Sunday, July 14, 2013

Mini Art Quilts

Years ago, I had made "inchies" to trade with other artists. Mine are actually 1 1/2 inches square.
To make each inchie, I decorated the fabric by painting it, fused the fabric onto a stiff interfacing, some free-motion stitching done, trimmed it to size, and then zig-zag stitched around the edge.
I had several leftover and made them into pendants, but didn't like how they came out. Today, I took out a package of glass beads that I bought when I was at The International Quilt Festival in Houston and some wire, and I redesigned my inchies. To add the beads at the top end, I looped the wire, added the beads to the wire, looped the wire under the beads, and sewed the bottom loop of the wire to the back of the inchie. To add the beads to the bottom of the inchie, I sewed the beads on with silamide thread. I attached a surgical stainless steel chain that I bought on Amazon. Here are the results. I'm linking this post to Off The Wall Friday where you can visit other art quilt blogs. Please make comments to let the artists know you where there.
Painted on commercial fabric


Painted on commercial fabric and some foil applied

Background painted on a dryer sheet
Heart appliqued on top

Center is thread-painted
Here's a photo of the back so you can see how the wire is attached to the top. I sewed it on using the silamide thread, too. The black square is a piece of sticky back (soft side) velcro from my first attempt at making the pendants way back when. I'm leaving it on for now for the added weight because it may serve to keep the pendant facing forward as I wear it. I've noticed that sometimes lightweight necklaces tend to flip over as I wear them when I move around. I'll see how these wear as I move.
back of necklace at top


20 comments:

  1. Regina

    These are absolutely stunning - what a creative idea! How do you sew the top wire to the inchie? Could we see a photo of a back?

    Judy

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    1. I just posted a photo. Let me know if you have questions. Thanks for the nice comment.

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  2. That is so artfully done that I had trouble figuring out it was the back for a moment! Thank you!

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    1. Thanks. It helps to have an engineer for a husband to suggest such designs.

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  3. What a great way to use those inches! I had made some several years ago and then didn't know what to do with them. Your idea is wonderful.

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  4. Hi, Regina. Very cool pendants! I especially like the red one--quite an eye-catcher!
    best, nadia

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    1. Thanks. Red isn't my favorite color, but the cool bead at the bottom makes it more fun for me.

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  5. I love these pendants. I'll be interested to know whether they tend to flip when you wear them. I have the book on inchies and haven't done anything with it. You may have inspired me to try some.

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    1. I wore one the other day and it only flipped when there was a VERY strong wind.

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  6. What a great idea! Such a wonderful way to display/show off beautiful tiny art.
    Could you put two inchies back to back? Then you could hide the hanging wire AND it would be a two sided pendant so no worries about if it flipped

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    1. I bet you could put two of them back to back. Good idea.

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  7. And THANK you for your comment too! :-)

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  8. Love this idea... these colorful imaginative pieces are such fun!

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    1. One of the things I liked about them is that they are quick to make. So when I have some big project on the design wall waiting for a decision, this is something to do while the gears are turning.

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  9. Amazing your mini quilts! So colourfull! A lot of inspiration. You made really art pieces! You are Inchie-Rembrandt!

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    1. I love the title you gave me. Thank you very much.

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  10. Awesome! I especially like the one on the diagonal! Quite unique!
    Susan

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  11. I was in an 'inchie' ornament swap a few years back. They are often more challenging than one would think! I like how you've used yours as jewelry. I might have to dig mine out or heck, make new ones!

    I saw your inchie photo on Nina's blog and knew I needed to see what that spiral on blue was all about. I am glad I stopped by!

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    1. Sometimes it's fun working small. But, yes, it does take thought and work, too. Thanks for visiting. Hope you stop by again.

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