Artmixter's Emporium

Exquisite Evolon...

2010-08-29T14:56:00.004+01:00

..is finally here! Evolon is a non woven polyester/nylon cloth, a microfibre, which is a bit like working with suede or velvet. Like Lutradur, it does not fray, and tolerates heat well, so takes transfer dyes beautifully. However, as there is a nylon element, it is also possible to acid dye, making it really easy to colour. I couldn't resist writing a book about it, as I'm a texture fan, and the texture of this cloth is just gorgeous.

The book has ten chapters, which split into three sections. The first talks about dyeing using both transfer and acid dyes, whilst the second discusses inkjet printing and distressing using heat (burning), two of the special effects you can achieve with this flexible cloth. The remaining chapters are projects, which are discussed step by step with process photographs. The projects include knitting with Evolon, making a rust dyed wall hanging, and a fab jacket, as well as some easy embellishments. The projects are followed by a gallery of images of different kinds of work made by using Evolon, from a number of different artists, with a variety of different skill levels, most of whom had never worked with Evolon before. Tracy Borders describes her experience of making work for the book here; other artists include Sally Bramald, the UK queen of feather quilting, who made a fantastic whole cloth quilt for the book....and who is still talking to me, despite me asking her to work with polyester!

The introduction reads;
' I hope you will find lots of different ideas about how to use Evolon both in textile art and in making things for your home. It is such a versatile material. The projects in this book are intended to inspire you to try out some of the techniques I use in making my own art. You can work through them, one by one, or select those which appeal to you most, or match your skills. Use them as a springboard for your own creativity; why not try designing your own art doll, just as I have done in Chapter 5.'

You can buy Exquisite Evolon here... if you are in the UK, use the top button. If you are in Europe, use the middle button, and if you are in the USA or Canada, use the bottom button. If you are elsewhere in the world, please contact me for a mailing price before you buy. Wholesale terms are available; please contact me via email for more information.

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In The UK? Click below to purchase; the price is £14 plus £3 postage and packing.

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In Europe? Click below to purchase; the price is the cost is 17 Euros with 6 Euros postage and packaging.

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In the USA or Canada? Click below to purchase; the cost is $23 plus $7 postage and packing

Wonderful Workshops...

2010-07-07T14:19:00.006+01:00

or at least, I hope they are! This is the most recent list of my workshops, if anyone would like more details, please email me. Whilst I'm based in Norfolk, I'm happy to travel anywhere, in the UK and beyond, and have taught in French as well as English. In theory, I could do so in Russian too, if anyone's interested out there!

Marion Barnett : Workshops, 2010-11

Mixed Media

Collage Basics 1 day
Experiment with collage techniques using paper, cloth, paint and found objects to create an
exciting small piece of work. Suitable for anyone who enjoys working with colour and
texture; previous experience of either collage or painting not required.

Altered Books 1 day
Create a piece of original art from a child’s board book. This class takes you through all
the stages of preparing your book, creating backgrounds and then filling your book with
whatever you wish!

Artists Trading Cards ½ day
ATCs are small pieces of original art, which can be made from any medium, but which always
measure 2 ½” by 3 ½”. Have fun making a selection of these cards, using stamps, paints,
collage, anything you like!

Waxing Lyrical 1 day
Learn how to use wax as a resist, to create patterns on paper and fabric. Then use it as a
way of adding interest to your collage or mixed media work.

Mixed Media Play Day (1 day)
Come and experiment with a wide range of materials and media; no holds barred! I will
demonstrate the uses of the materials available, and then you can try them out.
NB this workshop can also be run on a half day basis, focussing on one particular medium.

Textile

Getting It Finished : Altered Quilts (1 day)
We all have quilts that we have started and abandoned when we can’t ‘get it right’, but
which we don’t throw away for any number of reasons. This workshop looks at how best to
work with those UFOs; how to diagnose the problems and fix them, turning a problem child
into a star! Each participant will bring a piece that they would like to finish, and
together, we will identify the issues and come up with a strategy to deal with them, as
well as looking at how we can avoid such issues in the future.

Lovely Lutradur : Adding Colour Play Day(1 day)
This workshop introduces working with lutradur, and will allow you to try working with all
four available weights of lutradur. We will experiment with transfer (disperse) dyes,
paints, inks and chalks, separately and in combination, and create a useful set of samples
contained within a hand sewn journal.

Lovely Lutradur : Working With Transparency
Lutradur’s special feature is transparency. In this workshop, you will learn how to use it
to best effect in combination with patterns and prints. Each participant will print a
textile base cloth, and then design and make a coloured lutradur piece to cover it, making
a unified image from the two layers, a quilt top ready for stitch. The two lutradur
workshops may be combined over one weekend.

Workshop: Working Intuitively (1 day)
This workshop lets you consider the process of making work. Often, we do the same thing,
over and over again. We start with an idea, make the cloth, or purchase it, assemble the
quilt top and then quilt it. This workshop encourages you to abandon that way of working,
to mix up the order in which you do things and to combine techniques at different stages in
the work.

Workshop: Learning To Dye (1 day)
This is an introduction to dyeing with Procion MX dyes. Participants will learn about the
dyes themselves, mix and apply them. We will also try out making some basic patterns,
using folded and tied resists. We will also try out overdyeing cloth that we don’t like.

Workshop: Learning to Dye Paint and Print (1 day)
This leads on from the Learning To Dye workshop. We will use thickened dyes to make dye
paintings, as well as making mono and block prints.
The dyeing workshops may be combined to make a two day workshop.

Textiles Play Day (1 day)
Come and experiment with a wide range of materials and media; no holds barred! I will
demonstrate the uses of the materials available, and then you can try them out.
NB this workshop can also be run on a half day basis, focussing on one particular medium.

Creativity
Inspiration Journal (1 day)
I’m often asked where I get my ideas from, or what I do when I’m stuck. This particular
workshop shares a number of techniques for generating ideas for work. Participants will
select a theme and create a folded book with lots of different ideas on that theme, making
it the starting point for new work, whether textile, mixed media or paper. This is a
particularly helpful workshop for anyone who wants to begin to work in series. On the
second day, each participant will develop one of the ideas into a cohesive piece of work.

Finding Your Creative Focus (1 day).
An opportunity to review your current practice with other artists and an experienced
facilitator/creativity coach, and consider how to move forward. This is particularly
useful for people who feel ‘blocked’ or ‘stuck’ in their artwork. Or it would be suitable
for people who want to return to making art after a break of some kind.

ps the image is an Artist's Trading Card; the background is made using shaving foam printing with Brusho, and the tree is stamped on using thickened Brusho.

Lovely Lutradur...

2009-09-06T17:32:00.006+01:00

and yes, we really mean it! We brought it out originally on CD; now we have a softback 'real' book as well. We wrote this because we both love lutradur, and wanted to show how flexible and easy to use it is. We also wanted to show you how two artists can approach the same material in a completely different way, and get great effects. The book offers step by step information about colouring and using lutradur, as well as lots of projects which aim to inspire you to use this lovely cloth in a variety of different ways, and to experiment with it. I'm still finding lots of different ways to use Lutradur...who knows, maybe we need to write a follow up...

In the meantime, here's part of the introduction, explaining why we respectively love using Lutradur;

' Every textile artist has a dream material. When we compared notes, we found that we both wanted something similar, despite our differences in our approach to art. Dijanne's work is based on nature; Marion, on the other hand, works mainly in abstract. Dijanne is based in Australia, but was born in the Netherlands, Marion in England, but was born in Scotland. Our work does have some things in common, however; both of us use strong colours and are fascinated by texture and layer'.

So what was it that we had in common when it came to cloth? This dream material should be as easy to work with as cotton, as transparent as silk organza, and have a sheen like silk. Oh, and it shouldn't fray, and should tolerate high temperatures. After a bit of searching, we have finally found our dream material; its name is Lutradur.

So, why Lutradur? Well, for Marion, it is the see through nature of the cloth. The fibres are floated across each other in the manufacturing process, producing a material which is similar in texture to fibreglass, but without hte problems of shedding, etc, that fibreglass has. Even the heaviest weight of Lutradur has this see through nature, and it produces wonderful layered effects in work, that could previously only be obtained by working with silk sheers, which are expensive and difficult to work with.

For Dijanne, the lure of Lutradur is the ability to colour with brilliant, light fast colour, and to control the application of colour. Transparency and layering are also important factors, as is the material's ability to 'breathe' like natural materials. It has a seductive sheen and the texture when worked upon visually appears like felt, thereby adding richness. The material is remarkably sturdy and stable for sewing as Dijanne sews her work intensively bith by machine and hand. The material's tolerance for high temperatures makes it ideal for such things as foiling and controlled melting. However, it is the intensity of colour and the play of colour achieved with layering that appeals to Dijanne's sense of colourand contrast.

For both of us, though, it adds a dimension to our work that we truly enjoy. We hope you will, too. And we hope this book will inspire you to work with this wonderful material!'

In The UK? Click below to purchase; the price is £14 plus £3 postage and packing. SCROLL DOWN IF YOU ARE IN EUROPE OR THE US FOR YOUR DEDICATED BUTTON. Please contact me for a postage price if you are outwith these areas...thanks!

In Europe? Click below to purchase; the cost is 16 Euros with 6 Euros postage and packaging.

In the US? Click below to purchase; the cost is $23 plus $7 postage and packing

Finding Your Creative Focus.

2009-08-31T12:54:00.009+01:00

Why did I write this book? Well... people kept asking me questions, like, where do you get your ideas from? Or they said things like, I wish I was as productive as you. Or, I wish I had more time. So I decided to look at the reasons we give for not following our creative stars, and the result was 'Finding Your Creative Focus'. And of course, it gave me the chance to use both my 'hats' at once; as well as being an artist, I worked for many years in HR, specialising in self development, helping people to work out what they really wanted, and how to get it. That's this book in a nutshell.

It's more of a workbook than anything else. There is the occasional picture, but mostly, there are exercises to do and forms to fill in, all intended to help you to identify what the problem really is, and how to fix it, or at least fix it as much as it is possible to do. Sadly, I don't have a magic wand; I can't put an extra day in the week, which I know most of us would love! But I can help you think about how to manage your time well enough to squeeze in some creativity time for yourself.

It says in the introduction:

'Who is this book aimed at? Anyone, really, who dreams of being creative, but can't quite get there, or doesn't know where to start, or who wants to be more creative than they are at present, or who is highly creative, but is blocked in some way. It looks at both practical and emotional aspects of creative work, and suggests ways of getting past blocks in your creativity. Some of the suggestions I'll make come from my own struggle with these issues; others come from years of experience of working as a coach with people who faced similar issues in personal and professional lives.'

The books are sent in specially designed cardboard boxes, and so will arrive safe and secure.

If you are in the UK, please click below to purchase; the price is £14 plus £3 postage and packing.

If you are in Europe, please click here to purchase; the cost is 16 Euros with 6 Euros postage and packaging.

In the US, please click here to purchase; the cost is $23 plus $7 postage and packing

If you live elsewhere, please email me for a quote in your own currency.

Workshops In The Little Green Shed.

2009-05-17T10:24:00.003+01:00

If you read this blog regularly, you'll know that I run bespoke workshops in the Little Green Shed for up to four people. I've decided to extend that a little, and have added some Play Days to the options. The dates and topics for this year are :

13 June: Simple Book Binding

4 July : Artists Trading Cards

2 August : Paper Making

5 September : Monoprinting

3 October : Collage

7 November : Stocking Fillers

5 December : Stocking Fillers

The playdays cost £35 per person, including a light lunch and refreshments. If a group of four books, however, the cost is £120, so get together with some friends and save some money! And of course, you can request a workshop from any of the topics below:

Altered Art
Artist's Trading Cards
Artists Journals and Sketchbooks
Basic Batik
Basic Book Binding
Basic Hand Stitch (decorative)
Cloth Dolls (Keyhole Kate)
Collage
Colouring Paper and Cloth
Dyeing using Acid Dyes
Dyeing using Fibre Reactive (Procion) Dyes
Dyeing using Transfer Dyes
Exquisite Evolon
Feltmaking
Finding Inspiration
Linoprinting
Lovely Lutradur
Machine Stitching For Line
Machine Stitching For Texture
Matchbox Shrines
Monoprinting
Paper Making
Printing with Natural Materials
Screen Printing
Silk Paper Making.

And if there's nothing there that suits... ask me! I'm always open to suggestions for new workshops! And if you live outwith Norfolk and would like to spend a weekend here, we have a wonderful pub just up the road which has accommodation and wonderful food; I can make arrangements for you (check it out here)

Please email me if you would like more information, and I'll send you the leaflet with more details, or give you my phone number to discuss your requirements...and doubtless have a little giggle, too...my phone calls, like my workshops, are fun!

Opening The Studio

2009-05-13T10:08:00.003+01:00

If it's May, it must be Norfolk Open Studios...and I'm taking part for the first time ever. I'm nervous, excited and scared, all at once, which is a heady cocktail for anyone... I've even tidied the Little Green Shed, so you know it's serious! I'd love it if you could come to visit at some point during the proceedings; if you can't manage to come during opening times, I'd be more than happy to open the LGS just for you outwith those times. This coming Sunday, there will be wine and nibbles for anyone who attends; and on Sunday 24th May, there will be Serious Cake, as it's my birthday. I really hope you'll manage to come and visit... please email me (email in my profile), or leave a message for more information and directions...or visit the Norfolk Festival website and search for Marion Barnett; there's contact information and directions there, too.

Terrified By White Paper?

2009-05-02T14:04:00.004+01:00

You know, when you want to create, but the white paper is scary, and you sit there and think, and somehow nothing gets done? I have the solution! Work small, and work with pre prepared card! I've just added these to my Etsy shop; hand painted card that is in Inchie or ATC format (ie 1" square or 2.5" by 3.5"). You can use them however you wish... just as they are, on cards or collage, or use them as a starting point for your own creativity. Look at each one with a fresh eye, work out what theme it suggests to you, and start to collage or paint. Above all, have fun! You can find the inchies here, and the ATC/ACEOs here

It really doesn't matter if you start from a blank sheet of paper, or from a pre prepared background; the work you make will be uniquely yours, I promise! And however you make your art, make sure you have lots of fun, too!

Art Inspirations

2009-04-08T10:25:00.005+01:00

I've got together with my local gallery to offer weekly short workshops in a variety of techniques. The first, a taster workshop, will be held on Thursday 16 April, from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. Basically, I'll be bringing lots of the art making materials that can be found in my studio, giving a quick talk about what they all are, and then help you to make a small piece of art, or two, like the images above! Paints, papers, collage materials, everything you could want to make art will be supplied in the price of £7.50. Why not come and have some fun with me, for a good cause? All the money raised from that evening will be going to a local charity.

The regular workshops will be held on Wednesday evenings, and the topics for May are:
29 April: Paste Papers. Make beautiful decorative papers for collage, book binding etc. Learn how to make a simple paste from ingredients in your kitchen!
6 May: Pamphet Books. Make a small handmade book using some of the paper you made last week (or using some decorative papers)
13 May : Printing With Natural Materials simple prints using leaves, vegetables etc
20 May: Transfer Dyeing; Colouring polyester cloth using transfer dyes to produce a textile postcard, with the leftover paper to use for collage!
27 May: Collage. Use your transfer dyed paper with other papers, images etc to make an interesting collage.

And if you'd rather have something less formal, during the day, there's 'Stitch And Share', every Friday morning from May 1. Bring the project you're working on, have a cup of coffee and share your hints, tips and news. A great start to the weekend!

All of these activities can be booked in advance by calling (01362) 690969. And, of course, if you're interested in full day workshops, I can teach extended versions of these mini workshops for your guild or group; just drop me an email, and we can discuss a version which will be tailored to your needs. My list of textile workshops is available here (and yes, I travel...anywhere you like!). If you would prefer to work one to one, there's information available here at very low introductory prices for this brand new service.

Falling...

2009-02-12T16:56:00.002Z

I'm fascinated by mixed media, and continue to make collages with found papers and paint. This particular piece, Falling, has a rich metallic shimmer which the photograph, sadly, just does not show. Fragments of intricately painted paper lie on a rich crimson metallic base, with splashes of blue metallic paint adding to that falling feeling. Mounted and encased in a wooden frame, finished size 8" by 10", it is an interesting piece, I hope... and seems appropriate to post about this evening, as the snow falls apace... I think it has a hint of mystery about it.

I have not put mixed media work in my Etsy shop for a while, but I'm going to list this piece in my main shop here

Fun Stuff!

2009-01-20T13:48:00.004Z

I'm of the view that you can't be serious all the time. So I made a fun Valentine's piece, called 'Kiss My...Cow!'. I was going to promote it here... but actually, it sold as soon as I listed it (picture above), so I hope you're with me in just having fun looking at the piece itself. And perhaps celebrate with me, too, that was my 100th sale on Etsy!

There's something about working with bright and cheerful fabric that uplifts the soul. And as a cat fan, who loves dogs too, I thought I'd do something with the scraps of cat and dog cloth that were lurking in my cupboard. The other image is of the piece that resulted, Precious Pets. It never ceases to amaze me how effective simple shapes and patterns are, combined with strong colours. I think it is perhaps part of the ongoing popularity of patchwork and quilting, that you can make beautiful things in a very simple way. So.... what are you doing here? Go Make Something!

Where Did You Get That???

2009-01-19T10:19:00.004Z

I have lots of interesting things in my workshop, but the thing that people ask me about, oddly, is the paper I use for transfer dyeing. It's not anything special, you understand, it's just white newsprint, which is ideal for transfer dyeing as it is cheap and convenient. I get mine from Wannabox. And I get my boxes for Etsy there, too. But I do have to admit to a certain bias... my husband is their accountant. They are, however, artist and craftsperson friendly, so it is worth a look if you need paper, boxes, bubblewrap or the like.

This is the kind of thing that people don't associate with artists; they think paint, dye, fun stuff...but never packaging! I love visiting the factory, as I've never seen so much paper in one place at one time, and have to be physically restrained from picking up every scrap of paper from the floor just in case I can use it. And watch this space... I have some of their small boxes which I intend to alter. It's amazing what you can do with cardboard!

I do have other favourite suppliers, of course, but this has to be the oddest one in my collection. Maybe you could share your strangest supplies, too?

Looking Forwards, Looking Back.

2009-01-01T12:46:00.002Z

Happy New Year! I hope everyone will have a joyful and successful New Year, whatever that means to you...

For me, New Year is a time for looking back, and looking forward. I want to get better at what I do, and to do that, I don't just need to plan for new things (and believe me, I have plans!!), but to reflect on what I've done in the past year. And for that, I'd like to enlist your help. I'd like every person who reads this, to give me a piece of feedback, about this blog, my other blogs, my Etsy shop, anything at all. In return, I'd like to give you an original ACEO, a small piece of my own work, like the ones I'm showing at the top of this post. PLEASE make sure that I can contact you; my email address is in my profile, but not everyone can be contacted in this way. And if you would like a piece of feedback from me, let me know, and I'll go and look at whatever it is you want feedback on!

To make things simple, my links are embedded here; the artmixteremporium blog, you are already reading, obviously! But there's my main blog and my etsy shops, artmixter and purelypainting I would love to hear what you think, so that I can improve what I do. Thanks for reading, and thanks in advance for the feedback! I'll be in touch to get your contact details, so please do remember to supply a contact email address.

Branching Out.

2008-12-08T10:52:00.006Z

As you may know, I wear two 'hats'; as well as making and writing about art, I spent many years working with individuals and groups in a business setting. So, not being one to waste anything, I've decided to combine those two skill sets, and offer a new service; Quilt Creative Coaching.

I remember what it was like starting out as an art quilter. It was scary. At that time, there were very few books to consult, and finding another art quilter was...well...difficult, except on the internet. Which was why I started alternativequiltlist, on yahoogroups, so that I could communicate with other art quilters, and they with me and each other. That group is still going, albeit in a quiet, reduced form, but I wanted to offer the opportunity to work with me in a more direct way. I love helping people to find their own ways of working, their own process, at a rate and pace that suits them. So, I am offering to coach art quilters, at whatever stage of their development, from 'I'd love to, but I'm scared' to 'I've been doing this for years, now'. I offer a range of options that will, I hope, meet everyone's needs, but which will be tailored specifically to each individual. I don't want a lot of people working like me; I want lots of people working like themselves!

And whilst the service is aimed at art quilters, I can, in fact, coach artists from any discipline. Creativity is creativity, no matter how it is expressed!

The information is given below. If you would like to talk to me about it, please email me. I will phone you to discuss it. And yes, I do cover the US, Europe and Australia! If you would like a bit of a helping hand with your own development as an artist, I would be happy to work with you.

Why Coaching?
Most people who are interested in working with a coach, want to do so because they feel ‘stuck’ or ‘blocked’ in some area of their life. Quilt Creative Coaching is an opportunity to identify the issues that you feel are holding you back, and to create a plan to deal with those issues. It’s ideal for everyone who has ever said, I’d love to make art quilts (or art anything…), but I don’t know where to start. It helps you to assess who you are, where you are, and what you really, really want. Of course, it does involve a bit of hard work; I can help you to create a plan, and help you to stay on track, but I can’t actually do the work for you. Your investment in yourself, though, will have a number of dividends; you will have a clear focus and intention towards your work, as well as a plan of action for carrying it out.
What Would We Be Considering?
What is it we need when we start creative work? I have identified six main headings.

Ideas. No artist can be without them! No ideas = No art.

Materials. Same here, really. Though you might be surprised by what you really need, and what is simply wishful thinking or pure creative lust!

Techniques. How you do what you do.

Space. You do need a place to work. And in an ideal world, it would be a dedicated space. But it’s possible to work in any situation, if you really want to.

Time. I’m sure we all know about that one!

Support. Everything is much easier when the people around you cooperate and support you in what you are doing.

We would use these key areas to help us to focus on what it is you need to change in order to clear the decks for creative work.

How Does Coaching Work?
Quilt Creative Coaching is an opportunity to work one to one or in a very small, closed group with Marion Barnett (or Artmixter, as she is known in the blog world), an experienced art quilter, and a specialist in Self Development techniques. She will work with you, both over the phone and by email, or in person, to establish what is blocking your creativity, and how you can work with those issues to remove them, or at least to make them manageable. Each session lasts approximately one hour, unless otherwise stated, and will focus solely on you.
You can choose between a number of options. Where it is required, the diagnostic session is free of charge, and there is no obligation to continue with the coaching past that session. If you continue with one to one coaching, then you are also entitled to unlimited email contact to the end of your final session. Other services may include a review session, as stated below.

A one off diagnostic session, that helps you to focus on what the issues are across all six of the key areas described above, plus a planning session and unlimited email contact to the end of the final session. Duration, approx two weeks. Cost : £50

A diagnostic session, plus three planning sessions and unlimited email contact to the end of the final session. Duration, approx one month. Cost: £150 (£130 if paid in advance).

A diagnostic session, plus a session to look at each of the key areas, and a final session to review your success, and unlimited email contact to the end of the final session. Duration: approx two months. Cost: £350 (£300 if paid in advance).

A one off review session. This would last two hours, and would involve us looking together at your work, discussing its development and exploring potential new avenues for you to consider. This is best done face to face, but could be done by telephone, providing you have very good images of your work. A review session by telephone would be scheduled for the following week. Duration : Two weeks. Cost : £60

A play day. This would entitle you to a full day to explore techniques and materials that perhaps you have been avoiding, or wish to explore in a more extensive fashion. Everything in my fully stocked studio is at your disposal, and I will support you throughout the day. Lunch is provided. You could choose to bring along two friends, if you wish, and split the cost between you. There is no review or email contact offered with this service. Duration : One day. Cost : £120

A theme day. Start from scratch and build your own process for working with a particular theme. Everything in my fully stocked studio is at your disposal, and I will support you throughout the day. Lunch is provided. You could choose to bring along two friends, if you wish, and split the cost between you. There is no review or email contact offered with this service. Duration : One day. Cost : £120

About Me:
I'm Marion, a Scottish artist living and working in a tiny village in Norfolk. I have a portfolio of skills and experience, which I offer to share with you in a number of different ways. I make and sell art of all descriptions,with a current focus on mixed media and textile art for domestic and commercial interiors.

I offer workshops based in my studio, The Little Green Shed, for up to four people. These are bespoke workshops, but I also offer workshops for larger groups throughout the country by arrangement. I write and self publish instructional books for artists; my first has just been published (Lovely Lutradur with Dijanne Cevaal), and two more are in production. I am also happy to work one to one with artists on the theme of their choice, whether technique or process focussed.

I also offer coaching services to small businesses, based on my experience as a Human Resources and Self Development Manager. I believe that we are all creative, and that we are all capable of self expression, in any part of our lives, and my coaching is tailored to help you find the answers you already have, but aren't aware of yet.

If you would like to discuss any of these coaching services, please email me at artmixter@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you...lets talk!

Just For Fun!

2008-11-16T18:30:00.002Z

It's not often you get the better of a cat. So when Tracy Borders asked me if I could make a poster featuring her cat, above, I thought, oh, yeah... And here it is. The poster is made from lutradur. Isn't he a beautiful puddy? If you have a cat, other pet or even a relative you'd like to feature in one of my posters, check them out here

And if you decide before the end of November, you'll get 20% off the cost of a custom poster in the newly extended VAST sale, which I'm involved in. That's $12 instead of $15... even a cat might be impressed by that offer!

If You Have Had Your Eye...

2008-11-08T18:08:00.003Z

on something in my Etsy shops, then now might be the right time to buy. I'm taking part in the VAST (Visual Arts Etsy) Holiday Sale, and twenty per cent will be taken off the price of anything you choose in either artmixter at etsy or artmixter's purelypainting at etsy. However, that does exclude Lovely Lutradur CDs, which you can find for sale here.

As you might know, my Artmixter shop on Etsy has all sorts of artworks in it, mainly textiles, mixed media and some hand bound small journals. Purely Painting, though, is just what it says... it has paintings of all descriptions. So, as I say, now would be the time to buy... why not go for a wee browse... you know you want to! If you do decide to buy something, contact me first, and I'll adjust the price for you.

The images show a piece from both shops, each one of my personal favourites. The painting is 'Matryoshka', and is oil on canvas. The textile is Curvilinear, a very recent lutradur piece. I hope you enjoy looking at them.

Summing It All Up.

2008-11-05T15:05:00.002Z

I've never duplicated a post between my Blogger blogs before, but I feel so pleased with this one, I'm going to break my own rule. I promise I won't do it again!

I've been asked to run a short workshop on writing profiles, for one of my local WIRE groups. If you're a self employed woman in the UK, check out WIRE by clicking on the link in the last sentence. I designed the workshop, but thought I had perhaps better add my own profile, first, to see that the process actually worked.

It's not easy, telling the world exactly what you do in a few short sentences. Here's my profile, see what you think.

I'm Marion, a Scottish artist living and working in a tiny village in Norfolk. I have a portfolio of skills and experience, which I offer to share with you in a number of different ways.
I make and sell art of all descriptions,with a current focus on mixed media and textile art for domestic and commercial interiors. Start at my blog, http://artmixter.blogspot.com, to get a feel for what I offer, and find a list of my online outlets on the right hand side column of the blog.

I offer workshops based in my studio, The Little Green Shed, for up to four people. These are bespoke workshops, but I also offer workshops for larger groups throughout the country by arrangement. I write and self publish instructional books for artists; my first has just been published (Lovely Lutradur with Dijanne Cevaal), and two more are in production. I am also happy to work one to one with artists on the theme of their choice, whether technique or process focussed.

I also offer coaching services to small businesses, based on my experience as an HR and Self Development Manager. I believe that we are all creative, and that we are all capable of self expression, in any part of our lives, and my coaching is tailored to help you find the answers you already have, but aren't aware of yet.

So there you go; me in a nutshell. You might be surprised by some of the things I do... sometimes I surprise even me! I think it reflects the different things I have done over the years, combining all my knowledge and experience in new ways. So, why now? I have, over the past few months, put Incapacity behind me, and become a fully fledged Small Business. I will, of course, try not to drone on about that here, but I did want to acknowledge a change in direction, somewhat. The demon depression is of course still lurking, but he behaves really well these days. Change IS possible, no matter how ill you might be. If I can do it, so can anyone else.

If you're interested in these services, please do get in touch, I'd be delighted to talk to you about what I do and how I do it. It costs nothing to ask questions... not the first time, anyway!! The image is my new logo... hope you like it. And wish me luck, won't you?

Who Says...

2008-11-04T18:07:00.002Z

art isn't educational? I was intrigued by a couple of old stamps I was given amongst some ephemera. I liked them a lot, thought they depicted a truly beautiful woman, and made an ACEO with them. Today, I discovered that Katherine Anne Porter was an award winning US writer. I read a lot of US writers, including Willa Cather, one of my favourites, but I hadn't ever come across Ms Porter. Find out about her here

Or, if you'd rather, admire my ACEO, Remembering Katherine, in the picture above, and in my Etsy shop here

Waxing Lyrical

2008-10-28T11:11:00.004Z

Hurrah, it's autumn, time to get the encaustics out again... I get too hot in the summer to work with extra heat, ironing is bad enough, the heat of melting wax is just overkill. But now I can see it as an alternative means of heating The Little Green Shed, and enjoy working with it in the relative cool of winter.

I don't often wax particularly lyrical about work, but there's something about this piece, Autumn Wind, that just seems to invite it. For me, the piece evokes the colours of the autumn, their warmth, and the warmth of a beautiful Autumn day. The wax on top, though, is a dark blue, the blue of a chill wind, perhaps the first of the winter winds, reminding us of the chills that are to come.

This piece features wax carving, which shows the beauty of the colours beneath it. See what I mean... I'm waxing lyrical! You can find this piece in my purelypainting etsy shop
if you would like to see more detail shots....and see if you can find the leaf being blown about on that wind...

Want A Workshop...

2008-10-08T12:13:00.004+01:00

for a group of artists? Perhaps I can help you... I offer a wide range of workshops, including those that are described below. And there are more to follow; if you are familiar with my work, you will know that I work in mixed media and paint as well as textile, so I can offer a wide range of technique and process workshops. If you don't see it here, why not email me and ask about it; my email address is in my Blogger profile. I specialise in bespoke workshops.

I love working with groups, but limit the size to twelve at the most. I can teach in French, if you wish, and might even manage to do so in Russian, though it has been a while... And I have basic German, too, which could be brushed up. Are you getting the idea that I love to travel? You should! Hey, I even speak American!!! And as a special offer, book a workshop before March 2009, and mention the blog, and I'll give you a 10% discount on my already reasonable fees!

And watch this space... you could have the chance to come to work in the shed with me... or have some coaching time... contact me for more details if you just can't wait!

Workshop: Getting It Finished : Altered Quilts (1 day or 2 days)
We all have quilts that we have started and abandoned when we can’t ‘get it right’, but which we don’t throw away for any number of reasons. This workshop looks at how best to work with those UFOs; how to diagnose the problems and fix them, turning a problem child into a star! Each participant will bring a piece that they would like to finish, and together, we will identify the issues and come up with a strategy to deal with them, as well as looking at how we can avoid such issues in the future.

Workshop: Lovely Lutradur : Adding Colour Play Day(1 day)
This workshop introduces working with lutradur, and will allow you to try working with all four available weights of lutradur. We will experiment with transfer (disperse) dyes, paints, inks and chalks, separately and in combination, and create a useful set of samples contained within a hand sewn journal.

Workshop: Lovely Lutradur : Working With Transparency
Lutradur’s special feature is transparency. In this workshop, you will learn how to use it to best effect in combination with patterns and prints. Each participant will print a textile base cloth, and then design and make a coloured lutradur piece to cover it, making a unified image from the two layers, a quilt top ready for stitch. The two lutradur workshops may be combined over one weekend.
Workshop: Inspiration Journal (1 or 2 day)
I’m often asked where I get my ideas from, or what I do when I’m stuck. This particular workshop shares a number of techniques for generating ideas for work. Participants will select a theme and create a folded book with lots of different ideas on that theme, making it the starting point for new work, whether textile, mixed media or paper. This is a particularly helpful workshop for anyone who wants to begin to work in series. On the second day, each participant will develop one of the ideas into a cohesive piece of work.

Workshop: Working Intuitively (1 or 2 day)
This workshop lets you consider the process of making work. Often, we do the same thing, over and over again. We start with an idea, make the cloth, or purchase it, assemble the quilt top and then quilt it. This workshop encourages you to abandon that way of working, to mix up the order in which you do things and to combine techniques at different stages in the work.

Workshop: Learning To Dye (1 day)
This is an introduction to dyeing with Procion MX dyes. Participants will learn about the dyes themselves, mix and apply them. We will also try out making some basic patterns, using folded and tied resists. We will also try out overdyeing cloth that we don’t like.

Workshop: Learning to Dye Paint and Print (1 day)
This leads on from the Learning To Dye workshop. We will use thickened dyes to make dye paintings, as well as making mono and block prints.

The dyeing workshops may be combined to make a two day workshop.

Celebration Time!

2008-09-20T14:00:00.003+01:00

It's my wedding anniversary tomorrow, 29 years, but who's counting ? Well, except Robin and I, of course... he deserves a medal for putting up with me for such an inordinate amount of time!

It's also my Etsy anniversary, the Artmixter shop has been in business for a year, so I'm having a sale this weekend. Anything you buy, with the exception of the 'Lovely Lutradur' CD (which can be bought from this blog), will have 20% taken off the original price. Just convo or email me, and I will reserve the item for you and adjust the price. That includes all of the art quilts I have on Etsy at the moment, as well as some of my mixed media work, not to mention the totem dolls and my hand dyed cloth. Tempted? Then come and have a look!

Small Pieces...

2008-08-22T14:23:00.002+01:00

occasionally resonate hugely. For me, Evening Star is one such piece. It is an ACEO, so measures only 2.5" by 3.5". But it represents all kinds of things... It makes me think of standing stones in my native Scotland, of the colours in the hills and moorlands there. Of the mysteries attached to the standing stones, their incredible power, whether individuals or groups. Sometimes I miss Scotland, but I can at least make art about it... find it here

Lovely Lutradur

2008-08-08T10:39:00.000+01:00

Lovely Lutradur is an E-book, or book on CD, 88 pages long, filled with information on how to colour and use this versatile fabric.

Contents

Introduction

Section 1. Learning about Lutradur

An overview of the material itself

Adding colour to Lutradur

Method for mixing transfer dye from powder

Storage

Transferring colour to fabric

Overview: the process in pictures

Section 2. Projects

Cutting Away/Reverse Appliqué

Printing

Foiling

Postcards From Lutradur

Lutradur Through The Printer

Altered Quilts

Section 3. Gallery

Section 4. Troubleshooting

Section 5. Appendices

NB Section 3, The Gallery, is on a separate PDF file for ease of access and printing.

Lovely Lutradur costs:
Australia $25 inclusive of postage
United Kingdom 12 GBP- inclusive of postage
Europe 15 Euros inclusive of postage
USA $24 inclusive of postage

To purchase, click on the Paypal icon below. You will be charged in UK Sterling. Make sure that the address you have on Paypal is up to date, as that is where I'll be sending your CD!

Connections...

2008-07-09T10:01:00.000+01:00

is a new piece just listed in the shop It is a lutradur piece, which I stitched into and then added fibres using the embellisher machine, which felts fabrics into each other, as well as creating needlefelt using wool and other fibres. And then it lay about in my studio for ages, as it wasn't quite finished. Recently, however, I've discovered a latent passion for fuschia; I've always loved the plants, but not been so fond of the colour. However, I discovered it mixes wonderful strong orange colours when I bought a tube of acrylic paint that was on sale (I'm forever buying cheap paint...), and fished the solitary reel of fuschia thread out of my thread storage box. And it added the final connections the piece needed. Voila!

Borderline

2008-06-10T15:11:00.000+01:00

I've been making a lot of small work, recently, and though I would list a larger painting, for a change. Borderline is an original abstract oil painting, measuring 23.5" square. In some ways, it could be called an inner landscape. It was inspired by a Joni Mitchell song of the same name; 'Out on some border line, Some mark of in between, I lay down frozen in time, And woke up vanishing'. It is a beautiful song; I'm a real Joni Mitchell fan! I rarely make work inspired by music, but I love this particular song, and hope that the piece reflects it in some way. This painting is bright, strong, and features impasto, or textured painting...to see what I mean, check out the closeups here

Borderline, along with other oil paintings, can be found in my purelypainting etsy shop

Here Be Dragons!

2008-05-31T13:09:00.000+01:00

Well, okay, one dragon, but he's a biggie! Dragons are legendary for having treasure hoards, and this blue dragon is eyeing up a beautiful piece of glass made by my friend and fellow Etsy artist Chauncey; I talked about her on the other blog here. She makes wonderful glass jewellery, and very kindly sent me a couple of extra pieces with the larger one I talked about on the other blog. One of them just seemed to be perfect for this particular piece, and it finishes it off wonderfully, I think.

I'm entranced by glass, and have always wanted to work with it in my work. And now it's happening... isn't that wonderful! I'll be using other pieces in future works. Right now, though, like a dragon, I'm guarding my hoard against invaders...except for this piece, of course, it's in the artmixter shop right here (it's worth checking it out just for the closeups of the dragon and the glass!)

Hand Of Friendship

2008-04-19T14:19:00.000+01:00

has been kicking around here for a while, a small art quilt, but I decided to list it on Etsy today. It was made for a challenge, but didn't get as far as the actual exhibit, I think I was having a bad patch, and when that happens, everything stops.

I've made a number of pieces using hands. For me they are the ultimate symbol of creativity. This particular piece, though, reflects all the different gifts that our friends bring us; sympathy, love, encouragement, care, help, comfort, understanding, joy, enthusiasm and companionship. And that, of course, is just the tip of a very large iceberg.

I am fortunate enough to have a lot of friends; this piece is dedicated to them. All of them. Those I have met, personally, and my virtual friends. All of them, very special people.

When In Doubt...

2008-04-13T16:23:00.000+01:00

try something new. I had intended to make greetings cards before now, but never got round to it. But on a bad day, it's always a good thing to try something new, so out came the card blanks and these cards were created. Both feature a fragment of original painting (acrylic on acrylic paper), and each is unique. Sometimes it's impossible to find just the right card, especially for a man; I think these work really well (she said, modest as ever). To be found in my Purely Painting etsy shop. Guid gear, sma' buik, my granny used to say (great things come in small packages, for those of us not conversant with Scots). Hopefully, that's what I've achieved here. And I had some fun into the bargain! What more could you hope for?

Signs Of The Zodiac

2008-04-09T10:50:00.001+01:00

is the theme of a challenge that is currently running on Etsy amongst a group of ACEO artists. You can find our conversations here, if you're interested. I'm not sure quite how the conversation turned to star signs, but suddenly a challenge was born.

If you haven't already guessed, I'm a Gemini (talk too much, artistic, excitable, changeable...), and here is the card I made to celebrate that fact! Just about to pop it into Etsy
along with another card, 'Why Don't You Write?'. Simon and Garfunkel fans will recognise a song in there... See what you think!

Need A Little Inspiration?

2008-03-28T14:03:00.000Z

Meet Millie The Muse! I have been making totem dolls for several years now, but Chauncey, one of my BBEST friends on Etsy, said that she thought they ought to be called muse dolls, because she thought that that was exactly what they were! And everyone who has one, has said that they keep it in their workspace within view, so I thought I would make a Muse Doll or two, just for fun. You can find her for sale here, if you feel you can't live without her!

Tidying Up.

2008-03-06T12:18:00.000Z

I know, it's not like me, but I feel the need for a little spring cleaning in my shop. So, I've decided that the paintings section is going to close, given that I have another shop, purelypainting, where my paintings are supposed to live! Others, though, I've reduced in price by at least half, like this one here, Winter Dreaming Spring, an encaustic painting. So feel free to drop in here for a look at what's on offer!

Another thing tidied away is my Dawanda shop; I felt that it wasn't for me. But I'm still lurking on etsy and mintd...and having fun!

Two New Totem Dolls....

2008-02-28T14:14:00.000Z

are appearing in the artmixter shop today. The first is 'Ash', and she represents the stability of trees, despite the fact that they change constantly. A good totem for anyone who feels that change is sweeping them away. The second is 'Dreamer'. She looks as if she is in a world of her own, dressed in floaty, dreamy clothes (silk and satin). Need to take some time out to dream? Dreamer would be your ideal totem. Check them out in more detail here

New Work...

2008-02-13T16:29:00.000Z

small in size, but big on colour! Both of these pieces, Facing and Jungle Patterns, will feature in our upcoming book on lutradur. Both feature the same original linocut, have similar colours, but seem to me at least to be completely different in feel and look. See what you think!
ps and yes, both are on etsy...

When The Going Gets Tough...

2008-02-12T17:51:00.001Z

the tough make art! This is Dragon, another of those pieces that have seriously complex cloth. In her case (she looks like a she, doesn't she?), I took orange commercial plain fabric, discharged and dye painted it, cut it up, reassembled it, and painted it with acrylic paints. I then quilted it and added a further layer of paint and dye crayon. And then, of course, I photographed her and added her to etsy ! See what you think; click the etsy link in the text to see some detail shots.

Decisions, Decisions...

2008-02-10T16:09:00.000Z

I've been thinking about Etsy, and what I make and sell, and finally realised that it's all Just A Bit Much. So, rather than spread myself thin, I've decided to turn my artmixter shop into a place where there is only textile art, and purelypainting into exactly that, anything with paint on it (other than textiles...). And I've also decided not to list any more mixed media, like this piece here... I've never really felt comfortable with collage, somehow making work like this is just not me... and I'm not even sure why that is. So I've decided to keep it for fun, and the occasional ACEO (with paint on, so that it qualifies for purelypainting!), and to close the mixed media section.

This is a very longwinded way of telling you about a half price (and sometimes more) SALE on the artmixter shop (click on the capitalised sale to go straight to the section). Help me make space for more textiles in the shop! And at home, of course!

It Seemed Like A Good Idea...

2008-01-30T12:20:00.000Z

at the time... a new shop! Here, to be precise! Well, I can't help myself, sometimes. I thought I might limit this one to paintings, like this one, Autumnal Pavane. But there again... Either way, please do go have a wee look at my new venture! And trust me, it'll be the last for a while!!

Neglected...

2008-01-27T12:33:00.001Z

just about describes my Dawanda shop. Dawanda is a relatively new online shopping site, based in Germany, and so not a lot of people seem to know about it. Of course, you do, now! I've got several things up in my shop there, including this aceo, Blue Mountain, which I'm rather fond of. People do seem to be looking at my work there, which is good, I'd just like to sell something...break into Europe, as it were! Still, one step at a time, I suppose... you can find this card here and Dawanda itself here There are some interesting sellers on there... why not check it out?

Nice Surprises!

2008-01-18T09:23:00.000Z

Two this morning, to be precise! One came from my friend Susan, with whom I traded cloth for a couple of her wonderful bags. Look, she said, at what I did with some of your fabric...so I did! Here! Didn't she do a good job!

And then there were kind words from another artist about my work on my site at Talent Database So all in all, great things to wake up to! Hope you have a happy day, too!

New Work...

2008-01-11T11:33:00.001Z

Three Red Dots, the image above, has just been added to my Etsy shop for paintings
It is a small acrylic painting, measuring 8"/20cm square, 1"/2.5cm deep, and is ready to hang. It is a new departure for me, I usually use oil paints, and I'm using techniques here, including printing, that I haven't used before, or haven't combined in this way before. It is always exciting to move into pastures new... I hope you like it too!

Fame At Last...

2008-01-03T12:20:00.000Z

It's hard to get yourself noticed on Etsy; in a network of tens of thousands of shops, it's difficult to stand out. Etsy has a system called 'the Treasury', where individual artists select some of their favourite pieces from among the (doubtless) hundreds of thousands of items. It's an honour to have a piece of work selected, and as you can see, one of my collages, 'Can You Forget Me' is included in this one, by theVintageZoo. What is exceptional about this particular Treasury, though, is that it has been selected to be on the front page for part of today! That's really exciting for me and the other makers in this collection, it's an honour! So, as you can imagine, I'm bouncing up and down with excitement today! Thanks, VintageZoo, and Etsy, too!

Closing Down?

2007-12-29T14:51:00.001Z

Well, no, not quite. I have decided to use this particular blog in a different way, though. I intend to move the pieces that are advertised here onto Etsy, and to use this blog to talk about life on Etsy, and some of the wonderful people that I've met in the short three months I've been there.

For example, I've traded several of my pieces for other peoples' work; the cloth in the last blog post here, along with another piece has gone off to the US, traded for a couple of bags from Sue of SueStitches She makes wonderful things! And a painting went off to the US in return for a beautiful necklace! Selling is good...but trading is good, too! I'm always prepared to consider a trade, if you have an etsy shop, convo me to discuss it!

For Sale On Etsy....

2007-12-01T12:49:00.001Z

this lovely piece of hand dyed cotton, high quality poplin, high thread count...check it out here
More writing when I've got over the flu...sob, cough, splutter!

ACEO : Floral Attraction

2007-10-21T16:23:00.001+01:00

ACEO stands for 'Art Cards, Editions and Originals'. They are a standard size (2.5" by 3.5"), and are a great way of buying a piece of original art at a very low price.

Floral Attraction is a collaged card made from hand dyed tissue papers, with found images, hand stamped and mounted on heavy watercolour paper. It could be kept in a plastic wallet as part of a larger collection, or mounted/framed as you wish.

Colours may vary from monitor to monitor, but the photographs are taken in natural light with care to reproduce the reality as closely as possible. I work in a smoke free environment, though I do live with cats. Any cat hair included comes at no extra charge!

Starry Night is signed and dated, costs £3 with UK postage of £1.50, please click on the paypal logo below to purchase. International customers are very welcome, please email me direct to discuss postage; I will send you an individual invoice through Paypal.

ACEO ; Starry Night.

2007-10-21T16:15:00.000+01:00

ACEO stands for 'Art Cards, Editions and Originals'. They are a standard size (2.5" by 3.5"), and are a great way of buying a piece of original art at a very low price.

Starry Night is a collaged card made from hand dyed tissue papers, with sequins, mounted on heavy watercolour paper. It could be kept in a plastic wallet as part of a larger collection, or mounted/framed as you wish.

Colours may vary from monitor to monitor, but the photographs are taken in natural light with care to reproduce the reality as closely as possible. I work in a smoke free environment, though I do live with cats. Any cat hair included comes at no extra charge!

Starry Night is signed and dated, costs £3 with UK postage of £1.50, please click on the paypal logo below to purchase. International customers are very welcome, please email me direct to discuss postage; I will send you an individual invoice through Paypal.

Original Collage : Garden Of The Soul

2007-10-12T11:04:00.000+01:00

This little collage comes ready to frame, or could be displayed as is on a mini easel or plate stand. The background is a manipulated digital image, partially altered with watercolour paint; the arch is from a photo taken at Castle Acre in Norfolk, plus additional found images and a small embroidered motif.

The piece costs £18 plus postage. In the UK, postage will be £2.50; overseas buyers, please contact me direct for a quote; you will be invoiced separately. UK buyers, please click the Paypal button to make your purchase.

If you have any questions about the work, please feel free to email me direct.

ACEO : Blue Fragments SOLD

2007-10-11T12:39:00.000+01:00

ACEO stands for 'Art Cards, Editions and Originals'. They are a standard size (2.5" by 3.5"), and are a great way of buying a piece of original art at a very low price.

Blue Fragment is an ACEO, the first picture is the whole piece, the second, a detail.
Blue Fragment is made from a portion of a larger original linocut, which has been altered slightly, using a wash of paint. It is signed and dated, with artist information on the back. It could be kept in a plastic wallet as part of a larger collection, or mounted/framed as you wish.

Colours may vary from monitor to monitor, but the photographs are taken in natural light with care to reproduce the reality as closely as possible.

This ACEO costs £3, with £1.50 shipping in the UK. It is sent in a padded envelope encased in plastic for protection. UK buyers, please use the paypal button below. Overseas buyers are welcome, please email me direct for a quote for shipping, and I'll invoice you separately.
Thanks for looking!

Autumn Earth

2007-10-03T09:11:00.000+01:00

Autumn Earth is a small art quilt 6" by 8", ready for framing or mounting as you prefer. It is made from tissue paper hand painted with acrylic paints, then covered with hand dyed lutradur, mounted on pelmet Vilene and stitched. Click on the photos for a larger image.

This small work costs £10 plus £1.50 postage in the UK. I accept sterling cheques or payment by Paypal by clicking the button below. Overseas customers are welcome, please contact me direct for information on shipping costs; I will invoice you separately using PayPal.

Cipher

2007-09-28T15:58:00.000+01:00

A textile piece made using the embellisher on black velveteen, with machine stitching in metallic thread. It belongs to the 'In More Than One Language' series of work. It comes ready to frame or mount as you prefer, but I would recommend framing; metallic thread is somewhat delicate.

Cipher measures 8" by 15" and costs £40, plus £1.50 postage in the UK. I accept sterling cheques or payment by Paypal; overseas customers are welcome, please contact me direct for information on shipping costs; I will invoice you separately using PayPal.

Poppy Power and Pretty In Pink...

2007-09-28T15:55:00.000+01:00

are both featured on my main blog today. They are both offered for sale on Etsy; just click on the link for more details.

Hand Dyed Fabric : Three Fat Eighths

2007-09-26T16:18:00.001+01:00

Three Fat Eighths (9" by 11") in complementary colours, great for adding to your stash, for trying out hand dyes for the first time, or for applique; the colour variations in hand dyes make them ideal for using in applique, as many colours can appear in one piece of fabric. Colours may vary from screen to screen, but the photographs were taken in natural light, and are a very good representation of the colours.
The cloth is cotton poplin, with a high thread count, ideal for machine quilting. Click on each picture to get a larger image.

All of my hand dyes are unique, all are washed and rinsed multiple times to avoid dye runs; however, I do recommend that you wash them before you use them if the project will be washed.

Please feel free to email me with any questions you have about these handdyes.

The cost of these three fat eighths is £5.00, with £1.50 postage in the UK. If you are based elsewhere, please contact me direct for details (email address is in my profile). At present, I only accept PayPal from overseas buyers, but will accept sterling cheques in the UK; to purchase using PayPal, please use the buttons below. To purchase by cheque, please contact me by email.

NOTES :

I work in a smoke free environment, but share my space with four cats. I do my best not to get any cat hair in packages; any that is there, is free of charge!

Abstracted I

2007-09-25T14:15:00.001+01:00

Abstracted I is a postcard sized art quilt, made from hand painted and dyed cotton, stitched with rayon threads and edged with metallic thread. It fits any postcard sized standard frame, or may be mounted on canvas, whatever you choose to do.

Abstracted costs £7, with £1.50 postage in the UK. If you are based elsewhere, please contact me direct for details (email address is in my profile). At present, I only accept PayPal; to purchase, please use the buttons below.

NOTES :
All of my work is one of a kind, from tiny postcards to large paintings. I never make the same thing twice, though I do work in series, so I will work with the abstracted theme again.
I work in a smoke free environment, but share my space with four cats. I do my best not to get any cat hair in packages; any that is there, is free of charge!