Creating Texture on on Needle Felted Projects

I have been reading loads of tutorials lately on textured felted or needle felted projects.

I always found using a good assortment of wool roving, yarns, and fabrics can create interesting texture with out too much difficultly.

So I have put together a picture file of ways you can use fibers/embellishments to create textures on their own. All pieces have been needle felted on a base of wool. All items are my own creations.

                                          What I like about this piece is the use of silk ribbon and scrim(cheesecloth)

Silk when needle felted has the tendency to crinkle and only bits and pieces of it will be felted down. The scrim on the other hand naturally sticks to its self unless you stretch it out flat.

The wool rose, also add texture , especially if you only needle felt the centers.

In this piece texture was added by NF using bulky yarns. Beads were added later to finish piece.

In this one by adding white silk to the edge of a darker shade create depth.

Using different fibers together, like in the first example as in this one can achieve
motion. L to R, silk cocoons, merino romney, fine merino rove, harrieville fleece, tussah silk top
and assorted mixed blends.
I call this feeling you enter fiber, as how the fibers lay on the wool base can deplete how your project
 will gain texture and movement.

'The Reef', shown here previously, but a good example of creating textured movement using
assorted fibers, yarns and embellishments.

Probably one of of most most shown pieces, due to the fact it was created using mostly silk fabric.
NF on a wool base, then machine free stitched.

If I can empress on on thing, don't limit yourself to using just roving, I have found my greatest inspirations by going out side of the box and using what ever I have. Sometimes needles get broke, due to thickness, and that is okay, Nothing is gained by not trying. Give it a shot.

-TNFrmgrl

Glass Tile Pendants

As spring has arrived in Tennessee I find myself wanting to do more art with a nature theme. Today I decided to hand paint glass tile pendants.

Lupine at twilight *

I used bath tiles I found at our local Home Depot*, they are slightly larger than the standard glass pendants at the arts and craft** stores and also already come with a white backing on them.Plus they were a lot less expensive, 60 tiles for $9.00 compared to  3 tiles for $4 at the A/C store.
For my  purpose I am painting on the front side , then covering with a coat of non yellowing resin.

I also choose to use alcohol ink pens (Spectrum Noir) and (Ranger) alcohol inks in bottles.
This gave me a chance to do so wild abstract backgrounds, but also do some fine point hand drawing with the pens.
Whatever medium you use, you will still need to coat with some type of resin or gel coating to protect the surface once done.

Bloom **

The star after the caption on the above tiles show the difference of the two types of tiles I painted on.
* Home Depot tiles ** Art store tiles

Once I was happy with the painting and it dried, I then put a gloss coat on it. I used Gloss Mod Podge on these two painting on three layers , letting each dry between coats. I made a light, non glare finish.

On these two I used Glossy Accents by Ranger. They will take about 12+hours to cure and dry completely. They have a high shine gloss coat. One coat is usually enough.

This pink one however, was a curious cause and effect. Even though the ink was dried it for some reason blended with the Mod Podge coating I painted on it.(top view) The second picture I added a little more ink to the bottom to see what would happen. it repealed the glue pushing it to the center of the tile.I then applied a little heat with my heat gun and this was the finish on it.The third picture is of it almost dry, you can see the raised area where the glue was pushed to the center left of tile .
It created a interesting effect. It will still need to have another two coats of Mod Podge , but I think I will wait a day before doing it to make sure it is really dry this time.



I will add silver bails on the back once all are dried. This is an easy craft , Acrylics would work just as easily as the inks. You could also use a sharpie marker if you are doing it with youngsters. It would make an awesome Easter or Mothers Day gift for kids in preschool or after care programs.

Enjoy,
-TNfrmgrl

Pink 

Alcohol Inks & Cheesecloth

Happy 2015!

The time for new creations and ideas is here.

This week I have busily creating fiber wrapped bangles and dyeing cheese cloth with alcohol inks.

Today though I want to share with you an easy way to use up leftover alcohol ink.

I used 5"x 7" double folded cheesecloth rectangles. I dipped each into water and wrung out until damp and not dripping. Lay on a flat surface you don't mind getting stained with the inks. 

(note: you can clean up any spills, drips with a soft cloth and rubbing alcohol.)

Drip inks in random or controlled patterns onto cheesecloth. Just like when you are working on a non porous surface the inks will blend slightly. To blend even more scrunch up fabric in hand, lay flat and repeat. You can leave cloth in a ball and drip over it, effect is more subtle /softer especially if you continue to work the colors in by scrunching or wadding up. (Note: if you don't want your hands stained by the inks , wear plastic gloves.)

When you are happy with your outcome, air or machine dry on no heat, rinse and repeat , The ink is permanent but some may come out on the first rinsing.  Heat set between a cloth or paper towel with a iron on cotton setting. It can now be used in any project you want.each layer will be a little lighter, great effect for ombre effects; keeping only two layers you can control how dark your colors come out. The red above, can out evenly on both sides, the more scrunching together you do the more the ink is set in the fabric. Be sure to work quickly as the alcohol will evaporate quickly. That is one reason why I wet the cheesecloth in the beginning. 

Your probably thinking why would I dye my cheese cloth with this method. Its simple, I had leftover ink, you know that little bit left in the bottle, I could have used it with another Yupo project, but I chose to do something a little different. I also added a little rubbing alcohol to my bottles it was great way to extend what was left in them; however it did dilute the colors. 

As artists or crafters materials can be expensive and finding new ways to use them is always a treat. 

Look toward the next post as I'll tell you about making the fiber wrapped bangles I mentioned at the beginning of this post.

Happy Crafting in 2015!

-TNfrmgrl