Module 2 Chapter 10 Manipulated Structures

 

Page 1 

Decisions, decisions!!  First of all I decided that I was going to use wire mesh!!!   I started with flowers.  I chose to use this yellow flower from Chapter 2 page 3.   There were several petals and I could have three pieces of metal to be joined in the middle to be at the top with 6 petals that I could manipulate.  I also decided to hang some stamens from the center.

 

 

My simple quick drawings of the petals, stamen and leaves. I decided to round out the bottom of the petals and each of the leaf projections. 

 

Page 2

I chose the leaf pattern from Chapter 1 page 4.  I would stich a heavy center with many rows and then outline each leaf section with one row of stitching and cut in between each leaf so that I could manipulate each lobe. 

These are the  models that I used for the petals and the leaves.

I used three shapes for the petals. The square bottom is the centre of the petal.  I created 2 different sized leaves. 

 

Page 3     

Seed Pods  -  I chose this seed head with individual sections.  I decided to made beads and hang them in a cluster.

 

 

Next question was how was I going to put these things altogether.  I decided to thread a piece of wire through the centre of the 3 petal pieces.  The 4 stamens (also of wire) will be looped over the this wire. The stem will also be a rolled up  and twisted piece, using a piece of expandable wire mesh between 2 pieces of organza. The wires coming through the top of the petals will be interwoven into the wire mesh.The leaves and the seed pods will also be attached to this stem!!!     Hopefully this will be a bit clearer as I progress through the project. 

 

The paper mock up. 

 

Page 4

My colour scheme.   I have torched  three pieces of copper with my heat tool. 

Flower petals

For the petals, I backed the piece of woven wire cloth with an iron on soluble paper. (I removed the paper after I finished the stitching).  I traced around my pattern with a violet Sharpie pen.  First of all I outlined the petals with a cable stitch using variegated Treenway fine silk cord – colours vary from red to red violet.  For the top thread,  Signature Trilobal polyester variegated thread  -  colour – Primaries.  For the rest of the piece I then used this Signature thread in the bobbin and for the top thread.  A free motioned wavy pattern was used throughout the petals.  I like the way the colours of the mesh and the threads blend together.

 

Page 5      Seed pods

For the seed pods, I backed the piece of copper woven wire cloth with a piece of violet organza using Wonder Under.  I divided the piece into three sections and then marked 2 of the sections off into triangles.  As you can see the one on the right is a variety of shapes and sizes and the one in the middle has 6 similar shapes.  I decided at this point that I did not need another 6 seed pods.  This time I used another variegated thread top and bottom …. Aurifil – Aurilex NE 36/2 – 100% polyester – colour 5868 – variegated violet, shocking pink to pale aqua.  For continuity, free motion stitching in a wavy pattern.  All edges were stitched.    

For each seed piece, I made a bead by wrapping the triangular piece of wire mesh around a small crochet hook.  It worked well!  The beads were threaded on to a piece of orange copper wire and manipulated into a bunch!!!  I created a hole in the top of a bead with a large needle. 

Page 6     

The 2 leaves.

A piece of burnished copper (not woven) was encased in a piece of green mottled organza. In the picture above the wire mesh is sitting on top of the fabric.   I should have taken another picture of the completed leaves before they were incorporated into the final product.  I placed paper cutouts of the leaves (above) on the fabric and mesh and stitched around the outside.  Then I stitched several rows up through the centre.  Each side of the leaf was stitched with many finger like projections from the outside to the centre allowing a reasonable space between each finger so cutting between them would not be too much of a problem.  The mottled look of the burnished copper did show through to some extent.  The thread used was from Thread Studio – 100% rayon – colour – Ironbark  - variegated dark green to medium green to light grey green.  It blended in well.  The leaves were cut out and I manipulated the finger like projections into a happy arrangement!!! 

 

Page 7     The stem

This time I used expandable steel mesh with a bronze coloured organza on both sides.  More wavy free motion stitching using  another variegated thread from Thread Studio – 100% rayon – colour – Stonehaven  - from dark grey to medium grey to pale grey. The thread seemed to compliment the steel mesh and bronze organza.  At one point I thought I might use the wires sticking out the top to join the stem to the flowers.  In the end I used the copper wire.  I only used half of the piece above for the stem (ie. the width was cut in half!!).  The copper wires from the top of the petals were woven into the stem and then I rolled the stem up into a compact piece and then twisted the whole lot.  The leaves were hand stitched onto the stem. The two ends of the wire holding the seed pods were threaded through the stem and tied together. 

 

Page 8     The stamens and the threads.

 

The threads that I used for the project.  I believe that they blended in well with the fabrics and the wire mesh that I used. 

The ends of two lengths of copper coloured craft wire were wrapped around a small crochet needle and attached to the copper wire holding the three petals together.  The individual petals were wrapped around a pencil and then pulled slightly so that they would still maintain a twisted product.

 

Page 9 

The finished piece!!!!! 

 

I feel that I have been quite successful.   Each section has come out the way I had imagined.  The colour of the flowers and the seed pods work well together with the seed pods somewhat subdued.  Using a not so bright thread worked as did the organza backing.  Unity was also attained with the wavy stitching throughout all the elements. The stem is sufficiently in the background and really serves the purpose of joining all the elements together.  Use of the copper wire in several places is also successful.   Maybe I should readjust the piece by bringing the leaves and seed pods down a long side the flower. 

Actually, I am very happy with the piece. 

Module 2 Chapter 9 – Stitch and Manipulate

 

A busy chapter with all sorts of creations!!  Lots of fun!

Page 1

I started by painting a variety of papers with Golden Fluid Acrylics in two colour streams -  red/orange/yellow and blue/turquoise/green.  I then stamped each side with either a coordinating colour or complementary colour!!!   

 

These are the stamps I used.  I really like the wooden Thai stamps.  I also used the one I made in Chapter 2.  The grey stamps are from a Sheryl Khan collection.  The other two are foamys!!! 

 

Page 2      

    

top side

 

bobbin side

Thread :  Thread Studio Barrier Reef – 100% rayon – used for the top and in the bobbin.  (variegated blue, aqua and green).

Stitches:  several automatic stitches used. 

 

Page 3

I cut the strips in different widths.  I did pre-plan this.

 

 

Two different ways to manipulate the original piece.

 

Page 4      My attempt at a round piece.

Top side

Bobbin side.

Thread:  Thread Studio – 100% rayon – Carnivale (variegated  yellow, orange, red, red violet and violet) for top and bobbin thread not to confuse the issue too much!! 

Stitching:  I used three automatic stitches – tulip, wavy zigzag, and a leaf pattern.  Every other row was the zigzag wavy.  I cut between each row of stitching up to near the center. 

 

Page 4  Then what to do?  I photocopied the above piece and played around with arranging the sections and came up with the piece below.

All the zigzag sections were alternately manipulated to rise above and below the main body of cut “wings”.  I hand stitched 2 buttons on each side to hold the 8 panels together.  This worked very well.  The resulting piece would made an attractive hanging.

Photograph taken from the side. 

 

Page 5      I took another piece of stamped paper and cut into a square.

Again I used different automatic stitches and the same thread as the circle piece above.  I forgot to photograph the stitched square before I cut it up.  This time I cut across stitched lines and it seemed to work well.  One of the patterns had too many stitches to the inch and I was fearful that the paper would rip.  So I was very careful in my handling.  This time I cut from the four corners to about 1/2 inch from the centre.  This time I knotted a piece of ribbon and joined  four corners together with a sequin holding the ribbon in place.  Another hanging piece!!!!

 

Page 6      The following piece consists 3 pieces of craft paper -  red, pink and orange.

Threads:   top thread  - Signature Pixelle – size 30 -  Trilobal polyester – colour Gems - variegated with I think every colour of the rainbow!!!! 

                  bobbin thread  -  Carnivale as in the above pieces.  

Stitches – three automatic stitches with varying stitch lengths

I ripped the paper in strips between the rows of stitching.  I had expected to see more of the other papers although some of the pink shows through!!!!

I used a strong double sided tape to hold the curled pieces in place.  I like the idea of the torn edges.  I could have used a lighter weight of paper.

 

Page 7  

The napkin exercise.  I attended a Dale Rollerson workshop some years ago at a seminar held in Victoria where we played with napkins.  This is my first attempt at doing this again and it was fun!!! 

A napkin quarter without stitching. 

 

Threads:  used the same thread in the bobbin as the top.  It was Thread Studio’s Carnivale.  I seem to like this thread!!! 

Stabilizer:   wonder  under

Backing:    I backed the piece in red tissue paper. I didn’t have any black.  However, I think it would have been better if it was black!!! 

Stitching:  free embroidery around the flowers with some copy filling in for the petals. I followed the edges and some internal lines for the butterflies, stems and leaves.    I also framed the piece with two lines of stitching.

The back.

 

Page 8  

For the second quarter, I used a different technique!!!!  

Threads:  Top  -  Valdani – 100% cotton (Romania)  -  variegated  yellow green and rusty reds .

                  Bobbin  - Rayon – colour – royal violet – (no label)

Stitches:   variety of automatic stitches  -  cross stitch framing the piece, flower and leaf patterns meandering in and out of the flowers.

                  free motion stitching around the flowers and in the centers.

The back.

Page 9

And now a lantern.

Here are the threads for this piece. 

 

Page 10     Acrylic wax.

I used construction paper from my grand children’s stash.  I kept to the red blue violet colour scheme using Golden Acrylic fluid paints.  I stamped each side with gold Setacolour opaque paint using Thai wooden stamps.  Then painted each side with acrylic wax.  This all took some time as each side had to dry!!!!  The paper is thick and and shiny and easily manageable one would hope!!! 

 

Page 11    The resulting piece!!! 

I forgot to take a picture of just the stitching.  

Thread:  Thread Studio – 100% rayon – colour -  variegated golds for both top and bobbin threads.  My idea was to accentuate the gold stampings!!

Stitching – I tried to stitch automatic patterns in between the rows of fish.  I had such troubles.  The feed dogs were not catching.  The surface was too slippery!!! So, on the two rows on the outside edges, I used a piece of dissolvable paper (Pellon).  The stitching worked.  I ripped off as much of the paper as possible and then dampened the bits still attached.  I had a bit of a mushy mess which was difficult to remove. The painted paper was not happy.

                 I also stitched several rows and designs with free motion.  This type of stitching was much more successful.

I then made a fancy clown hat.  The cut strips were easily manipulated.  I joined the two bottom edges together with double sided tape. 

 

Page 12         Woven wire mesh.  An interesting method of creating pieces that are easily stitched and manipulated.  Although my fingers did suffer!!!!!

Copper wire mesh  - 80 mesh woven.  The easiest of the ones that I had to use!!! (I didn’t have any wire cloth.)

I used a heat gun to create these wonderful patterns!!!!

I  backed the piece with iron on soluble paper which worked like a dream. Easily dissolvable as the whole piece can stay in the water for the needed time and whatever is left can be rubbed off!!! 

Threads:  Aurifil – 100% polyester – colour # 5868 21C  -  variegated orange, red, red violet.  Used this thread for top and in the bobbin. 

Stitches:  automatic pattern of flowers in a diagonal strips filling in the whole piece leaving pathways for where I was to cut.  Again, by brain was not in gear and I neglected to take a picture of the stitching before I cut and manipulated the piece. 

I had quite a long piece of stitched wire when I finished cutting.  I manipulated in into a stand alone piece with bits sticking up.  A creeping sea creature!!!

 

Page 13       An expandable copper mesh with a much larger gauge.

Again, I used the heat gun to create the pretty patterns.  There were not as distinctive as the finer wire mesh above.  I also back this piece with solvable paper.

Threads and stitches:  Cable stitch – bobbin – Treenway fine cord – colour  variegated red orange to pink -  a meandering pattern over the whole piece. Top thread – Aurifil – 100% polyester -  colour # 5868 21C  -  variegated orange, red, red violet.

             Free motion granite stitch inside all the cable stitch loops using the same  Aurifil thread  for top and in the bobbin.  Also stitched a row outside all the loops.

Again there is no picture of the stitching before cutting and manipulating.  Sorry about that.                     

Another magical  sea creature.  This time I cut around all the outside of the loops and rounded off the corners.   It was easy to manipulate the wire form into a creature that could stand on it’s own!!! 

Another view!!!! 

 

Page 14      Aluminum expandable wire form with a piece of chiffon (red and orange red)  one each side with lots of cut bits of chiffon and gold lame type materials between the top chiffon and the wire. 

Should have bits of chiffon on both sides of the wire form.

This side shows up the wire!!

 

Page 15     I finally remembered to photograph the stitched piece.

The top side. 

Thread:  Complementary colours to the red and red orange chiffon . 

Thread Studio – 100% rayon  -  Barrier Reef  - variegated blue, aqua, and green   -  in the bobbin as well as the top thread.

Stitches – 2 automatic stitches with some stitched diagonally

The bobbin side. 

 

Page 16         The resulting sea creature!!!

A tipsy anemone!!!   

I cut across stitching and left an uncut piece in the centre.  I twisted the flailing arms.  The photograph doesn’t show the bits of trapped fabrics very well.  The actual piece is quite flimsy looking and very dangerous with all it’s protruding wires ready to attack!!!!! 

 

These are all the threads that used in this chapter.  I do have a propensity for variegated threads!!  Love them!!!! 

Enjoyed the chapter and hopefully I can produce something using wire in the last chaptr!!!   I do have a couple  Alysn Midgelow-Marsden’s books!! 

 

Below is a digital picture (18 by 12 inches) that I enhanced with transparent paints, pencil crayons, machine stitching and finally quilting.  Many of us took a 4 day workshop from Martha Cole! So I have been busy with other pursuits.