There are many ways to incorporate what you love in quilting. This is what I was talking to Amy about on my way to the airport today. Amy said, “I am artist and wanting to make art quilts.” So on our way to the airport we began to talk and found out we have a lot in common. Our love of quilting, the need to make heeling quilts and we are both artist. So, I thought this would be a good time to post information about making art quilts, inspiring Amy and others to try different things.
Have you ever thought about incorporating fabric, painting and mixed media in your quilting? Here are a few ideas that I hope with give you some food for thought.
1. Collage fabrics: Taking shapes or strips and make a fabric base that you can then make into a wall-hanging, garment or purse. Recommended book- Art Quilt Collage by Deborah Boschert
2. PFD: Fabric that is prepared for dying is great to paint or dye with. I purchase this by the bolt. Dyes can be purchased many different places. I try to support locally. My local stores can order anything (almost) I need. Try your local stores first. Internet research is always good. Suggested book – The Complete Fabric Artist’s Workshop by Susan Stein
3. Painting fabrics has it challenge but so does painting on canvas. I like to use Jaquard Fabric Paints. There are a variety of colors to choose from. Suggested book – Fabric Surface Design by Cheryl Rezendes I love this book. Self Portrait is a sample of this work.
4. Took a class last fall with Cindy Walters, great teacher and love her thought process. She has a book for beginners that I recommend, “Fabric Painting” by Cindy Walter.
5. Look at putting texture to what you are working on by hand or machine. (I know hand is 4 letters.) You cannot match machine stitching to hand. The book I cannot live without is “Contemporary Quilts Design, Suface and Stitch” by Sandra Meech. Another book I use often is “Raicing the Surface” by Maggie Grey all about free motion embroidery, just love it!
6. Fabric ink: Tsukineko are Japanese inks. I own every color. They mix like water colors and react the same with salt, rubbing alcohol and resists. Give them a try and you will surely fall in love too.
7. Artist Paint Stick are purchased at art supply stores. Locally I get these at the Dick Blick art store.
Here are a few images of my work with sewing, stitching, painting and mixed media in my pieces.
Happy Quilting, Stitching and Making Art,
Denise
