Monday, August 26, 2013

Fabulous Fabrics from Saturday's workshop with Rayna Gillman

Here are some of the fabrics created in Rayna Gillman's workshop on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013.







 The two photos at right show "before" and "after" overprinting.






Workshop coordinator Arleen Kukua and EBHQ member Pat Bailey show off some fabric.


 Textured shading plates and stencils; "found" stencil; draftsman's circle templates
To use a textured plate, set it under the fabric, then use an inked brayer to roll on top of the fabric -- this will pick up the pattern in the style of a brass rubbing.

You can also use foam brushes to paint through a stencil (though it takes skill to avoid having any ink or paint get under the stencil and make the design less clear).
 Here's an inked brayer on top of fabric that has a texture plate underneath.
The center photo shows cardboard strips attached to the bottom of a silkscreen.  The last two photos show masking tape applied directly to the back of a silkscreen.
 This small hard plastic grid was a popular "stamp".  The center photo shows a rubbery grid set under fabric and used as a texture grid.  The right-hand photo shows a small roller-style stamp, which was most easily "inked" by painting it with a foam brush.  A foam dauber can also be a good tool.
 Found textures -- scotch tape roll centers, and slices of foam "noodles" -- were popular for making circles.  The center shows a commercial stencil set on the back of a silkscreen.  The right-hand photo shows results of another commercial stencil -- and you don't have to use the full square or rectangle of the stencil, you can just select PART of the stencil to ink.
 Hand-made stamps made of rubber or foam, glued to transparent plastic.  The center photo shows a stiff cardboard roll covered with various kinds of string; it's inked and rolled onto fabric to create designs.  The right-hand photo shows a stencil set on the back of a silkscreen, with the resulting fabric visible below it.

Always a good idea to wear rubber gloves when using inks.  An old credit card works fine as a squeegee for a silkscreen.  To create a waterproof work surface, cover a piece of foam core with batting, then add a pillowcase which you can remove and wash after each project.

-- Posted by Rachel Holmen

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

More Tangled Up in Blues - Mabry Benson

Exercise #7       Use up the bright turquoise. 




The Result

Even after 7 tops, the cool color bin is still pretty full. I guess it isn't overflowing anymore





Monday, August 19, 2013

Our Beautiful Raffle Quilts Visit Petaluma


Along with 18 other guilds, we displayed our raffle quilts on the sidewalks next to the show venues. We we glad for the shade, but had a few windy incidents to contend with. Gave out lots of fliers, sold some raffle tix, chatted with Janet Shore who gave us selling instructions - first say 6/$5, then quietly 1/$1.  Many ladies said how wonderful the Craneway site was, and look forward to the next show. 


Thanks Susan, Mabry, Edy!


Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Postcard Play by Susan Dague

Postcard play

by susandaguequilts
I don't think it's procrastination, but I got stuck in the vortex of a postcard binge this week.   I couldn't get out until I finished these, and I had fun all the while.
Leftovers from my current project:
3flowers________________
The fruits of my most recent vintage fabric / embroidery marathon:
cherries2dogskitty_________
And my current favorite:
Iron
(If you haven't silently said, "Awwwww . . . "  yet, you're having a really tough day.)
___________
I also include one experimental card, using a technique that I want to try a bit more:
face
For first-time viewers, these postcards are being made for the Voices in Cloth 2014quilt show that our East Bay Heritage Quilters guild hosts.
For instructions on making your own cards, click here for a tutorial, and to see a gallery of more postcards samples, click the tab marked "EBHQ Postcards" on my home page.

Wednesday, August 07, 2013

Tangled up in Blue - Mabry Benson

Take a peek at what is on Mabry Benson's Design Wall -

In my never quest to use up the mass of fabric in the sewing room (a

quest that never seems to get closer to realization), am working on
the batik collection. This is a pile of triangles from a mostly
turquoise color range.

The Pile

Working Outward

Almost Done

Filled In

I will now let t
his simmer while
 I do some machine quilting.  There are still plenty of triangles for more - quilts for my sisters, nieces & nephews. - Mabry Benson