Making Foam Stamps

This month Ann taught us how to make our own stamps using dense foam like you find in flip flops.  We also used foam marshmallows and commercial foam blocks.  This is a fun and easy method to make your own stamps.  You heat the foam for a few seconds with a crafter's heat gun and then press the foam into a flat object.  We used all kinds of different things, like paperclips, washers, plants, charms, buttons, lace, and small picture frames.  If the stamp doesn't turn out the first time you just heat it and try again.  If you have a stamp that you are tired of you can redo it at anytime.  These stamps can be used with ink pads or paint, just make sure to wash the paint off right away.  Ann did a great job of teaching us, so thanks Ann.      
I'll show you a few pictures of the stamps we made.

 Next month we are going to make a completed project, so the meeting will take longer than normal.  We are going to make a tree picture.  Jan is going to teach us this method.  Here is the project page.

 We need to prepare a background with the tree shape on top and have it quilted.  You are free to make the background and tree using any method that you wish to use.  At the meeting we will be adding the foliage  and enhancing the quilt. If you have fabric that you want to use for the leaves you can bring that along too.

Until next month have fun quilting and being artistic.

Zentangle

We met this week and had a nice nice time learning all about zentangle.  Carol did a great job of teaching us some easy patterns and how we could use zentagle in our quilts.  We started out practicing on paper and then Carol demonstrated how to sew a tangle on the machine.

Here are some of the practice pages we worked on.

                             

Here is the machine tangle that Carol demonstrated, called Rick's Paradox.

You can go to tanglepatterns.com to see more patterns and directions for drawing these.  Thank you, Carol, for the great lesson. 

Next month we are going to learn how to use moldable foam stamps from Anne.  

Here is the supply list. 

Have a great month everyone and see you next time.

Fabric Painting

This month Chris taught us about fabric painting.  She gave us a tutorial and some tips and then let us go.  I love how she walked around and helped us individually too. Thanks for the great lesson.

Next month we are going to learn about Zentangle.  We don't need to bring anything except $4.00.

Have a wonderful month and see you next time. 

Coloring on Fabric

This month we explored coloring on fabric with crayons.  Janice and  Connie taught us a couple of methods of using crayons on fabric and then we got to play.  They did a wonderful job of teaching and demonstrating these techniques.  We mostly used Crayola and Prang crayons with a bit of colored pencil thrown in.  Any wax based pencils and crayons will work on fabric.  Here are some of the samples we had as inspiration.

Here are some more photos of pieces that we worked on.

I finished mine at home because I had to leave early to pick up my sick little one. 

This group is wonderful for getting us all to try new techniques and learn how to enhance our art quilts.  We have all learned so much and are growing as artists.

Next month we are going to be painting on fabric. Here is the supply list.

You Bring:

• Something to hold water for rinsing your brushes
• Paint brushes if you have have them (for acrylic paint)
• $4 to cover cost of supplies

The paints, painting medium, foam plates, extra paint brushes, pieces of fabric, cardboard to attach the fabric, and anything else we will need will be provided.  
If you have a fabric landscape you want to bring we can discuss how you can enhance it with paint.

Have a wonderful creative month everyone.

Gelatin printing

This week in our art quilting group we played around with printing on gelatin. This is a type of mono-printing without a press and can be done on paper and on fabric.  We played mostly with paper so that we could get a feel for the process.  We tried printing on fabric a little too.  Joy did a great job explaining and demonstrating the process.  We had a lot of fun printing and playing with paint. 
  

     

For our meeting next month we are learning how to use crayons on fabric to create beautiful images.

Please bring these supplies:
Box of crayons ( Crayola or Prang)
Permanent ink Pigma pen, fine or ultra-fine point. (Micron 01 works best)
Pencil
Sharpener for crayons & pencil
Freezer paper
Light box if you have one
Scissors- 1 pair for paper and 1 pair for fabric ( these should be small with a sharp point)
Applique pressing sheet
Wax pencils if you have them
Fabric
$3.00 for other supplies/kit   

Until next month have fun being creative. 

Photoshop Play

This week we explored Photoshop Elements in our meeting.  Photoshop allows quilt artists to manipulate photos to create interesting effects.  You can create a lot of fabric with the same colors, but that all look different.  This can create some interesting quilts.  Photoshop allows you to create photos that can be printed on fabric through home inkjet printers.  Jan did a wonderful job of explaining how the program works and how to manipulate and print the photos.  I went home and played with some of my photos after the meeting. I'll share a couple of those, since I didn't get any pictures at the meeting.

Original

Glowing Edges

Original

Twirl

I hope that the rest of you have fun playing around with photos and adding a new way of making interesting quilts.  

Remember that our landscape challenge is due to share at the next meeting.  So please remember the bring it to the next meeting.  Bring any felt pieces to share at the next guild meeting as well.  

Next month we are going to be playing around with gelli printing.  Printing on a gelatin plate or a synthetic gelatin plate is a way to get interesting prints without a press.  We will be practicing on paper mostly and maybe a bit of fabric.  

These are the things that we need to bring for the next meeting:   

• paper scissors
• pencil
• brayer
• $3.00 to cover the rest of the materials

Until the next meeting go out and be creative and get ready to share with the group.  

Learning About Felting

This month we learned about felting wool and we got to experiment with felting.  We tried needle felting since we didn't want the mess that wet felting can create.  Dorothy did a great job explaining  how to felt and getting us started playing.  

We even had a couple of felting machines to try out if we wanted to, thank you ladies for sharing the machines.

Here are some of our creations.

We had a great time this month.
Next month we are going to try fabric painting.  Here is the supply list.

You Bring:

• Something to hold water for rinsing your brushes
• Paint brushes if you have have them (for acrylic paint)
• $4 to cover cost of supplies

I will have the paints, painting medium, foam plates, extra paint brushes, pieces of fabric, cardboard to attach the fabric, and anything else we will need.

If you have a fabric landscape you want to bring we can discuss how you can enhance it with paint.

Until next month, have a great holiday break.