Florals in Fibre
26 x 53 "
detail:
This work began as a painting on white fabric. A new idea. I used 'Setacolor' Fabric paints that were Pearlescent. I had ordered them from Dharma Trading, a small sampler pack to try out, but I have since found out that they are available in Toronto.
detail:
I began by drawing the design on the fabric and then painted. I enjoyed the painting process a lot, and will try this idea again. For my first try I chose a simple floral design with the inspiration of the bugs and flora that I could spy from my window in the woods in the Laurentian mountains of Quebec, my happy place.
details:
The painting process took some time. There was a bit of a learning curve to understand how these paints behave, whether they are blendable, how they 'lay on the fabric'. In fact they are quite easy to use, and I would highly recommend this product if the idea of painting on cotton interests you. I was able to achieve the details I sought and found as a first layer, it was quite successful.
details:
After the painting was done, I covered the motif with embroidery stitches, using a 6 ply, divided in half. It is a bit more difficult to sew through the paint, it makes the fabric less porous. It changes the hand of the cloth. Not an insurmountable issue (obviously😏) but you do need a thimble. My embroidery stitches are pretty simple.
Details:
After I was satisfied that there was enough embroidery floss on the canvas, I layered it up and covered it in free motion quilting echo'ing the motif. I learnt some time ago, that quilting on top of the motif created the inverse of what I expected. It pushes the motif to the back in effect. I had hoped that not quilting on the flowers, but around them would bring them forward. I do believe this is what happened.
Detail:
The echo quilting had another unanticipated result: It gives a bit of a vibrational effect, as if the flowers are moving. I went around each element until it 'bumped up' against the next element which creates a sense of movement that I am quite happy with and will try again.
Detail:
I left a few negative shapes at the top unquilted. This too created an effect that I wasn't sure would work, but I like it. It looks like little white clouds floating.
Of course, never one to leave well enough alone, after the quilting and finishing was done, I added some beads to some of the flowers.
This took me about 4 months to complete, working on it pretty steadily.
