Art Supply Chest: From Boring to Beautiful

I recently purchased an art supply chest, using a Dick Blick gift card.

Deciding that the chest looked too plain for me, I opted for collaging the

exterior of the wood box.

Chest, on the day of delivery (below).

Supplies are gathered.  An old music book (gift from a friend), a thick tablet of

cheerful scrapbooking paper, and Elmer’s glue.

The scrapbooking paper was torn into small pieces, as were some pages from 

the music book.  I did not sand or prepare the outside of the wood box in any way. 

I did remove the tray from inside the box just to get it out of the way.  I started to 

apply the paper pieces using a brush and glue.  Initially, I added the paper 

in a scattered, random fashion.  Then I filled in empty spaces.  I glued pieces up

to the edges of the box lid and bottom, trimming with scissors to get straight

edges where needed.  Pieces were overlapped to fill in empty spots and to go 

around corners.  The raw paper edges add interest!

Once I had the whole box covered with collage and the glue had dried, I coated it 

with Delta Dreamcoat Gloss Varnish.  I applied a second layer of varnish the next day.

Below:  finished box, ready to travel to its first art workshop!

Denim Jacket Revival

I enjoy embellishing vintage denim jackets!  So much so, that I'll be teaching a 

class on this in May of 2022, at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown,

N.C.  That class is titled "Vintage Denim Jacket with Boho Flair.  I will also

be teaching a one week workshop called   "Brasstown Boho Skirt".  

That class immediately follows the denim jacket class.  I love the creativity

of Boho style and the fact that pretty much "anything goes".

 

I purchased a vintage J. Jill denim jacket on Etsy a few months ago.  When I'm

decorating vintage jackets, I usually do it totally by hand.  This was a rare case

where I made use of a sewing machine. Deciding that the fit was slightly snug, 

I cut the jacket apart.  I then inserted lighter colored denim strips from the jacket

hem, up the sides, and down the sleeves.  The strips were cut from the legs 

of jeans my husband was about to throw away!

 

The first two photos show the jacket as purchased, and after I washed it.

Pieces of jeans, calling out to be reused!


Photos below show the jacket cut open, then with the denim strips inserted.  The

light denim strips were inserted with the use of my sewing machine.  Ultimately,

I machine stitched the side seams together and turned the edges to the inside, 

attaching them to the inside by hand.

Thinking my jacket needed some embellishment, I remembered a one

yard piece of hand-painted lace I had in my stash.  The lace was another Etsy

buy, purchased in 2012.  I cut the lace to size, then basted it on just to keep it

in place for my more thorough hand-stitching.  I almost always use hand

stitching to apply embellishments . . . I feel like I have more control over it than

I would with machine stitching.  I also think it looks better!

I added narrow heart-patterned lace along the top edge to cover the raw edges 

of the dyed floral lace.  Then I added a small purple heart-shaped button at each

end.

I used some green woven ribbon with white polka dots to cover the (bottom) raw

edges of the purple floral lace.  Sewing the ribbon on was a bit difficult as there is

a bulky waistline seam underneath it.  I used my jewelry pliers, when needed, 

to pull my needle through multiple thicknesses. 

My finished jacket is shown below. 

The Making of a Valentine

I belong to a group of artists.  We all have a connection to the now-closed Valley Ridge Art Studio.  We stay in touch and hold art retreats twice a year.  One member recently set up a Valentine’s postcard exchange.  Names were drawn electronically.  My recipient happens to own a cute Westie named Lulu. I decided my Valentine would feature some reference to Lulu.

Thinking outside the box, I decided to use an 8” x 10” canvas for my “postcard”.  I had all of the

supplies on hand to create a valentine (no surprise there, as Valentine's Day is my favorite holiday).

I started with a white canvas, then mixed some acrylic paint and painted the canvas pink.

I then searched online and located a silhouette of a Westie.  I sized it down, literally

using my fingers on my iPad.  I then very lightly traced the outline onto a 

piece of printer paper. I cut out the shape, then outlined it onto heavy paper.

That served as my pattern.  I fused interfacing onto some pretty dark pink fabric,

And cut the shape from that.  From there, I stitched the dog shape onto my background

of antique alencon lace.

The pictures that follow show how I tested different arrangements and trims.

Once I declared the surface finished, I wrapped the excess lace around to the

back.  I used glue on the back (also underneath the dog appliqué and in a few

other, discreet spots).  I glued scrapbook paper to the backside of the canvas.

Here is a photo of my completed valentine.  I titled it “Lulu Love”.  Hope you

like it!

 

Online Workshop Taken

Happy New Year!

I recently had the pleasure of taking my first-ever online workshop.  The class, offered through Jeanne Oliver (dot com) was a mixed-media class titled “The Bookmaker”.  It was taught by Roxanne Evans Stout.  Students created a “book”, starting with a vintage or contemporary tin. Various techniques were learned and our books soon started to take shape.  I thoroughly enjoyed the class!

Not owning a vintage tin, I purchased a new tin online.  My tin measured 5” x 7” x 1”.  Because my tin was new, and lacking the character of an older tin, I pretty much covered the entire surface.  “Pages” were made from watercolor paper torn to size.

While many students incorporated rusted nails, washers, etc. in their books, I took my own path.  I made use of my large collections of fabric, buttons, and lace!

Please view my photos:

Revisiting My Embroidery Machine

I recently decided the time was right to give myself a refresher course on my Baby Lock Sofia 2 machine!  I did a few small pieces.  I like how this pumpkin design turned out.

M

Projects Completed in a Strange Year

Like many others, I've spent a lot of time at home this year due to the COVID pandemic. 

I’ve finished a number of projects this year and I continue to work on others.  

Shown below:  Fleece throws made for two friends.  Our belated holiday lunch

was postponed first, due to bad weather, then, due to COVID.  I STILL haven't

given these to the friends.  Maybe next year!

Brasstown Boho Skirt.  My own design and a prototype for a possible

future class.

I was attracted to these wood/metal containers at Marshall's due to the Double

Wedding Ring pattern of the metal panels.  I decided that paint was in order.

I like how the boxes turned out!





A few of the masks I’ve made.  Many were distributed to friends and

neighbors.  No pattern.


This was made from a pattern called “Floor Tote”.  The outer fabric (roosters)

is perhaps, my favorite Home Dec fabric ever.  I've made a number of

accessories from this fabric purchased at Joann Fabrics.

Batik carryalls, from an out-of-print pattern, "Great Big Bags".




I used up some extra fabric to make slipcases for the two matching rugs I purchased

from the Agrace Thrift Home Store here in Madison.  I bought the smaller rug first, 

then decided I couldn’t live without matching, larger rug a week later.  You'll have to 

wait to see the rugs.

This is my submission to the 25 Million Stitches Project, a worldwide effort

to bring attention to the plight of migrants.  My piece has been sent to the project

headquarters in California.  The opening exhibit date was moved back a year.

It will take place in the summer of 2021.