Creativity, Fun & Laughter

Have just had a fabulous fun filled weekend with Dot and two lovely ladies, Maggie & Linda that we meet at Beer Quilters Retreat earlier on in the year. On the menu was burning using a soldering iron and heat gun, free machine bowls, laughter and chit chat!

I made this book cover ( using Anette Emms technique ) by layering felt, a piece of rust dyed fabric, strips of lace, newspaper ( tea dyed) foils and old sheet music & covering the whole lot with a piece of sheer. I then free machined into it using tree bark as my inspiration. Once I was happy with the overall appearance I then burnt into it using a hot air gun. Finally I applied markel stick to the areas i had burnt away. Lastly I added a a silk band with free machined leaves on it so the book could be closed securely............what am I putting in it......my recipes!

I really enjoy building up 'fabrics' to use as the basis for this sort of project, may have to do a few more!

I also made a cover for next years diary......it is made using free hand cut curves ( Alicia Merritt) so I was able to show Linda & Maggie how to do this simple but effective technique. It has simple felt machine appliqued flowers on it.

Lastly we had a go at making bowls. This is a fab way to use up all those little scraps of fabric and thread that have been cut off. Chop all the bits up and sandwich between water soluble fabric. Free machine into it and then place it in water long enough for the fabric to dissolve away but not to wash out completely. You need the stickiness to give the bowl shape. Place the piece over a bowl or similar to give its shape and allow to dry.

Once dry beads, feet, silk rods etc can be added.