More Monoprints

 As you can see I've been having way too much fun.  Gel printing/monoprinting is quite addictive.  Now what to do with all of these creations.  Several of the paper ones were my favorites so I printed the images onto inkjet fabric sheets.  I'm using Jacquard Cotton today.   I've used several other brands.  I don't have a favorite at this point.  I'll stitch - hand and machine - at a later date.

Below is a mock-up of a fabric monoprint.  I added some fabrics I printed and painted using the same paints to help coordinate the design.  Needs a zinger color/fabric.

 I've repeated that happy experiment of spraying leaves and plate with water.

 A paper favorite

 Definitely another favorite.

Now I must get supplies in order for the Wildacres, NC Nature Printing Society Workshop.  Husband and I leave Monday!!!!!!

More Monotypes

 I was planning on layering this one but I kind of like them the way they are.

 Above is the first layer. Below is the second layer.

 This one is the one on the above left - I didn't like the white so spray painted it.

 The images below are ones with two or more layers.

World of Books

                               

"Nature Revealed" is a wee little book 3" square that won Third Prize at my local Island Art Association's Nouveau Art Exhibit entitled "World of Books."  Leaf printing - both direct and monotype.  The colorful inside was cut from a very large paper I printed while the children in the free once-a-month class at Island Art Association were printing themselves. They were quite independent and didn't need me.  I created this little book in a very short time.  I'm amazed and thrilled it won a prize.

 

"Watch the Leaves Turn" was the other entry to the show.  I spent a lot of time on this one.  I love it!  I've since changed the closure as the threads kept tangling.

I love making books!  Especially nature printed ones.

Beaded bracelet

My fiber friend, Ronnie, who is a fantastic beader, taught my local Itching to Stitch group this macrame beaded bracelet.  I loved it and made two.  I'm planning on making more.  They're fun to wear!

Oh, it's been such a long, long time........

Months have gone by and I have not written.  Shame on me!
I've been getting ready for the annual Nature Printing Society's Workshop which will be held at Wildacres, NC.  I'll be taking classes in printing paper and fabric, polymer clay and giving a class in gelatin printing.  So I've been experimenting, though I definitely feel like it's playing!  I've been having a great time!  Here are some of my results.

 Reorienting myself to how much paint to put on the plate.  I'm using a gelli plate instead of making my own plate using Knox plain gelatin.  It's so much easier and spontaneous.  The above - a bit more paint then I'd like in order to layer.  First print, a ghost, then removed the leave/mask and printed the last.

The next image was a delightful find.  I sprayed the used plate I had already printed from with water and placed paper on top - twice!

 This is a fabric piece I plan to collage from fabric, stitch until done!

 Some printing using a stencil with rectangles cut out over inked plate and masks and printed, then masks and stencil removed.  I used some fabric as well as paper.

 Printing on black papers - so cool

 I use the same brush and brayer throughout the printing session - to clean them I remove the excess paint onto fabric and/or paper so as not to waste the paints.  Here are two examples.

 Below are some of the materials I used as masks.  I will incorporate them into collages, etc.

I noticed I didn't take an images of the papers I printed in transparent layers.  I will shortly!

Such fun!!!!!!

Apples

"Oh, Delicious" © Diane Hamburg 12x16"

"Une Pomme" © Diane Hamburg 12x12"

Our local theater, Amelia Community Theatre, is performing "God's Favorite" in August.  Hopefully the above pieces are accepted for their lobby art exhibit.  The theme is "Temptation."  I got the idea of Adam and Eve in my head and couldn't veer from it no matter how hard I tried.  I really didn't want to do people so settled on the apple.  Both are done using Ellen Lindner's technique double reverse applique for the hand and apples.  For the background I adopted the look from my fiber friend, Mary Rhopa.  I took that tree workshop from her last week.  Many of her backgrounds are small pieces of different fabrics.  I decided to use rectangles but I've used organic shapes before.  Viewing Mary's quilts brought me back to my stash of commercially printed fabrics.

Recent Workshop

I had the pleasure of taking a workshop from fellow FAN member Mary Rhopa, St. Augustine, Florida.  Mary is an award winning fiber artist who uses repurposed fabrics and a lot of hand stitching.  Her trees fascinate me!  I wish I had my camera with me.  Mary created, I think, 30 8x10" trees - each and every one of them different and ever so beautiful.  I loved getting into the ladder stitch - the hand stitching!!!  The tree trunk was twisted seams of the old garments.

Oh, Mary gave the workshop at the Piecemaker's Quilt Guild, St. Augustine, Florida.

Old Book Pages

My fascination with books continues.  I've been having fun Internet searching "folded book pages" and came up with the following.

I've got to include the web page for this tutorial....  when I have time.  There's a learning curve - type of paper, age of paper, cutting out the circles (the larger sphere is hand cut, the smaller with a punch).

Now the question is - what do I do with this?????

Studio Work Plus Gallery Opening

Here are some of the note cards completed.  How I just love to print leaves.  I can get into such a relaxed, meditative state printing nature.  The feel of the leaves are I press and rub them to transfer the paint onto the paper/fabric is soothing.  I printed the back of the envelops as well.

 I drove to St. Augustine - 1.5 hours- for the opening of the Fiber Art Gallery, a part of Butterfield Garage Art Gallery.  Lots of folks came and enjoyed an evening of art and refreshments.  Here is some of my work on display.  Most of the "fiber Art" is wearables.  The room looks very nice.

 I played with paint, leaves and the gelli plate on paper and fabric.  I'm working on layering.  This is one of my favorites.  I'll put more up later.

During Wimbledon Tennis matches and tour de France, I've been working through these two books - folding books.  A rediscovered love as you know from previous posts.  I'll be doing some stitch bindings soon. 

Do back soon.  Thanks for visiting.



Some of my latest.

"3 Faces of Beryl"

"3 Faces of Beryl" is another piece I put in my local Island Art Association's Nouveau Art exhibit entitled "Black and White."  I was experimenting with monotype drawing of the faces - all fabric.  I chose the title as we were in the mist of the topical storm "Beryl" when I was working on it.  It didn't win anything but was accepted into the show, so I was pleased.  This is the same show my book won "Honorable Mention!"

The following are 3 fabric collages that I now have hanging in the Butterfield Garage Art Gallery in St. Augustine, Florida along with several other older pieces.  Butterfield created a really beautiful room for a bunch of us fiber artists.  Two of us are "wall" artists and the others are wearable art folks.  The Opening is this Friday night!  I'll upload some images after the opening.

I spent some time this afternoon collaging old book pages to future leaf printed cards like the one in the middle.  I'll be printing soon.  How I love to print leaves!

The following image, though sideways - sorry, are some of the notecards I made for a very loyal client!  Sieta orders cards every so often!  I'm lucky!  I collage papers and images printed on fabric and then stitch a little.

Lastly, this image is one I've been working on - first on the computer with  Picasa- sharpening it, posterizing it, etc.  It's of my great nephew and my grandson.  Michael took Max's hand and led him to the bubbles!  Ever so cute.  I've done a lot of stitching, working in the faces a bit.  Next comes the background and machine quilting.  I'm trying to talk myself into entering it into a fancy fiber show.  We shall see once I get it completed.  Of course, I ask for some feedback from friends and family. 

Til next time!  Create something, anything - play - it does your heart good!

So Tickled

The Language of Leaves IV won Honorable Mention at my local Island Art Association's Nouveau Art Exhibit entitled "Black and White!"  I'm pleased to say the least.  I thoroughly enjoyed the leaf printing - some monotypes involved and some stitching.  No fabric, only paper.  More bookmaking is in the future! Check the last post for more images of the pages.

Two Nature Printed Books!!!

Leaves A-Plenty

Leaves A-Plenty

Page - Leaves A-Plenty

Page - Leaves A-Plenty

Trees Gifts

Page - Trees Gifts

Page - Trees Gifts

I have had a ball completing two artist made books featuring leaf prints.  I printed the leaves, then collaged them to lage paper, folded and made a few cuts, added some machine and/or hand stitching, made covers and voila - two books.  I just love the whole process.  There are more books in the future, I am sure.

I have bits and pieces of fabrics - some leaf printed on my table.  I'll be working on a fabric collage next!