Fall Landscape

This was done on hand dyed fabric. I did some fabric weaving, beading, and yarns for the leafy part of the tree. The trunk was thread painted. I also did some embroidery on this piece.

Einstein Fabric Wall Hanging

This was done from a photo of Albert Einstein. I manipulated it in photoshop until just the outline of the photo appeared then printed it on paper. Then I traced the outlines on fabric and embroidered it. I wrote E=MC2 and "Its All Relative" with pencil then embroidered over my pencil lines. When finished I stretched it around canvas, stapled it to the back, added a backing to cover the staples and attached a wire hanger.

I'll Be Om For Christmas Postcard

Okay, maybe this is corny but I thought it was cute. A take off on the old Christmas song, " I'll be home for Christmas."

Even More Postcards

These were such fun I couldn't stop!! How do you like my "Yoga Tree Pose" guys?

More Fabric Postcards

These two were done from some of the templates I made. I traced the images on craft fuse then painted them with gold fabric paint.

Christmas Fabric Postcards

It has been a while since I posted anything on my blog. Let's just say life has been busy. I made these fabric postcards which were a lot of fun and quick to do. Well, quicker than most things I do. Since my husband is a yoga instructor I thought I would make some Christmas fabric postcards with a yoga theme. I first made the templates and used those to cut out the shapes. I used fast2fuse to adhere the fronts and back then sewed around the edges with a zigzag stitch. The cards are 4x6 inches. You can write on the back with any pen and they can be mailed. They can also be given as a small gift. Again I say I am not a photographer so please keep that in mind when you view the cards. I believe you can click on the pictures to enlarge and they may come out brighter.

What's On My Mind

I have been wanting to do something like this for a while. When I was in nursing school studying functions of the brain I was fascinated by how intricate and complex the system is with it's communication to the rest of the body. Weird, I know! The background fabric reminds me of brain synapse. I cut the silhouette of the head from felt and hand embroidered it. The small brain scans I found on the Internet and photo transferred them to hand dyed fabric. The piece is machine quilted, hand felted and hand embroidered. It is mounted on a commercial canvas. UPDATE: This piece was just accepted into the Fiber Artists of San Antonio 2009 annual exhibition.

Using Rub-On Transfers on Fabric

Perhaps everyone knew this could be done except me but I learned this by just experimenting. I bought some Tulip rub-on transfers, the kind you use on paper, wood, metal, etc. I wanted to know how it would look on fabric so I cut one out and rubbed it on a piece of fabric with the stick included with the transfers. I was surprised to find it adhered perfectly to the fabric. The colors came out bright and distinct. I thought it could be used as a easy, inexpensive embellishment. Sorry, I didn't take a picture of it.

Put On Your Red Dress, Mama

This was a fun piece to do. I used a computer image of a model to make the black silhouette. I first made a template then used that to cut out the silhouette from black cotton fabric. It was then fused to the silk. The red dress is cotton fabric and netting I just manipulated until it looked right then hand sewed it to the silk. The dress stands out from the background. I like the contrast of fabrics and colors. It is machine and hand stitch, hand beaded.

Stargazer

Stargazer was appliqued with commercial and hand dyed fabrics. It is hand embroidered. I see her as lying in the grass "star dreaming", floating in the universe with the stars, the roots keeping her grounded with the earth.

Create Your Own Digital Stamps

I am just learning to use photoshop and must say it has intimidated me for a long time. Many probably already know how to do this but it is my first effort. I found the tutorial from Gillian Allen on the art-e-zine website. It is too lengthy to post here but if you go to her website or the art-e-zine website you can pull up the instructions. This is a way to make any image into a stamp you save on your computer. Then they can be printed out on fabric or paper.

The one I posted here was made from a photo I took of dried poppy heads in my garden. Im still refining the technique.

Oil Pastel on Fabric

This was really fun and my first attempt at water soluble oil pastels on fabric. I found some shiny, silky fabric in my stash I wanted to use. I put the fabric over a antique wooden cookie press and did the rubbing with the water soluble oil pastels. Next I put the fabric between a piece of cloth and parchment paper and heat set it with a hot, dry iron. It is interesting to see how the colors begin to blend as it is heat set. Now I am thinking of all sorts of things to use for fabric rubbings. Man hole covers you see in the street come to mind. Some have beautiful scroll work---just watch for cars! I think anything with a raised, firm design would work. The true, intense colors don't show well on this photo but the idea is there.

Rust Dyed Fabric

This is some rust dyed fabric I did recently. I used PFD fabric which works great. It was a little messy but easy. I followed directions I found in Fabric Art Workshop by Susan Stein. It was interesting to see how different rusty objects make unusual patterns on the fabric.

Fiber Art Group

I met with our fiber art group yesterday, a gathering of talented and inspiring ladies. I can only encourage others to reach out and find those of similar interest to share ideas and offer encouragement and inspiration to one another. Sometimes the "art life" can be a little lonely if we don't branch out and share with others. Okay, enough of that. Im working on a piece that I was inspired to do when I saw a indian pictograph of a elk in a cave close to Del Rio, Texas. Sadly, my elk is looking more like a reindeer--not the intention. So this one may be cut up or thrown in the trash! I will decide when I reach my ultimate frustration, or maybe I can salvage the thing.

To the left are a few things I enjoy doing when I don't want to work on a piece that consumes me. The one on the left has a quote by Audre Lord, "The woman's place of power within each of us is neither white nor surface. It is dark. It is ancient. It is deep." The one in the middle quote is by Oscar Wilde,"Your soul grows sick with longing for the things it has forbidden itself." The one on the right quote is by Elbert Hubbard, " God will not look you over for medals, degrees or diplomas, but for scars."

Fabric Weaving, Metal Embellishments

The picture to the left was my attempt at fabric weaving and using metal embellishments I made. The quote from Thoreau says, "Time is but the stream I go a fishing in." This was a fun piece to do as I tried things I hadn't done before. The fabric looked like a mountain stream, thus the fish subject. The hanger is fishing "clips" I bought at the hardware store.

Visit My Garden

I live near Kerrville,Texas on 19 acres called The Sculpture and Meditation Garden. It is a source of inspiration for my fabric / fiber art. We have two bed and breakfast, Elm Cottage and The Canyon House. My husband teaches yoga in his studio here. We get many visitors who enjoy meandering along the garden paths or just sitting and thinking about life. The picture to the left is the entrance to the herb garden. You can see other pictures by going to our website at www.elmcottages.com.

Lots of Color, Fun and Silly

I love color and quotes. The quote on this wall hanging says, "Inside me lives a skinny woman crying to get out. But I can usually shut the bitch up with cookies". Excuse the "b" word but it just works for this. I got that fabric from Wendy Richardson at the Houston quilt show last year and had to use it. She told me it isn't made anymore. A self portrait? Maybe!

I Love Vintage Fabric and Embellishments

I love working with vintage fabrics and embellishments. I regularly haunt resale shops and thrift stores for "stash". This wall hanging is made of all vintage elements including old hat parts, garter clips, hat pins and dress trim. They are hand sewn to a vintage dresser scarf. The hanger is a bra strap and old belt buckle.

Some of my vintage