Week 19 : DLP 2015

Information about the FREE Documented Life Project is HERE. 

Really happy to see this week's challenge - I LOVE to combine paper and stitch in my art journal as you will know if you're at all familiar with my blog. In fact, I have a label so you can see all the posts that I've combined Paper and Stitch.
This week's guest artist is Ruth Rae - her page for this challenge is very cool. I have been a fan since I discovered her, I own both her books, and have made a few projects inspired by her work. One of the techniques I've used in the past is that of stitching organza over paper, and thought that would be fun to do again. Started with no idea of what my page would be, but decided flowers would be a great start :

If you click on the photo you can better see the gleam of the organza. I also wanted to try Linda Vincent's technique for making "shabby leaves". Started with a piece of inky newsprint

Free motion stitched leaves upon it

Then you tear them out - I did some double stitching over a couple thinking that might be less rough, but in the end they all came out ragged and imperfect and I LOVE them like this! Will definitely be trying to remember to use this technique again.

Now for the background. A family member visited the other day and asked me what my favourite mixed media piece was that I've made in recent times. It's a hard choice, but I really love this envelope that I did in August last year : 

It combines most of the elements I love - molding paste, stencils, spray, found text, stitch, paper serviettes, combining fabric/paper/stitch together. I used this piece as inspiration for my background for my journal page

I used dylusions sprays over the modeling paste. Delicious. Then it was just a matter of arranging my elements on the page, and as I wrote the word "Laugh", the rest of the words came to me. They make perfect sense on the page and they make me smile ;-)

Click on the photo to enjoy it larger or see it in the Flickr album I've created for all my Documented Life 2015 spreads HERE. 
Here's a close-up so you can better see the scrummy texture

You can see all my posts about this project HERE.

More Fabric Cuffs

I shared my first fabric cuffs with you last week and here are the rest

Have you changed your mind about which one's your favourite?

Fabric cuffs

I've long wanted to make fabric cuffs inspired by the instructions in Ruth Rae's delightful book

Take a peek inside via Amazon here

They all start with a base of felt and a layer of hand-dyed scrim is stitched on top.

The embellishments that get added next make them individually special. Click on the photo to see better detail.

If you would like to make some yourself she also has an online class option. I'll show you some more next week. Which one would you like to receive for Christmas?

More art journalling

Hey there - one more week of work and then you should see a bit more creativity from me.
In the meantime I thought I'd share a couple more base pages from my Be Present art journal :

The flower on the above page is made by stitching organza over a book page - have used this Ruth Rae technique a few times now - on a card, and after a little experiment, on my July Calendar challenge.

On from there, here are some journal and hand-made book blog loves to investigate :
Daisy Yellow's stitched journals - lovely
and Caatje has been doing some tutorials about how she makes art journal pages - go here for Part 1 : backgrounds and here for Part 2 : decorating pages. Her atlas journal is very very cool.
Ingrid Dijkers has been making a new tunnel book called "Under the Sea"
Explore Sarah Haslam's blog - love her journal and calendar pages - she is great with colour and layers in her backgrounds. Inspired, like me, by Kate Crane
Until next time....

At last....

We lost our home internet connection on Tuesday, and only got it back this afternoon. I felt very 'disconnected' and am so glad to be back checking up on creative blogs again and at last giving you a little news from here.
I have been stitching these as an experiment in wintery 'snowflake' design.

I free-motion stitched turquoise metallic thread over turquoise organza laid over an old book page. The idea originally came from Ruth Rae. Quite pleased with the effect - it's a lovely glittery look in real life - and you will see more of them when I show you my finished July calendar pages.
I quite fancy making something in an embroidery hoop, having recently seen this work by Kim Radatz and previously liking these hoops that Carole received in a recent challenge swap. I'm just saying I like them - not that you should expect to see one soon!!
The V&A's spring exhibition is The Cult of Beauty : The Aesthetic Movement 1860-1900. If you click that link you will go to the blog about the creation of the exhibition. There is a link from there to a wonderful video featuring the lead curator talking about the aesthetic movement and the work created by the artists, designers and architects of the time. The video pans through areas of the exhibition - huge amount of gorgeous inspiration to be had so do check it out.
This book is another recent inspiration  

Click here for google images of Frances Macdonald's art- some of it is simply exquisite.
My credit card may get a work-out shortly....Papaya have brought out some gorgeous new glitter gift tags and glitter sticker sets - I especially love the Muses
And if you are local, don't forget to check out the Rangitikei Country Quilters Exhibition at Rangitikei College, Bredins Line, Marton. It's open 10-4pm for this weekend.

Christmas in July

I have some good friends with the same quilting/mixed media interests as me and we meet every month or so for a play day. We pick a theme or project, and work on it together. This latest one was to each come up with ideas for a wee project to start us on the way to Christmas!
My idea came from Ruth Rae's wonderful book, which I recently got for my birthday.
Her book is fabulous, with very clear instructions. We made cards from scraps. The coolest things was sewing organza over text or music. I will definitely be using this technique again.Left to right : Katherine's, My card, Lisa's. It is cool to see how we each approach things and how the finished cards are individualised. We always learn lots from each other.Katherine showed us how to stitch felt and organza together to make lovely christmas stars. This is mine finished. The velvet is layered over felt, and free motion swirls are stitched with metallic thread over the top.
Lisa's technique was to try a stencil with moulding paste pressed through. We cut a simple shape out of acetate, and then smoothed the moulding paste over the top. When dry, we coloured it with chalk. I tried letters too.Not a great pic, but hopefully you can see that the moulding paste is raised and is textured so creates a cool effect.
Another fun day, with some lovely friends. And lots of ideas to pursue in the future.