Florals in Fibre

 

                                                     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.