Gram Flour Resist

Example 1

Earlier this week I got round to mixing up some Procion dye powder with Salt and Soda solution to make a colouring medium to add to the gram flour paste resist pieces I have been trialing ready for our workshop on 30 September.

I used two colours - 'Antique Gold' and 'Brown Rose' - and applied it with a 1" foam brush.

You can see the 'Before' and 'After' results above and below.  The darker colouring is the acrylic paint I had applied earlier which I was not happy with.  The dye does seem to work much better, but I am also going to make a couple more pieces using dye thickened with Manutex to see if it gives a better outcome.

Example 2

Velvet Added

I have now stitched three of the pieces of copper shim onto a scrap of velvet I had lying around.  I put a bit of calico behind the velvet and held it in place with some MistyFuse.  The copper shim has got a piece of black felt stuck on the back.

A piece of dissolvable fabric (Romeo?) was laid over the area of velvet where the metal shim was to hold the stitches on the surface of the velvet.  I used a variegated thread for the one above and a metallic thread for the one below.
 

I used a rust coloured thread in the bobbin which is showing through in places.

A Step Further

Since our last meeting I have had time to play with the bits of metal that we looked at.  I have used a combination of metals - copper and brass shim, plus some tomato puree tube.  I used the ribbler on the brass shim, putting it through twice.

The most successful piece was this one that had been heat treated, freehand embossed on a soft background, then embossing powder was added.  Finally I used two lots of alcohol ink - Rust and Meadow - to further enhance the colour.  I was quite pleased with it.

Working with Metal 1

Copper Shim

We looked at heat treating copper shim and mesh with a chef's blow torch

Copper Mesh

This can be put through a ribbler and these two pieces have been passed through twice in different directions to create this interesting grid.

Alcohol inks can be added to the surface to provide interesting effects ...

As can be embossing powder in various colours

A glue gun can create an interesting blob which, when reheated, can have embossing powder applied.

All of these pieces can be machined stitched easily onto fabric.

Working with Metal 2

All of these samples are from a workshop several years ago with Ann Burrows.  The piece shown above was jewellery wire wound around a wire frame and then overstitched with a zigzag stitch on the sewing machine.  It is then cut off the frame and applied to a piece of fabric.

A piece of fine copper mesh was first heat treated.  Mica flakes were placed behind it on a base of velvet.  A dissolving fabric sandwich helped to place the fabric securely into an embroidery hoop and also ensured that the stitching remained on top of the velvet pile, rather than disappearing below it.

Again, heat treated fine copper mesh and mica flakes.  It was not nessary to use a hoop for this as there is no stitching over the velvet.  Unfortunately holes developed in the mesh where it had been overheated.

This is a piece of pelmet vilene which has been painted.  Bondaweb was applied to the surface and Gilding Flakes were brushed down with a small paintbrush whilst the bondaweb was still warm.  A piece of dyed scrim was then placed over the top.

 Blue Kunin felt had copper wire stitched into pleats with a satin stitch.  The felt was heat zapped from the back to develop holes and then the surface was painted with acrylic paint into which embossing powder was sprinkled.  The layers were built up, heating it with a heat gun, to produce the coloured and textured surface.

This final piece is a piece of bondaweb that was gently heated prior to adding embossing powder.  This was heated and the layers were built up giving a multi coloured surface which was later applied to a piece of velvet.

The Two 'R's

Yet more letters ....

Three Fat 'N's

Quite some time ago the members of the group stitched letters to make a banner for the group which could be used when we go to exhibitions.  I have taken photographs of what we made and will post some of them from time to time to show what a diverse lot we are.  I cannot remember who stitched which ones anymore so looks like that could be a good challenge for a future meeting.