New Granddaughter

We've spent a busy week helping our daughter-in-law and son with their brand new baby girl, number 6 child for them, number 11 grandchild for us. The only art work done this week was altered art with my 5 grandchildren and "studying" a past issue of Somerset Studio. Sold only one item last week, my "Coming Storm" ATC, on etsy. I will try to get busy when I get home to make another one to put on eBay and possibly make a little quilt as well. I'll be resting as much as my work schedule will allow the first part of the week, but I have to finish a cross-stitch blanket due my 10th grandchild this week as the priority item. We've spent the last part of this week visiting our daughter and son-in-law and granddaughter number 10. Pictures of the altered art my grandchildren made will be on the web as soon as I get home.

Three Items on eBay and Etsy Today

I ran into the most wonderful Victorian Album last week at an Antique Mall. I couldn't resist. This is one of the pictures I love. I used an old book cover, ephemera, gel medium and paint to create the design. I put stiffened point d'Venice lace on the top interlaced with gold cording. The butterfly glued in the middle and looks like it's about to take flight. I'm using the same technique I used on the back of my ATCs last week. On eBay today.

Another picture found in the Victorian Album. Love this baby and mother, a theme for many Victorian pictures. I used some wired beads to make the hanger, gel medium, ephemera, paint complete the piece.

A closed up of the altered art on etsy today.

An old book cover, some wire mesh, gel medium, acrylic paint and a cute baby picture bought at an antique store go into this altered art piece on http://www.sallylsmith.etsy.com.

Installment Five Clipped Yarn Fiber Art Quilt

Cut a piece of cotton fabric (I used black) the size of the quilt top. Trace around the playing card on the back of the quilt top. Set the playing card aside. With top and backing right sides together, stitch just outside the drawn line almost touching the line.

Leave an opening to place the playing card. Trim around sewing line leaving about 1/8" seam. Turn quilt right sides out. Push knitting needle or other smooth but pointed object into the corners.

Curl playing card longways.

Put card in opening.

Push card into corners of quilt.

After hand stitching the opening closed ( I blind stitch), press the back of the quilt.

This is the finished card on a wire easel sitting on a doily.

Installment Four Clipped Yarn Fiber Art Quilt

Choose thread colors. I enjoy using some old thread I buy at garage and estate sales. It's very inexpensive and still useable. I test its strength before using it. I match the thread with the colors of the yarn used and use one of my favorite sewing needles (the one with the big eye). I have used embroidery thread before if I need a color I don't have on a spool. I find the more tightly twisted sewing threads work better, however, when pulling them through the yarn.

Begin quilting. I use small stitches about 1/4" apart. This holds everything in place and doesn't show very much from the front. I straight stitch around the design elements: house, roof, background trees, and path. I satin stitch the window and door. I look on the back to see where I might need some more anchor stitching. Last, I embroider the focal tree using straight, running, satin and overlapping stitches.

Add embroidery detail. Here is the piece compared to the original picture.

Here is the finished piece before backing.

Installment Three Clipped Yarn Fiber Art Quilt

Choose tulle. I chose a lavender tulle. Go darker, if desired, instead of lighter. If you use white or very light, all you see is the tulle. If chosen right, you will not notice the tulle covering. Cut tulle a little larger than the piece.

After trimming the tulle and yarn to the edge of the muslin, machine stitch 1/8" from the edge.

This is what it looks like after basting and machine stitching. (Hope your stitching is straighter than mine).

You can adjust the design elements by inserting a needle horizontally under the tulle and pushing to compact the yarn into a finer line. Embroidery will take care of the rest.

Here is the finished background compared to the original picture.

Installment Two Clipped Yarn Fiber Art Quilt How To

Cover muslin with yarn starting with the sky. I've added some color to the cream yarn.

I continue covering the muslin with yarn. I've added more color to the sky with pulled yellow yarn.

Add interest. I've added the trees and houses here.

Here is the completed background with all yarn added. Notice I have not added the focal tree yet.

Installment One Clipped Yarn Fiber Art Quilt How To

We're making this little Artist Trading Card. I'll show you the step-by-step process in five installments. Today is Installment One.

Choose your design to be made into a quilt. I chose an old postcard for the picture in the middle.
Cut muslin the size of the finished project plus an extra 1/4"-1/2" for seam allowance. My card will be 2 12/" x 3 1/2" so my muslin is 3" x 4." Choose your yarn colors to match those in the original picture. Variegated yarns are the most fun and cost effective because of all the possible colors that can be gleaned from them.

Separate the strands of fiber that make up the yarn. To do this, hold both ends of clipped yarn and pop it. This loosens the fibers. Usually the strands will separate themselves as shown. If not continue popping the held ends. Hold one end of the yarn and gently pull out each fiber with the other hand. This is like separating embroidery floss. The tightly twisted yarn can be pulled after twisting it in the opposite way it's originally twisted.

Set up your separated yarn into an artist palette from which to "paint."

Cut yarn with scissors into about 1/4" lengths.

Clip the yarn into a fluff consistency. Turn your scissors horizontally and cut across and through the puff of yarn to get it very fluffy.

New on Etsy March 5

I put this on etsy today, http://www.sallylsmith.etsy.com. I had a sweet little girl altered art piece sell last week and I couldn't leave out the boys! I have 2 of my own and 7 grandsons. I found this great photo at an antique mall and fell in love with it (since I own the picture, please don't copy it for your own unless you contact me for permission, thanks.) I used an old book cover again, a great backing for art work. I cut out pictures of toys from old cards, glued them on the cover, glued on torn pieces of tracing paper, added a transparent transfer (one of my first, more on that later!), the photo, buttons, a charm that says "Believe" and a wooden bird, vellum and a small butterfly picture. I used old curtain hangers and braided jute for the hanger. It was fun to make.

I PAINTED THE BACK OF A PLAYING CARD BLACK, let it dry, smeared gel medium over that, etched a design with a dry ink pen through wet gel, let it dry, touched up with the black paint, let it dry and then smoothed bronze paint over that and wiped with a paper towel. I think it has a cool effect. Next time I do this, I'll skip the first painting since I had to touch it up because I drew through the paint to the card--if I can see what I draw in the gel!

March Into March with More Works

We had a very lion-like entrance into March. The snowy, windy days helped with my creativity. I've made three quilts and two altered ATCs and two altered book covers in the last week. I mourned the loss of my daughter's cat for two days and puttered around those days but the week still went pretty well.