Tuesday 21 May 2013

LEGS, BUTTONS AND BOWS AND SEWING

Today I'm including posts for a few challenges.  At one time I was heavily involved with textile arts for quite a number of years.  The first two images below are appliquéd and quilted wall-hangings I made just for my own pleasure rather than for sale.  When I saw the themes for the challenges I remembered these, and wanted to share them with you.

BUTTONS AND BOWS
The stylish lady in this wall-hanging is just right for the Sunday Postcard Art theme of "Buttons and Bows".  I've always been too impatient for hand quilting or appliqué (and not good enough, either), so anything I've done has always been completely made on the sewing machine.

Does anybody remember the amusing old song from the 1950s and 60s "A Sewing Machine is a Girl's Best Friend".  It started something like this:

"Oh! A sewing machine, a sewing machine is a girl's best friend,
If I didn't have my sewing machine I'd have come to no good end.
A bobbin, a bobbin, a wheel, a wheel, I while away the day,
By night I feel so weary that I never get out to play."

SEWING!
In my opinion this lass is never going to get the thread through that needle!

This lovely geisha is my offering for the Take a Word theme of "Sewing", with artificial silk fabric for the central panel.

When I made this wall-hanging, I left the puffy cream silk background as a cushiony contrast to the extensive machine embroidery on the clothes. Sadly it doesn't photograph well, and perhaps I should originally have made the decision the quilt the background as well.

The image was taken from a beautiful card, but I've lost my record of who the artist was, so I apologise for not crediting it.  

ONE WORD
The challenge from Collage Obsession this week is "ONE Word", using the word as the focal point or as an element in the artwork.  This is just a fun piece that I made a while ago.  

In Photoshop I selected the legs from a photograph I had taken of a young friend, repeated it to form a design and then printed it out onto the cream cotton fabric ready for quilting with random free-machine quilting on the sewing machine.  For the challenge I've added a red border and the word "Legs" in Photoshop. 

I'll also be linking this to Artist's Play Room , Paint Party Friday and Inspiration Avenue .


27 comments:

  1. Visiting from the APR - What a lot of clever stitchwork. Quilting is such a wonderful craft. One I've not got the patience nor skill for, but love what all others accomplish :0)

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  2. Jez I loved to read your lovely memories from your childhood, thanks, your small quilts are so beautifully made.
    Anni

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  3. Each sewing piece is brilliant!! I love the colors, the designs...all of them!!

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  4. you always amaze me! You have so many different approaches and yet your work always seems like you. Love your "legs," that is really cool!

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  5. Oh Jez these are so beautiful. Each one so different.
    I'm in awe because it takes all my time to sew a button on...and I have a sewing machine that has been waiting for years for a broken needle replacement!!!
    I think the geisha looks perfect with the silk.
    I'm off today to try and create something to enter APR...fingers crossed.
    Have a great week whatever you have planned ;)

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  6. I'm so glad you've shared these, they are spectacular!!

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  7. I agree with Electra. Jez, you are one creative lady! xo

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  8. Your quilts are so beautiful Jez, so much love and patience. I have never quilted anything larger than a cushion cover so really am in awe of your workmanship. Thank you for sharing your work with the world! :)

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  9. I love quilts I just wish I love to sew...this is fabulous and funny!

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  10. Jez you're a talented lady in many ways. Bravo!

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  11. Wow! You are such a creative artist! They are beautiful! The stylish lady on the first quilt is my favourite!

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  12. You are very creative in many ways. Love your work. Legs is a fun piece. Gre3at.

    Earl

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  13. Fantastic textile art! Valerie

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  14. sewing freaks me out and sends me to hiding in a dark corner ... I always manage to draw blood... always... so this is even more amazing to see than if I was a sewer... mad skills dear Jez...xx

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  15. Love love the first one, oooh you are so clever. Happy PPF.

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  16. wonderful collages. Happy PPF, Annette x

    http://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/

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  17. You make art with needle and thread ... saludos

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  18. Great pieces, I love the legs....Happy PPF

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  19. Lovely art especially the legs, so original.

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  20. Great needlework. Thanks for sharing!!

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  21. These are marvelous, Jez! You may consider linking the glamorous lady to Inspiration Avenue's Retro Art Challenge at http://inspiration-avenue-team.blogspot.com/2013/05/retro-art-challenge.html. Blessings!

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  22. Jez you never cease to amaze me!! Wonderful quilt work.. all so unique and special!!

    Hugs Giggles

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  23. You are so talented and creative with fabric (as well as with a paintbrush). I'm blown away by these pieces! The Geisha trying to thread the needle is amazing!

    I'm happy you've found us at Inspiration Avenue, and hope you'll stop back each week to play!

    Maggie

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  24. you are one amazing and remarkable woman, Jez, and the breadth of your work humbling. I love these pieces and your generous sharing of their stories and your own thoughts.

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  25. Wow Jez, you are full of surprises!! these textile pieces are amazing, you have such a talent!! (don't remember the song though, lol)

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  26. Really like the work you are doing here! Especially the legs are very well made. I will start my own crafts project once my button sewing machine and the elastic thread I ordered arrives. Wish me luck :)

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