Mixed Media Fiber Art Poppies For A Friend! Hastypearl

Mixed Media Fiber Art

Poppies For A Friend!

Hastypearl

Some time ago, I received a Surprise Gift, from a New Online Friend.

She lives in England, and is a talented artist.

When she decided that she wanted to learn about eco-dying, she bought books, and Taught Herself.

She loves to stitch...boy, can she stitch. 

So, she combined those two disciplines and created a special style...

that is All Her Own.

Yes, this posting is a "step out" for my project, but its also about...Friendship! 

So, you know how sometimes you Stew on things?

I knew that I would eventually..."repay" her with a return gift. 

That really isn't the right word because it sounds more like a Transaction, than a Gift...

but I think that you know what I mean.

It took me a while, to decide on what I would do.

I recently became randomly interested in drawing/ painting...Poppies.

I did what I usually do and that is, I Googeled them.

Of course, that means that millions of images of Poppies, well... popped up!

Great! 

They would be my muse for a treat...for my Friend.

While working on the project, I eventually realized, the significance for Commonwealth Countries...

and really for the World...the symbol for wearing a Poppy on a lapel.

Remembrance Day, November 11, recalls the end of hostilities of World War 1 and remembers the members of their armed forces, who died in the line of duty.

So, even though I showed the process for transferring a drawing to fabric in a previous blog posting, 

for the sake of this project, I will zip back through it again.

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Draw, paint or even simply find an image that you love.

IN AN INKJET PRINTER, according to her excellent instructions, run a sheet of Leslie Riley's TAP or Transfer Artists Paper, through the printer and on it, make a copy of your image. 

I bought my package of TAP, on Amazon. 

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Cut out your image.

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With a hot iron, press your image onto your selected fabric.

I love vintage textiles, so I used a clean vintage hankie.

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Peel off the backing!

Its magic EVERY time I do it :)

Thanks, Leslie!

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I'm lost without my Paper Stash.

I found a piece of my hand painted watercolor paper that complimented the Poppy.

I think this is the last fragment in this my favorite color way...

I've used it Only for my most Special art pieces :)

Guess I will HAVE to make some more!

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I always have piles of fibers and beads in different colors.

I gathered some yarns and ribbons and strings and stitched them together with gold thread that had beads stung through.

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I used painters tape, that will come off easily, to keep the piece in place while I stitch.

I don't know what I would do without tape, in my studio :)

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I've seen pictures of my friends' Lively Wallpaper in her living room...

I'm guessing she would call it her lounge...don't you love the similarities and differences in languages?

Based on her wallpaper and her love for color, I didn't think that I would scare her with piles and piles of colorful complimentary papers, more images transferred to fabric, and heavy textured upholstery tapestries.

I guess I have always operated under the "More is Best" philosophy, 

and that was certainly true with this piece.

I love to layer a piece so that it can be peeled back for new discoveries, over and over again.

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I was feeling pretty good about the composition, and decided that it was time to go to my faithful and original circa 1975 sewing machine, to stitch it all together.

Yes, the bottom thread is Always wonky, despite my repeated efforts to repair/balance...

its just a part of the fingerprint of what I do.

The old machine basically goes forward and backwards...and it has "Cams" that I Never touched. 

Of course, new sewing machines and NASA's rockets are Interchangeable...but not mine!

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So, I stitched through all of  the layers, on to a piece of sturdy watercolor paper.

I glue saw tooth hangers onto almost all of my art pieces.

I've found, that it you put a generous amount of glue, I use Weldbond, and push down on the hanger, 

so that some glue ooozes up through the little holes, it acts like a little nail and holds it on.

It even works on light weight wood pieces.

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So, below, is what the finished piece looked like before I sent it merrily on its way, 

to Surprise my friend...just like she had done for me.

There is this Mystery...Mystique...that can happen on the internet.

I know that you Know about it, or have heard people talk about it.

What started out for me, as a way to share what goes on at Hastypearl, 

and to connect with like minded artists, 

has WAY surpassed my original intent.

Every now and then, there will come a Connection.

One that I know will be for something that I Never anticipated.

A Bond is created.

And a Friendship is made!

I guess, its just a Contemporary version of Pen Pals,

 and I think everyone always imagined how much fun that would be!

So, I'm Thankful, that its happened to me a number of times now and I love it!

The World is made smaller, by these Friendships. 

These last two images may look familiar to you if you follow my blog.

You will know, that Marilyn Stephens, my new online Sister, made this for me months ago.

It is now framed and featured in our dining room, where I can pass by and think about her and 

All of my Special Friends, that mean so much to me.

Friends are one of Life's Special Gifts and I don't think we can have Too Many!

I know that you are Thankful for all of YOURS :)

I enjoyed sharing this easy technique for my Mixed Media Fiber Art piece.

I hope that you will try parts or all of it and I would love to see what YOU create!

You can always leave a comment below about one of your similar experiences, or email me pictures by using the email button on the right!

...and Thanks as always, for checking in with Hastypearl!

xoxo Laura   

p.s....I just saw something that I think this is appropriate for my Theme of Friendship. 

You might have noticed some of my handwriting on the paper on my studio table.

One day I wrote down the lyrics to a song that you might recognize...

Remember, to let her into your heart...then you can start...to make it Better!!!

Here's to Friendship :)

Art Framing...The Big Reveal! Hastypearl

Art Framing....The Big Reveal

Hastypearl

Those of you that follow my blog, will remember in recent postings, that I had mentioned two pieces of art.

One was a gift, from Marilyn Stephens...a beautiful eco-dyed and stitched fiber piece, 

and the other one was an oil called, "Eight", that I bought from artist, Lisa Graham. 

Well, it took me a while to get them done, but they are now Beautifully Framed, 

and back home where they belong.

I hope that you have an Art framer that you trust and use for your pieces.

I know that I do! Her name is Patsy Wright, and her San Antonio business is called, Frame It Wright.

Every time that I have had her frame something for us, has been enjoyable.

Your framer should make you feel as comfortable, as Patsy does me.

When I head a direction that needs some steering back on the path, she does that, 

but she ALSO, lets me have a voice, and encourages me to express myself with the framing.

So, Finally...Here is the Big Reveal of Both pieces of Framed Art.

Ill do it striptease style, where I just reveal a little bit at a time;)

That will be to tease Marilyn and Lisa a bit...:)

You'll eventually see both finished pieces...They Look Amazing!!!!

Look how delicate this frame is.

Its perfect for the light...weightless, Fiber Art piece, that Marilyn created.

Here's the top half.

The bottom half.

It may be too hard to see, but I had Patsy elevate the piece, so that it would cast a shadow...

and add some more depth.

She didn't have to, but she hand tacked it behind, so it wouldn't damage the work.

Now, it is protected and will last many, many years.

Ta Dah!!! Isnt it beautiful ?

Of course, I had to photograph from an angle, because of the glare from the glass.

I originally, wanted to float the piece between glass, but Patsy reminded me, that my buttery wall color (which isn't photographing true here, at all), would show through the glass and might not be a great compliment, so we went with a beautiful taupe mat. 

It's Beautiful Marilyn!

Thank you again, for your generosity.

I'm so happy you are my new friend. :)

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Now, on to Lisa Grahams piece!

Again, I originally thought that I would do something different than I did, 

but I'm so glad that I changed my mind.

What I decided to do was...

Go Crazy Big with the framing!

I wanted to simulate something that you would see on a Great Work of Art at an important museum...

so, I asked for a black liner, AND added a smaller crisscrossed frame, inside of the larger MAIN frame.

That is the beauty of a great custom Framer. Patsy said...we can do that!

Look at all of the Texture there is going on!!!

Not to worry...

the "Eight" ladies featured in Lisa's piece, can Definitely stand up to this much Pattern!

Here's a peek....

Aren't they already adorable!

Wait until you see the Whole Thing!

(p.s. Lisa...Patsy said as she was framing, that she kept looking at the ladies faces and she said she thought...

this girl is Really good! 

She sees a lot of art...so that's pretty special :)

Here they are with just the black liner and small frame ...

drum rolls please!!!!!

Another... Ta Dah!!!!!

Mona Lisa....step aside!!

I think they look amazing in this big fancy frame :)

And thank you too, Lisa, for painting this great work.

I know that you were very proud of it and now I am proud to Own it.

I will take care of it for you...I promise!

It still not in its final place, but its holding up pretty great in superior company...that being Cathy Cullis' piece underneath called, May Queen, and a signed piece, by Graciela Rodo Boulanger, that Ive had since 1974!

Its turning into my, "Girl Wall"! 

So, there!

Yes, that was a little theatrical drawn out, but I wanted the artist...creators...friends, to get some special attention for their Beautiful Creations.

I hope that you enjoyed it, and maybe it will spur you on, to go get those things framed that you've been meaning to...

And from me to you dear reader, as always, thanks for joining me here.

I love that you do...

If you would like sign up to receive an email, letting you know when I have posted, I would love for you to.

There is a space above, on the right side column called, Follow by Email!

xoxo to all...Laura   

Want to Meet My New Friend? Meet Marilyn Stephens! Interlaced - Textile Arts Hastypearl

Want to Meet My New Friend?

Meet Marilyn Stephens!

Interlaced - Textile Arts

Hastypearl

I recently wrote on this blog, about how surprised I have been, about the personal connections that can be made on Social Medias.

Now, maybe those of you that have long been using them, will recognize that as a Novice Mistake.

I acknowledge...that I am THAT Novice...and I did make THAT Mistake :)

Long before I started writing this blog, or joined FB, I was a blog Reader.

Little by little, I found blogs that appealed to me...and not surprisingly, most have been written by people that express themselves is some form, artistically.

Initially, my decision to join Facebook, was for my business, Hastypearl.

I had NO IDEA, that its Greater Good, would be about meeting people from all over the world, who I would  eventually consider to be... my Friends!

Now, there are those, that think these things are random, but for me, I think there is an amazing amount of Providence involved. 

Especially when those very Meaningful Connections, begin to change your life.

One of those Special Connections for me has been...Marilyn Stephens!

Marilyn lives in Cornwall, England.

She is an Extraordinary artist...for sure.

But I think what I've learned Marilyn's REAL Gifting is, is what I call...

"Coming Up Under People".

She is People Supporter.

A People Builder.

One of the ways that I've seen her do that, is her persistent Promotion of artists/people on FB.

And when you Support people, there is usually a positive response.

You want Solid evidence of that?

That's easy.

Without being a Famous Celebrity or Rock Star ;), she gained 500 FB friends, on the DAY that she opened her Business/Artists page called, Interlaced-Textile Arts. 

And in a very short time, she as added another 200.

My guess is, Marilyn is or has made Many of those 700, feel like her Special Friend, just as she has me!    

Recently, out of the blue, she asked for my address.

She didn't elaborate.

I sent my address.

What I eventually found in my mailbox...Took my breath!

The images you are seeing, are of the gift that she sent.

Today, as I sat enlarging and brightening these pictures to post, I kept seeing the  

THOUSANDS of TINY, TINY stitches.

Some of them are mere specks.

On and On they appear!

Without knowing all of my personal Joys...she featured the word...Sing.

Yes, its a simple word, that could apply to many...but I don't care about that...It Applies To Me!

Those that know me, know that I have loved Singing, since I was a very young girl.

Marilyn, you hit the mark with that Choice!

Then, yes, shes seen pictures of my home, but whether she registered, that this gift, would literally be the exact color scheme of my decor...I'm not sure.

But THEY ARE!

And Yes, the Leaves, the Leaves, the Leaves.

They Represent me.

I hope all of the rest of my days, will be filled with Nature and Gardening!

These, handmade cards, were included, and sent with special sentiments, that meant so much!

I guess, what I am trying to convey, and this will probably embarrass her, but, I don't think, that there are Many people that would GIVE, this Caliber of Gift!

Sell...Yes!...but I am Blown Away by this Excessive Generosity and its Impact on Me is Great!!!

  

I will frame this, and display it and I cant wait for my guests, to see it.

(Marilyn and I recently teased about swapping houses! Oh, I would Love to do that!)

Its likely, that my friends, wont ever physically Meet Marilyn, but I think they will quickly learn a lot about her, just by studying this piece.

I hope You have, too!

Im so grateful for Unexpected New Friends...and for Marilyn The Generous...for Sure.

Thank you so much for this Gift from the Heart, Marilyn! 

Please visit her blog and see her ongoing work. She is a Very prolific artist.

Before I go, I want to mention, that this is my 99th Hastypearl posting! 

HOW can that Be?

Im hoping to do something Special for number 100.

Im thinking maybe a give away!

Ive never done that and I know it would be fun :)

Im not sure what it will be, but I hope you will check back in and see!

If you would like to receive an email, letting you know when I post, just sign up for that on the right side of the page! 

xoxo as always, Laura