(Above: In Box CI. Unframed: 14" x 11". Framed: 19 1/4" x 15 1/4". Click on any image in this post to enlarge.)
Next, my attention turned to three large "Stained Glass pieces". Unfortunately, I forgot to snap photos of Stained Glass XL in progress but below is a step-by-step group of photos on the construction of Stained Glass XLI. (Stained Glass XXXIX is finish and photos are below!)
(Above: Me with one of the tackiest polyester stretch velvet fabrics ever!)
I guess I remembered to shoot these photos because it was my first time using this unbelievably tacky, tiger-striped polyester stretch velvet!
(Above: Stained Glass XLI, in progress, step 1.)
I start with a piece of recycled, black acrylic felt (which used to be the packaging material for a canoe or kayak being shipped from a North Carolina manufacturer to River Runner, my local outdoors shop). My stash of polyester stretch velvet is "ready to go" ... which means I've already ironed WonderUnder (Bond-a-Web) to the reverse. Shapes are cut and ironed into place. Above is the first layer.
(Above: Stained Glass XLI, in progress, step 2.)
The method of making these pieces is a variation on my original "In Box Series". I wrote a free, on-line tutorial called, "How to Make an In Box". It is HERE. After I lay out the first layer, I add more polyester velvet shapes, as in the photo above.
(Above: Stained Glass XLI, in progress, step 3.)
At this point, I iron previously painted WonderUnder over the entire surface and add metallic foiling. I get my foils and my selection of chiffon scarves from Dale Rollerson's The Thread Studio in Australia. It is the only place where I seem to be able to find all the things I want for fiber arts. It is worth the shipping from another continent ... and fun to think about how "international" fibers really are!
(Above: Detail of step 3 ... metallic foiling! Applying this is like having the Midas touch! Such fun and instant gratification!)
(Above: Stained Glass XLI, in progress, step four.)
I continue to cut all sorts of polyester velvet shapes ... filling the entire surface. All my shapes are cut by hand. In the photo above, I've already started to add little pieces of previously painted WonderUnder over the new shapes. The right side of the photo has the WonderUnder. The left side is waiting for it! Why do I add more of this heat-activated adhesive?
(Above: Stained Glass XLI, in progress, step 5 ... adding snippets of various colored chiffon scarves.)
I add more previously painted Wonder Under to the top of the new velvet in order to apply snippets of various colored chiffon scarves across the entire surface. This is important because it allows my free-motion embroidery foot to glide over the various shapes without getting caught in the layers. Next ... I spend several hours stitching with black, 100% cotton thread. Finally, I staple the piece to a stretcher bar, poke holes in it with two different sizes of soldering irons, and melt it from the reverse with a heat gun. Hopefully, I'll have more photos of this soon!
(Above: Stained Glass XL. Click on image to enlarge.)
After each piece is finished, I stitch it to an over-sized piece of mat board installed in a black linen liner and then put the entire thing into a frame behind Plexi-Glas. Below are details of Stained Glass XL, above! Further below are the other two, new "In Box Series" pieces!
(Above: Top part of Stained Glass XL. Click on any image to enlarge.)
(Above: Upper middle section of Stained Glass XL.)
(Above: Lower half of Stained Glass LX.)
(Above: Bottom of Stained Glass LX.)
(Above: In Box CII.)
I am linking this post to Nina-Marie's "Off the Wall Fridays", a site for sharing fiber arts.
5 comments:
Hi Susan, I learned (in real) this technique from a friend some weeks ago. (Of course I knew you made it all along ...)
It is so much fun and the result is wonderful.
And guess what: my dear man (who likes drawing mandalas, the geometrical ones) thought it would be fun to try something like this himself !!! I must confess: I do the stitching ;-)
Later on, he will do the burning (yes, outside please !!!)
Peças lindas, como sempre!como eu gostaria de ver uma "ao vivo"!
Um abraço!
Egléa
Fantastic - I've been trying to leave comments for ages and I thought it was my antiquated computer. So glad to be able to leave a comment finally! The stained glass pieces are as ever, wonderful - they actually look good enough to be finished at the various stages of their process.
Beautiful work...thanks so much for showing the process too. I agree with the previous comment. The work looks finished and great at all of the stages.
OK...you explained the whole thing. But I don't know how many people will be able to actually do it...I know I couldn't. I sort of like the animal print material though. I always have liked animal print!! Nice post!
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