Sunshine was on my mind one day and I needed to grab onto a project so I quickly cut this shape for a freezer paper stencil.
Freezer paper stencil
Another sun work, background painted
I peeled and reapplied the stencil three more times. Three of these are quilted with cotton batting onto muslin, washed and dried to shrink and add texture. The one second Continue reading
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Tagged art2carry, functional art, inspiration, surface design
Utility Pouch of Upcycled Work Pants
Unplanned embroidery
Under Construction
I’m not certain what I thought I was showing you here, but you might as well look. (I did add another small pocket inside the outer pocket.) Raw pieces of used trousers that I clean my paint rollers on. I just hate to waste anything. The orange and red are from working at my mixed-media table, again just ‘using up’. Then one evening I picked it up and started stitching the red lines because I had nothing else in my mind to do. The fingers need to do something, even when void of inspiration.
Painted and hand embroidered pouch is here in My Etsy Shop.
This small chunk of fabric is visible in an earlier post – not too far back, just a few scrolls or clicks will probably get you there. See that circle one? It is completed too. I’ll post photos of that another day.
Posted in textile art, Uncategorized
Tagged functional art, functional textile art, original bags, zipper pouch
The truth is that not all things creative are born of inspiration. Some are just built a day at a time like Life until suddenly a direction is determined. It appears this piece started aimlessly to use up paint or maybe I just didn’t know what I wanted to do that day.
I liked the painted strip but decided to combine it with other fabric and somehow ‘mesh’ the two.
Sandwiching fabric and batting with a bit of modern Trapunto technique (the added circles)
With a theme of circles and connecting lines I ‘marry’ the light fabric to the painted insert.
Painted and quilted fabric pieces and planning the bag.
I know that’s quite a jump. It’s not hard to notice that more painting has been done. Alas, I couldn’t find any photos for you of the process. Continue reading
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Tagged art2carry, artist bag, functional art, inspiration, original bags, surface design, textile art, upcycled fabric, zipper pouch
On a ‘grab and do’ day I completed this fabric piece that had been in limbo for months. I’d had in mind to do something with keys and I had that fabulous metallic gold paint that is aging (also!).
This photo shows the back side and reveals its first transformation from white cotton fabric.
The sticky paint on the slick surface of the keys made a sort of ghostly image. Undefined is often more intriguing than crisp and clear. I like how the keys seem to float in a dark, infinite space. (Infinite space of indecision!) The center band of gold was done by
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Tagged art2carry, functional art, OOAK bag, surface design, textile art
Old canvases that were not ever going to be on a wall were ripped from their stretchers a few years ago. But they did inspire these simple trifold card wallets. Simple, fast, funky and upcycled!
Besides being ripped and sanded some were burned. Now I’m a pyromaniac. But I do have fun.
In my Etsy Shop.
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Tagged art2carry, artist bag, functional art, sewing, textile art, upcycled canvas painting, wallet
Sometimes the beginnings are simply the availability of materials. I hate to waste! This paint is on my home office walls but it does not look like this at all. Color can be such a mystery. It is a dark blue but it usually looks green. (I do love green but it was not my intention. I will repaint when my home project list shortens up a bit. You didn’t expect an artist to have a clean sink, did you?)
I soaked the cheesecloth in diluted paint and laid it on the canvas with no expectations. I impulsively decided to use it without further development. (Seems like I said that same thing not too long ago!) I fused the canvas to high quality decorator chintz, grabbed painted blue denim for the zipper top and proceeded to construct the bag. It was stiff and difficult to work with but I switched to my trusty old commercial Bernina and all went well. 
I consulted my salvage drawer for cords and found some I had saved from fabric sample books. I couldn’t quite remember how to do a 4-strand braid. The braid book – although beautiful – required a bit more concentration than I was willing for. So I did a quick internet search and made notes on my hand as to which strand went where. I can remember it for awhile again.
Braiding the zipper pulls -Second strand over first, 3 over 4, 2 over 3. That’s how it goes!
Coin purse completed with key ring and clip, slice of upcycled leather on zipper pull
Fabric from ‘Starts’ and selected lining
One day I just felt like sewing so that is what I did. The bright red orange cotton worked perfectly as lining.
I made the handy size zipper pouch, then a key ring pouch using the remainder.
Available in my Etsy Shop.
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Tagged altered fabric, art2carry, coin purse, color wash, functional art, original bags, surface design, textile art, zipper pouch
Sew Path 