Category: Techniques

Mixed Media

MaybeNotso

The background of the above was created with hand dyed tissue and further embellished with foil and gel pens.

The technique is simple

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Requirements are few too. You need a background* (fabric or paper) the tissue and a matte medium (the one illustrated works particularly well).

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Matte Medium is needed directly on the background

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Apply it over the tissue too.

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Cover the surface and leave to dry.

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Once dry the beauty of the paper is visible. Interesting things can happen with the background too

The above shows the front and back of a paper background

The above shows a background of cotton fibres. A piece of this paper is included in our packs so that you can experiment. This surface too is perfect for stitching – and I often use it for book covers.

Sometimes there is a double use as a quick ‘print’ will result in a watercolour-like finish – and you can still use the paper as above. The video below shows the imprint left – remember to lift the tissue immediately while still wet – it can be transferred to another area for use or left on polythene to dry before peeling off for use.

Ouch and carry on!

The New Year has started with a few leaps and ‘bumps’, but the main thing is to carry on regardless!

While not feeling 100% I have been able to crochet an odd line or two for a throw which was intended to be for my own use. However, a certain little grandson has fallen in love with the colours – so guess where it will be going…….?

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I followed a pattern, but have had fun extending the colours and moving them around to suit my own satisfaction. The weaving in of the ends will be fun! That’s my next task – and then on to the border.

Did you know that just 15 minutes of creativity a day can do a lot to spark your enthusiasm and inspiration. The important thing is to DO something. It doesn’t have to be part of your intended life’s work – just something that stimulates those creative juices in some way. Several of us have committed to this in 2015 and it isn’t too late to join us. If you would like more information please complete the correct parts of the form below.

I am delighted to say that I have managed to find a suitable local venue for a small series of Embellisher workshops. More details will follow soon, and the best news is that you don’t need to transport or even own your machine as I have some that you can borrow.

The even better news is that I can probably do the basics of dyeing at the same venue! That will mean that there will be even more fun and games to be had. I’m planning a series of workshops that will result in enough colours for Joseph’s amazing coat!

Time to be bold!

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Some of you know that I have a blog where I post a photograph each day. It is a picture from our garden – and it is always (almost) topical and from ‘today’. Above is the one posted today, and if you want to take a closer look at it you can do so here. Don’t go there, though, if you like perfection. Don’t go there if you only want to see perfect plants and perfect planting schemes. None of these are featured.

The above post shows the imperfections in the plants featured. It also, however, shows the importance of dark and light interspersed with medium tones. Take a walk in your garden today and study the tones – do you use all three in your work? The more work I see the more examples I notice that are simply ‘safe’ by being created solely in the middle range. Be bold! Don’t fall into that trap! Contrast in tone is probably more important than contrast in colour…………

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