My Tips n Techniques

Friday, December 31, 2010

New Printer & Neocolor II Portraits


This new wide path printer will allow me to print images
13 x 19 inches

I am interested in printing onto fabric



Epson WorkForce 1100





My interest in this printer is the DuraBrite Inks
They are water resistant and fade resistant.

Which means, I can print directly on my own fabric.
I no longer need the commercial treated fabric sheets.

I can cut fabric to the size I need, and am not limited to the 8x11 fabric sheets.
This means freedom to print and create on fabric.





time to unpack it, set it up,
and let her stretch her legs...



I ironed 13 x 19 white fabric onto freezer paper
and made my first print:


This is our dog, Gunnr, printed on Fabric

He has a face that is just perfect for portrait work

I am making a 12 x 12 inch portrait





Neocolor II Water Soluble Crayons
are perfect for this technique.

I start with the lighter colors, then work my way to the darkest.
This is like coloring in a child's coloring book.

After all of the coloring is done, I use a brush to apply water to the fabric.
This brings out the vibrant pigments in the Neocolor II Crayons.



A hair dryer speeds up the drying process, and also helps inhibit too much color blending.




Gunnr 12 x 12 Portrait

This is now ready to be basted with batting and backing fabric.
Can't wait to get this under the needle...



I couldn't resist printing out a couple more images with the new printer:


Baby Goat





Suzy

The fabric sheets feed easily through this new printer.
I think it is a keeper.


CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts


CLICK HERE to view a Neocolor Tutorial


To print your image like a coloring page:
Import the image into Photo shop.
Using your filters: double click photocopy.
This will remove all of the color.
You now have a coloring page image to print out on fabric.

CLICK HERE to view Photoshop Elements Tutorial


May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,
LuAnn

Sunday, December 26, 2010

She likes it.....


Valerie likes her Stormy quilt...




She opened it yesterday after Christmas dinner.


CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts


CLICK HERE to view Stormy Slideshow

CLICK HERE for a laugh watch the Chicken Slideshow

CLICK HERE to view Shaving Cream Printing


May Your Bobbin Always be Full,
LuAnn

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Horse Quilt.......#2


Two months ago I made Stormy,
a horse quilt.

It hangs on the wall in our house.

Our family recently drew names for Christmas,
which sent me back to the Thread Shed to create another Stormy Quilt for a gift.

This was definitely a RUSH JOB, but it was still fun!

I put the binding on it today:




Stormy 2





Back Side...
Hanging Triangles in the corners and a dowel





Swimming Noodle





Roll the quilt around the noodle...





This will keep the quilt flat and smooth and easy to transport





This is a gift for my niece for Christmas





Suzy, the Quilting Doggie
stays bundled up under the sewing machine





Suzy doesn't miss a chance to spend time in the Thread Shed


CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts

CLICK HERE to see Stormy Slideshow


CLICK HERE to view the Cow Pony Quilt

CLICK HERE to view my Hand Pieced Quilts

CLICK HERE to view my Mixed Media Quilts

CLICK HERE to view Suzy's Quilt


May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,
LuAnn

Textile Painting.......Aprons


I am in need of a few more gifts...

I have a few black aprons I can paint on...


Click Images to Enlarge:


Coneflowers on Black Fabric Apron





Maple Leaf......Apron





Apron.......Oak Leaves





Apron.......Birch Leaves





Aprons......ready for gift giving!


CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts


CLICK HERE to view a Tutorial


CLICK HERE to view Adventures in Textile Painting

CLICK HERE to view Midnight in the Garden

CLICK HERE to view Organizing Art Supplies


May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,
LuAnn

Friday, December 17, 2010

Painting Fabric Tote Bags.....Tutorial


I spent the day with Textile Paints...

What Fun!


Click Images to Enlarge:


Painted Fabric Tote Bags





I broke out the stencils...



Here is a quick tutorial:


Stencils with big, open areas work best for textile painting.
Secure the stencil to your fabric with blue painters tape or spray adhesive on the back side of the stencil.







Plastic margarine lids make a great palette for your paints.
Lumiere Metallic Textile Paints are my choice on Black Fabrics.

Just a light coating of paint on your stencil brush is all you need.
Notice how I pounce the paint onto the palette, this eliminates too much paint on the brush.

Use a separate brush for each paint color....very important!





Start with the lightest of the 3 paints...mine is Gold
Using a stencil brush, pounce the paint along the veins of the leaf.
(use an up and down pouncing motion to work the paints into the fabric)
Do not move your brush in a circular motion.

If you look at a leaf, the veins are brighter than the leaf. By choosing your lightest color of paint, you will highlight the vein areas.





Next, use your medium color....mine is Bronze.
Fill in half of the available unpainted areas.
Leave room for your last color.





Last, apply your darkest color.....mine is Russet.
Fill in the last of the unpainted area.
Then, lightly pounce over the entire leaf...
This will blend all 3 colors together.



The BIG Reveal...


Carefully peel back your stencil...





Maple Leaf

The edges are crisp because I use a dry brush.
If you have paint leakage, you are using too much paint, or your stencil is moving.





This leaf is lonely.....needs more.





Maple Leaf..... Tote Bag

I like the extra leaves to run off the edges...





Oak Leaf.....Tote Bag





Painted Fabric Tote Bags

These are last minute holiday gifts!

A Special Thanks to my fellow instructor,
Nancy Bryant, for introducing me to the world of Textile Painting.
You are a Peach Nancy!

CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts


CLICK HERE to view all of my Tutorials

CLICK HERE to view Photo Transfer Work

CLICK HERE to view Woven Quilts

CLICK HERE to view Adventures in Textile Painting


May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,
LuAnn