Tag: Jacquard paint

Posted in drawing, quilting

Progress on latest quilt

Posted on by Laura Kate

Almost two weeks ago, I started work on a baby quilt that will be a gift for my niece who lives in Oregon. Her baby is due in August.

I have no title for this project, so for now I will call it the Oregon Baby quilt. In my first project post, I shared sketches under consideration as subject matter. They focus on animals and plants native to Oregon. This week I added two more:

Painted Turtle
Oregon Swallowtail

Having received a lovely bundle of fabrics from Connecting Threads, I have proceeded to cutting and sewing. Here are a couple of images of strips. They are not cut precisely, but range from 1 1/4 to 2 inches in width.

After cutting, I shoved the strips into four baggies: Solids, lights, mediums and darks. My plan is to alternate the strips, not so much by color as by value. Forging ahead, I completed the first block, which is assembled from four strip-pieced squares.

The solid 2 inch strips (In this block, the pink strips) will be placed consistently at the widest point on each square. I chose a brightly colored floral fabric to act as a mini focus point for the block. These two elements should serve to unify the multitude of fabrics that will be used in this quilt.

Moving on to the first feature block: I chose the rufous hummingbird. After making a pattern from my sketch onto tracing paper, I cut out the parts to be appliqued and fused them in place onto background fabric.

Eventually, shading and details will be painted on, the applique edges will be machine stitched and hand embroidery will create finishing touches. That’s secret code for I don’t know for sure what I will do next.

For now, I am waiting to receive more Jacquard Textile paint.

I’m so relieved that I’m back into action at my new address.

What are you working on this month?

Posted in hand embroidery

WIP Wednesday – The Final Panel

Posted on by Laura Kate

Today I stitched the last stitch in the final panel of “Here Be Dragons” art quilt. In looking back through my photography files, I discovered that I had painted the panel way back in June of 2023. Here is how it looked at that point.

Reference photography for the two dragonflies came from Bill. They were part of the 100 day project, along with all the other dragonflies that made their way to this quilt. The background was painted with Dye-Na-Flo fabric paint first, with masking used to reserve white where the insect’s bodies would be.

I then used the thicker Jacquard Textile acrylici paint to render the dragonflies, finishing up the fine details with Micron pens.

Here is the panel today.

A combination of stem stitch and rice stitch outlined the subjects and enhanced the shapes in the background.

Close-up of the two dragonflies.

I believe that I will meet my deadline for getting this work ready to show in February. Some straight line sashiko sewing in the sashing, then mounting the quilt to stretchers is all that is left to do.

Posted in painting

100-Day Project: Days 36,37,38

Posted on by Laura Kate

I could have called this post Wednesday WIP. But since I worked from three of Bill’s photographs to create this panel of the dragonfly art quilt, I prefer to focus on the inspiration.

As noted above, I am still working with dragonfly photographs. In this installment, I selected two images of the same dragonfly……….

…….plus one photo of some bougainvillea blooms.

The three images will be combined in a horizontal panel measuring 12 x 24 inches.

On the first day I painted the background. I dipped the scrunched white cotton into two different pigment baths, wringing it out in between soaks. After smoothing the fabric onto my dry erase board, I placed two dragonfly shaped masks, several sprigs of dried leaves, and a sprinkling of dried peas. Next, I dropped on a little bit of purple and magenta paint, then set the board outside in the sun to dried.

It didn’t take long.

I took my time painting the dragonflies. Today I finished up by drawing the delicate wing veins. Next the background got more attention. I enhanced the leaf shapes with color, then painted a long line across the panel – my interpretation of the wire plant support seen in the photos.

A closer look…………

another…….

Again I used Micron pens, watercolor pencils and a little white Gelli pen for the finishing touches.

Posted in painting

WIP Wednesday: Dragonfly Art Quilt

Posted on by Laura Kate

I have been busy painting dragonflies on my hand-painted backgrounds. The process is really fun! I have also been researching dragonflies. They are amazing animals.

Did you know that some dragonflies can live for six years? That is pretty good for an insect. Granted, up to four years are spent as naiads, in water. They look kind of like shrimp. Adult dragonflies have six legs, yet they cannot walk. They use their legs to snatch prey in flight, which they then tear apart and eat while still flying. If you were the size of a fly, you would find dragonflies terrifying.

So far, five of my panels have dragonflies on them.

I cut a stencil to make these two panels

In addition to Jacquard textile paint, I am using watercolor pencils and Micron pens. The paint is thinned with FolkArt floating medium, which permits better blending and lengthens the drying time.

Here is a mock-up of the quilt layout I’m considering.

If I go with this layout, the finished piece will be 28 x 36 inches.

Two more panels need dragonflies, and then I will consider painting some details on some of the backgrounds.

Posted in painting, quilting

100 Day Project: Days 32-35

Posted on by Laura Kate

I’ve figured out which day I am on, AND,

The process of painting dragonflies on postcards broke open my mental block.

I started painting fabric right away, after swatching the colors I want to use.

Using these colors and a variety of techniques, I painted backgrounds on rectangles of white quilting cotton. Earlier I had cut out dragonfly body shapes from craft foam. These shapes and an assortment of leaves were laid on the painted fabric to serve as masks. Laying the pieces in the sun printed the masked shapes.

The next day, I did more fabric painting, just to make sure I had enough selection.

With the backgrounds prepared, I began inserting the dragonflies into the pieces.

Day 34:

Day 35

I’m in love with this last guy. He will be the focal point of the finished product.

In the next week I plan to add finishing touches to these two paintings and begin work on the rest. My layout calls for five paintings sewn together with blue borders in between them. What happens after that is done will take a bit more cogitation.