Step 7 of The Stamping Experiment

     Well, so far my blog looks the same to me. The ax hasn't fallen yet. I've been busy stitching and organizing my studio.
      Regarding the stamping experiment, it is almost at its end. I used embroidery floss in a raspberry hue in a stem stitch to outline some petals of flowers. Then to give them more of an accent, I added some more petals in a straight stitch in a paler value of perle cotton. And stuck some very pale pink perle cotton in there for a highlight. I stitched some straight stitches in the center of each flower in a golden perle cotton topped with french knots to finish them off.  Where the third spiral used to be, I added some more chain stitch-detached stitches in blue and think I will add some more in that spot to make it darker there. Following the photos, I'll make some observations that occurred to me as I've looked at this piece lately.

Observations:

1.) This piece has become more about embroidery than about the stamping design and texture.

2.) One of the parts of the stamping I liked the most was the floral stamping. It had white outlines around it that suggested batik to me and those outlines got covered up by the stitching. Perhaps I should have stitched flowers around the stamped flower images instead of on top of them.

3.) I had intended to have the thread merely act as an accent to the gray paint; not overtake it.

4.) If I wanted to pursue this stamping/embroidery, I would have to make many more iterations to get the effect I intended. But I want to get back to creating my body of work and this was just a side bar to that to see what would happen.

5.) I'll show you the finished product/s in a few days.

A Quick Message

Awhile ago I inadvertently switched to Google+. It sounded like that would allow me to connect to more people. Instead, it ended up confusing me and it turned out it only allowed members of Google+ to leave comments on my blog. So yesterday, I downgraded back to regular Google. Over the next few days, Google is going to delete my posts and comments. BOO HOO. I don't know why that is necessary to downgrade. I don't know if they mean they will delete ALL my posts and comments on my entire blog or just the ones since I upgraded. So you may see changes. Time will tell how it will all end up. I love the social aspect of all this technology, but sometimes it makes my head want to explode. I like to keep my life as simple as possible. I'll keep posting as usual and see what happens. I hope you keep reading and I hope you make comments and ask questions. Here is a photo of Opus, one of my two cats playing hide and seek under some crinoline. It's how I feel waiting for the fall out from Google.

Waiting...

Step 6 of The Stamping Experiment

     I don't think I told you in the previous posts a detail about this experiment. Since I'm an art quilter, I did put batting under this stamped fabric and a piece of cotton fabric underneath that to make a quilt sandwich and I'm stitching through all the layers.
     I removed the spiral that was bothering me. Now I miss it. The piece needs a third one somewhere. I'll add one later on. It also will need a focal point. That will come later on, too. In this step, I added chartreuse perle cotton in a stitch I had never heard of before.  It's called cretan-slanting stitch. I couldn't find a tutorial for the the slanting version I used. I found it in my embroidery book, but here is the link to the cretan stitch, itself. She also has other versions of it. http://www.embroidery.rocksea.org/stitch/cretan-stitch/cretan-stitch/ .

cretan stitch-slanting

So, please make comments about what you think this piece is going to become. Are any images forming in your imagination now? Keep in mind that my art is not totally realistic. I like to stylize images. The more people that share their ideas, the more fun this experiment becomes. Thanks for reading and looking. And be sure to check out this blog today and every Friday for really interesting art quilts. Off The Wall Friday

Step 5 of the Stamping Experiment

     Well, I'm not sure where this will end up, but here is the next thing I did. I used a chain stitch and a variation of it called the chain stitch-magic. It uses two colors of thread at the same time. It sounds complicated, but is actually very easy to do. Here is a tutorial, which is part of the link I posted last time, too. http://www.embroidery.rocksea.org/stitch/chain-stitch/magic-chain-stitch/ .  I added some extra running stitches to help blend the spirals into what I had already done.
     One thing I've learned as I've become an artist, is that there are no mistakes. I like that. If something doesn't work, you can alter it later. If any of what I've done so far doesn't seem to fit to me, I can add stitches later, or I can add some sheer fabrics, or I can use Inktense pencils to add color or shading. But I'll wait until I'm closer to the end to make adjustments. The spiral in the middle seems out of place to me now and I may rip it out later, but for now it is there.
     So, what do you think this is going to become? Let us know.

I have an idea, myself; but perhaps may change my mind as stitches are added.

Fond Remembrances

I had a good therapeutic cry today as I worked setting up my studio some more. I was sorting fabrics and came across a bag of clothes that belonged to my mom. She passed away in September after a long terminal illness. I got to spend a lot of time with her that last year and a half and was with her when she passed. I didn't want to keep all her clothes so I kept the ones I remembered seeing her the most in... sweaters with hearts, pajamas that said "I love you", t-shirts with teddy bears... really cute stuff. I folded them up and put them in the window seat I purchased for our two cats. I eventually want to cut up her clothes (sweaters, too) and make things out of them for me and for my siblings and for her grandchildren (who are mostly adults now). They all will remember those clothes, too. I was thinking of making maybe stuffed plushed teddy bears or the like. I won't be able to do it for quite awhile. The feelings are too raw still. Do any of you have any ideas of things to make from them that will be sentimental for relatives?

Step 4 of The Stamping Experiment

I added straight stitches today in a variegated light blue perle cotton thread running along curvy diagonal lines (5 of them). You may have to look hard to see them in the photo. Has the image changed for you now, or do you still see the same thing as before? For me, it is coming to life more. This latest stitching has given it more movement. Here is another link to a very detailed site of many embroidery stitches and tutorials on how to do them. http://www.embroidery.rocksea.org/reference/picture-dictionary/ People are so generous to take the time to create these sites aren't they? Please take time to add comments or questions. Thanks.

Step 3 of The Stamping Experiment

I stitched with the first color of thread. I used a perle cotton thread in a bright blue. I chose a favorite stitch from childhood called the Lazy Daisy Stitch. But since I didn't make a flower and connect the loops it's actually called the Chain Stitch-Detached. (I found that out when I looked it up last night in an old embroidery book I have.) Here is a link to some handy stitches and to another blog that is helpful, colorful, and fun from  Jane LaFazio .

Step 3 of Stamping Experiment

So what does this look like to you so far? Please tell us? The more opinions we have, the more interesting this will become.