Saturday 14 July 2007

Latest Work



"Fragments 11" x 16"

I am back in the studio after a much needed break. My head is full of ideas. I also have some challenges to catch up on. I mailed my charms to LaRinda for the LikeMindedArtist challenge and I am all set to make my 16 (that's not a misprint) fabric pages for LMA as well. I designed the images ready to print on fabric before my break so I am all set to do those.

The image above is a piece I did a couple of weeks ago. I have tried many embossing powders and love them but UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel) is wonderful. It's new to me and this is my first attempt with it.

The background fabric is painted with the distress inks. I also painted Lutrador with the distress inks and added some Stewart Gill embossing powders, heated with the heat gun before stitching it in place. I melted the UTEE and stamped it with an unmounted stamp. I added some accent beads. The UTEE has still to be stitched down, it's glued at the moment. I used up some of my painted and embossed art straws and wrapped them with some lovely textured threads. The background is free motion quilted and then I added some irridescent Markal (Shiva) paint.

The colours are very pink in the pictures in reality they are darker and more brown, in keeping with my "fragments" and crumbled stonework theme for this piece based on my trip to Lindisfarne last year.

18 comments:

English Rose said...

this is lovely work Carol, have not tried using the UTEE before, will have to look out for it next trip home. like I need an excuse!

artmixter said...

Very nifty, can see I'll have to get some UTEE...

Papoosue said...

I love this piece Carol - great textures too. I've used the clear UTEE for a few years now for other projects - not fabric though - time to give it a try!

Carol said...

Amazing Carol, love the textures and the colours. i also love the machining on the background of the piece, a lovely contrast to the crunchy texture. Well done.

Joanna said...

I'll be interested in seeing how you stitch the UTEE down, I would think it might fragment or be tough on the needle.

Joanna

Purple Missus said...

Glad to see you back Carol. This piece is gorgeous - well worth waiting for. I really like the turquoise (?) you have added. Is this accent beads too?

Unknown said...

Gorgeous Carol,
I love the Uttee, its like molten metal isn't it.

Unknown said...

It is great Carol, I like the distressed light piece on front. What is it? Is that the lutrador? I wish I could see it at close.....

Janice said...

I love this Carol - I've missed your updates - it always makes me do some experiments of my own

larin said...

This fragments piece is amazing. All of your work in beautiful; you have a great eye for colors, textures and composition, but this one really speaks to me. There is something spiritual about it. MMM. Wonderful Carol!

I can't wait to get your charms--I know they will be great. What a fun swap! Have a blessed day! --LaRinda

Val said...

It's just wonderful Carol, and looks so scrunchy. What sort of texture is the UTEE, could you paint it, or is it painted, and is it hard (like tyvek) or supple. Did you paint the background after your quilted it? Val

Candi said...

Your work is just beautiful. It's going to be great taking Sharon's class with you.
HUGZ:)
Candi
http://candiseyecandy.blogspot.com/

Carol said...

Thank you ladies. This was a fun piece to make.

The Utte, the light part of the piece, has a metallic look and is quite fragile where it is thinner. I do believe you can buy clear UTEE but I haven't tried that - yet. I have glued it in place using bead glue and plan on adding some hand stitching to both secure it further and add some colour.

The darker turquoise are the accent beads the lighter green is the embossing powder. I sprinkled some embossing powder between the accent beads to bring the colours together.

Candi I am off to look at your blog. I look forward to getting to know you in Sharon's class.

Micki said...

This is a great piece. Love the texture and the distressed look.

Digitalgran said...

It's lovely to have you back and I'm glad you had a good break. We all need it sometimes. You have obviously been re-inspired by all you have seen(as if you needed it). Fantastic work on both posts and the photos in today's post are great too. I love the Armadillo reflection.

Nola said...

Glad you're back too, but as I was off in lalaland myself, I didn't actually notice! The Utee is so rich. Will you stitch over it to hold it down ( as if you were stitching something unstitchable like Shisha mirror or similar) or through it, as if it were paint? It really is a delicious "fragment".

Dianne said...

This is absolultly gorgeous, brilliant job Carol...
I love it..

Beate Knappe said...

This is absolultly gorgeous -I fall in Love