Decoupage chair and some sketchbook pages

Another week seems to have flown past and I have put it to use sorting out my studio, this chair was in the corner looking very unloved, after an attack with patterned tissue paper and paint it is no longer unloved ;) I wish I had a before shot, but I forgot to take one!

I have also been working on new ideas for projects, this is an preliminary plan for an eagle collage... watch this space!

My sketchbook is where I work on ideas, to me it is a place where I experiment rather than just sketch.

My sketchbook, filled with ideas

I have also been using some of the hundreds of photographs I took over the summer. One trip was to Abbotsford House in the Scottish borders and I found buckets of inspiration to keep me busy.
This wonderful wallpaper is in the Drawing room of the house and was hand painted in China. My photos in no way do it justice as flash photos are not permitted, so if you want to have a close up view this link to the Drawing room will give you a much better idea of its beauty.

Chinese wallpaper

Abbotsford Drwaing room

sketchbook ideas

As you can see I used the photos as ideas to work on further. This may become a starting point for a larger piece, or an embroidered panel.

The background was Gelli printed and the branches were collaged. A bit of digital messing about to see if I like the background darker. I often do this as it enables me to see if things would look better with a change of tone or colour,

Digitally darkened

Wild sewing, wild heather

Wild sewing
Warm violets
cushions of springy  Heather

Made in one long strip...

Then divided in two..

Heather twins!!!

Wild sewing, New blues

New blues

sea breezes

Salt air

Wild shores

                                                            Two new wild sewing pieces

Broadford 

Wild sewing ( paper cloth stretched over panels)

Wild sewn cards

One of the the things about working in collage is that you end up with a lot of 'bits'
'Bits' of paper, 'bits' of papercloth, 'bits of organza..... 'bits in general!
I don't like waste and kept all my bits in a box, the box was getting fuller so I decided to make some cards with some of the scrap pieces.

Wild sewn cards...
All different, all unique...

Iv'e been on a mission and made loads!!

Sewing-scapes

Busy sewing...

Three more wild sewing-scapes to add to the collection. I'm not sure 'sewing-scape' is a word, but it fits, so I'm using it!

detail

Wild sewing is more than a little addictive, watching the machine needle whiz around the papercloth fills me with happiness!

I had a query  about how the reverse of the panel was finished,
So .....

Backed with felt and neatly blanket stitched. The embroidered papercloth is stretched over pre-cut MDF panels.

Just need to add a picture hook so it's ready to hang.

Linking to  paint party friday

Island hideaways; papercloth sewing

 I have been working on more little Island hideaways pieces, sewn and embroidered on papercloth.
You may remember I did a series of 'wee houses' collaged onto small wooden panels a little while back.

wee houses series

well I loved the idea of working on a new 'wee house' series but instead of just collaging with paper and paint I wanted to use stitch and papercloth. Often ideas grow from ideas!

I painted the houses onto some collaged papercloth ( muslin covered in torn paper fragments)
Then I machine stitched the paper cloth with silk and metalic thread.

I also used some iridescent spray inks  stencilled onto areas of the papercloth.

I think you can just about make out the stencilled circles.

To photograph I spread out all three pieces together on a picnic blanket....

 somebody decided the blanket was a good place to sleep......

not impressed when asked to get off!

linking to paint party friday

lemon yellows and Island hideaways

 Springtime yellows and orange are creeping into my colour palette. Inspired by the beautiful lemon yellow celandines and primrose which blanket the ground.

Island hideaways, wild sewing panels
made with paper cloth, fibres and metallic thread.

Here is a wee sneak peep at what I am working on at the moment...
It is a combination of paper collage and acrylic paint, I have also begun adding moulding paste and seashells.

If you look closely you may notice a Chinese take-away container which I use as a paint palette. ;) They make great palettes as they have lids which keep the paint from drying out, and you get  to eat the vegetable sweet and sour first!!

linking up to paint party friday

Wilderness Sewing in progress!

I thought I would share a little of what I am working on at the moment.
More 'wild sewing' and I have been using buckets of this wonderful metallic thread!
I love it... it makes the seascapes shimmer even more. It is a little tricky to sew with on paper cloth but practice makes perfect. ;)
What is paper cloth?
Well....

This is paper cloth, these three sheets are laid out on my floor at the moment drying. Muslin is covered in  watered down pva glue and then collaged with paper fragments.
I then use ink sprays to decorate the surface.

 The paper cloth pieces are cut and sewn in an appliqué type way to a backing cloth.

Slowly the landscape comes to life.

The free stitching makes scratchy grass like lines.

This one is more muted in tone.

For this one I wanted to create a craggy coastline in an almost abstract way.

So, another busy week.  I am so happy at all the positive feedback on my 'wild sewing series' Thanks so much to everyone who has commented.
 For me it encompasses all the mediums and subject matter I love best.

 Paper, collage, paint, ink, thread, fabric, foil, hills, sea, Skye.

This weeks wild sewing selection

Thanks for dropping in,
Hope to see you soon,

Linking to WOYWW and paint party friday