #4
Ghost Tree #3
Ghost Tree #2
Ghost Tree #1
Materials: Found Paper, Ink, Paintstiks, Fabric Paint, Timtex, Wool Felt, Metallic Thread, Cotton Thread, Wool Yarn, Compost Dyed Silk Organza Net (Behind the center panel)
Size: each piece measures approx 8 1/8 x 5 3/8 inches