Wonderfil Spagetti Thread

This is the first time I worked with "Spaghetti" threads from Wonderfil. They are #12, which means they are very thick BUT I didn't have any trouble to sewing with them. I used  number 100/16 size needles and went a little bit slower with a regular home sewing machine.
I used to work with double #40 threads in the same needle but the end result is not as beautiful as this thread. I will continue experimenting with it especially with my mixed media quilts which are made from paper and fabric.
I'm just a happy customer :)

Devoré Silk Velvet Scarf

To make this scarf, I followed the instructions from the latest article in Threads magazine which show how to do devoré and put color in it simultaneously. I have done devoré before but I've never tried it this way where you can color the underneath layer in the same process.
I borrowed the magazine from a nice lady so unfortunately I cannot remember the name of the author since I do not have a copy on hand.
Today I checked my materials and realized that I had them all and decided to give it a try.
I used yellow color mixed with the "etching paste" and a thermofax screen to do the circles. Overall, I am happy with the results.

"SPRING", a Paper and Fabric Quilt

 
 And this is the finished quilt! "Spring"
12" x 12"

For the hand-calligraphy I chose the word bird in five different languages. I used newsprint, magazine clippings and hand-painted cloth. I did beading and hand embroidery.

You can see the back. I discovered a way to finish the quilt "clean" where I hide all the knots from the thick threads and the beading!
I will offer this technique in a future workshop.

Newsprint Christmas Ornaments

I know it is only the end of September but I am already thinking about Christmas and I love to give handmade gifts. I am participating in a Bazaar this year, which will take place in only 2 1/2 weeks so I started working on preparing the gifts to finish on time.
I decided to use the same method I explained in the latest Quilting Arts Gifts magazine (page 73) to do these chalkboard ornaments.
Let me show you how I did it:
Iron on fusible webbing on the wrong side of the "treated newsprint" (I used steam-a-seam lite). Draw your design. In this case, I used a star and drew a circle in the middle with the paper still on. Cut around each shape. With the help of a craft knife, cut the middle.

Cut a circle from your chalkboard fabric, use the circle you cutted out for a guide as shown in the next picture. I painted the chalkboard fabric and will explain how to do it in a future post but I learned the other day that you can buy this kind of fabric ready.
Put the chalkboard fabric behind the circle and choose a fabric for the backing. Iron from the back. Try to choose a hand-dyed fabric or a batik, this way you will not have white edges around your design.
Cut around, make a hole on the top, pass a string through it and decorate with a ribbon to cover the knot.
Now comes the fun part: write your message. Did you know that you can sharpen the chalk sticks with a manual sharpener?
If you make a mistake, wipe it with a wet cloth or a baby wipe. If you are happy with your message and don't want it to rub off, cover it with acrylic medium (I used matte medium).


Have fun doing crafts from recyclable materials!
 I'd love to spark your creativity at one of my *Workshops: Painting and learning how to work with paper and fabric* You can read for my coming workshops HERE