Spring in Fabric Art!

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Hello Friends!

Before I get started on this post today I just want to thank all of you that left comments on my blog post last month; the one that was written by my grand-daughter Rosetta.  If you all could have heard her excitement about the comments.  It just made her week!  Thank you so much.

So as I’ve been thinking the last couple weeks about what to share with you this month I was actually working on a super fun hand sewing project and I decided this would be a great project to share with you.

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For some time now I’ve been wanting to try my hand at some fabric art.  I’m not very good at “art” exactly.  I mean, I can pretty much sew anything. but when it comes to design work its a whole different story!  I pictured spring tree blossoms in my mind and I had my talented grand-daughter, Jillian, sketch dogwood blossoms on a tree branch and I was off and running.  After she was finished I photocopied her sketch and enlarged it a little to the size that I wanted.

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This post today isn’t exactly a tutorial, but maybe it will inspire you to try your hand at some fabric art! Gather your muslin background fabric, some fabric scraps of the color you desire and any other fun things to add to your artwork.

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It is a very simple process really.  I traced all the “parts” onto the paper side of Wonder Under fusible interfacing and then I fused those to my fabric scraps and cut them out.  I did this with all the pieces… blossoms, leaves, and tree branch.  I removed the paper backing and then began to lay them out, copying the sketch Jillian had done for me.

Then I carefully ironed all the pieces to my muslin backing.  (I actually made two of these art projects and on one of them I used a vintage doilie for my fabric backing and it was so beautiful.)

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Now the fun part begins!  Gather all your embroidery threads, hoop and needle and have fun adding embroidery stitches wherever your heart desires!  I didn’t really even put any thought to this, I just sewed where it felt right.

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The goal here is to make sure everything is adhered to the background fabric but a little bit of a rustic look is okay.   I mostly just enjoyed the hand stitching process without reaching for perfection.

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Once everything was stitched to my satisfaction I cut a round piece out of some old vintage lace to put in the middle of each blossom.  I was hoping to add some dimension to the blossom center and this was what I found in my scraps!  I love how it looks!  I simply adhered it in place with little hidden stitches.  Then using green thread I sewed a number of french knots to the middle of the lace.

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And there you have it!  A beautiful finished piece of fabric art!  I chose to frame mine and I just love how it turned out.   I put it in the mail to my good friend Kathleen for her birthday!

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This project made me feel like Spring is right around the corner and its been such a fun thing to work on during the cold days of Winter!

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Have you done fabric art before and what do you think?  I’d love to hear all about your projects and ideas because I’m excited to branch out and do more!

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Until our gravel roads cross again… so long.

Dori

  1. Marlene Capelle says:

    That is very nice. Good combo of colors and textures. I gave done fabric art but nothing I’d put on line. Still working on it.

  2. Debbie Fischer says:

    I love this Dori! I can not wait to try my hand at it.
    Thank you so much.
    Debbie

  3. Laurel Anne Pries says:

    I love your fabric art…you are soo creative!! I very much enjoy your blog and always look forward to it. I am 76 yrs old and have done many different crafts in my years, but not this fabric art, I just may have to give it a whirl! Thanks for the inspiration, Dori! Keep up the good work and see ya next month! Laurel

  4. Rhonda Cavaliere says:

    Beautiful and so creative. It is truly a work of art.

  5. I love this Dori! It’s really pretty, and looks so fun!

  6. Cyndi says:

    I love the colors you used and your work is fabulous!

    Smiles, Cyndi

  7. Cheri Sander says:

    I love this idea, thanks for the suggestion. I am wanting to make some crazy quilt pillows and think I will need to do this also.

  8. Lisa Nigro says:

    What a great project! I Thinkinc I could actually pull that off! Thank you

  9. Marsha says:

    Beautiful

  10. Fillamay Cowell says:

    I love this fabric work you did! Such a great idea that is better than a card for any occasion. You have inspired me to try one. I can’t get enough of anything connected to MaryJane Farm magazine. Thank you for all your wonderful ideas and information.

  11. Pamela says:

    I so love the sharing of your grand daughter’s art talent. Your sharing of your finished ( heart felt) embroidery , and creative uses of old lace make your project a treasure! Thank you for sharing!!! Luck friend!!

    I have used this embroidery process to cover stains and small holes, on my favourite denim skirts. Sew much fun! Great project!!

  12. I love the project and inspiration. It has been years since I have done any creative handwork. I love things vintage and could see many options with this technique!
    My focus has been on my writing. It also reflects a creative side of many of my characters in A SIMPLE STITCH, a yarn shop on Main Street in hometown USA!
    I recently retired and have time to pick up new projects and get my creative side back on track!
    Thanks for sharing! My wheels are turning!
    Kindly,
    DebO
    Hoyleton Illinois
    I live on a farm!

  13. I love this! It’s whimsical and so very happy! Thank you. I can’t wait to get started.
    Diane

  14. What a creative idea! I am working on a grandmother’s garden quilt and some side crochet projects right now. I’m still working full-time so I have to catch time here and there. I enjoy your blog. Keep up the good work!

  15. Sherry says:

    Love this! Can’t wait to try my hand at this!

  16. Joyce Garrow says:

    Great way to use up scrap fabric and vintage pieces; a creative, fun project. It turned out great. Thanks for sharing, you have inspired me to look into some of my stash and create!

  17. Brenda Cervantes says:

    Oh I love this!!! I’ve been looking for a project to do on these cold days!!! Thank you!!

  18. Beautiful! What a great idea to get others to help. Gave me an idea to get my granddaughters to each draw a design and I do the fabric art ( to the best of my ability – lol!) Thank you

  19. Jk says:

    That’s so beautiful!!

  20. Carlynne A Wright says:

    Beautiful. I believe sometimes we get, or should I say I, caught up in perfect seams, borders that we forget the joy of just creating. Even if we don’t display or give away, someday, someone will go through our treasures and smile and think of us.

  21. Marilyn says:

    This is a lovely Spring fabric . I want to get back to embroidering. I have done it since childhood. I also want to get back to my knitting. I received some pretty wool last Christmas. I just have to make the time.
    Marilyn

  22. Anita S Johnson says:

    Love this project. I can see putting this on a baby quilt or an apron. I must try this soon.

  23. Beckie Weaver says:

    Oh how fun! I do something similar only on cardstock and make little getting cards. Love making flowery crafts on these cold winter days.

  24. jonibee says:

    It’s so pretty.. I bet fabric scraps from family outgrown clothes would be special in creating a piece.. Each fabric would evoke a memory…

  25. Denise says:

    I’ve never tried that but it is very pretty! Great job!

  26. Donna Presley says:

    Very cute designs – and clear instructions! I think I might use some fabric art like this on my quilts. Thanks for sharing.

  27. Linda Pavey says:

    Love this project and another great way to use ones scrap pile!

  28. Tina Ebertowski says:

    Beautiful! I have wanted to try this and your post has renewed my interest. Thank you for sharing

  29. Dianna says:

    Ohhhh, I’ve been wanting to get serious about doing this for a while! I’ve dabbled in tiny stuff for atc’s but I’d love to do an art quilt someday!
    Dori, this is so beautiful and vibrant and happy! How inspirational!! Thanks for showing all the skills of your talented family! I’d say you ARE an ‘artist for sure!! Happy Spring!!

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