Friday 6 May 2016

Sew Special at A Vintage Journey

Wow, it's the first Friday in May and we are gathering at A Vintage Journey for Jenny's 'Sew Special' challenge. I so enjoyed designing and making for this theme, it's one that's been off my radar for a very long time yet used to be one of my favourites and as I had a canvas with tissue wrap on it ready to be used, I went for it. Gathering all my sewing elements and stamps together I began to get ideas in my head and had to start making choices and decide what would go together.


Background
This started it's life whilst teaching my 'Collection of 3' workshop recently and is made from a piece of canvas from a canvas pad. I began by dipping it into broken china and dried marigold distress inks and spritzing it with water to move the paints around and then heat dried it.


 Later I used a stencil and white crackle paste to create a textured design and when it was dry I sprayed on some broken china and tea dye distress stains, spritzed a little with water, let them drip and merge a bit and dried it, then used the stencil and ground espresso distress crayon to create some darker patches of the pattern.


Dress Form
Although the Hot Picks sewing/haberdashery stamps have been out a long time they remain my most favourite images for this theme. I used HP1215EZ for the dress form and cut it out after stamping on card. I took Wendy Vecchi's cornflower blue EP and covered the whole shape, the a layer of thick, clear EP before using Wendy's tea Rose EP but localising it to the body form only. Next I stamped over it with ground espresso DI and covered it with walnut stain distress powder and heated it so that the powder created a mottled outline, then I edged with coffee archival ink, heated it, covered with versamark and the clear EP again before stamping into it with the coffee archival ink. It created somewhat smudged look but it's grungy and distressed which was what I was aiming for.

    

Sewing Machine
This was a chipboard piece I found in my 'sewing' box, I covered it with versamark and walnut stain distress EP and when cool I blended hickory smoke Di all over, then sanded the edges and blended them with ground espresso. Next I used the clear, thick EP, flicking a lot of it off before heat drying and then blended over black soot when it was cool. To finish off I stamped a design in versamark and used gold EP and did the edges the same.


Thread winder and coat hanger
More chipboard pieces covered in picket fence DI, stamped text with black soot then covered with fine, clear EP. Edges sanded and blended with ground espresso before winding thread onto the card.


Ruler border
For this embellishment I used a piece of off white card (Marianne Designs stamping card) and followed Sheena's faux leather technique but mixed it up to make it fit my project. Once I got to the stage where the softened and flexible card had been put through Tim's embossing folder I then carried on in my way.


When it was fully dry I dipped and spritzed (with water) using dried marigold DI, dried it, repeated with just a little vintage photo and again when dry I rubbed over both broken china and ground espresso ink pads to get my aged look.


Spools
These were simply scratched with a prima distressing tool, blended with vintage photo and ground espresso DIs and thread, hessian and lace added to them.


I put the smallest, which was cut in half to provide a flat back, on the canvas frame, you can also see the finished thread card with needle embellishment given a rusted look.


The Butterfly
This was also a demo/teaching left over  and made using Tim's layered butterfly die and embossing folder, distress embossing powder, distress inks and gloss varnish. You will see on the finished canvas that I added lots more ground espresso DI round the edges.


Here's the body when it was finished with a small dress form shaped stamped with cotton reel tops and a rusty scissors embellishment added.


The canvas
This was given a layer of music score tissue wrap before being dipped in watery dried marigold and picket fence distress paints and edged with vintage photo and ground espresso.


So there we are - my contribution towards the 'sew special' challenge. I hope you will be able to join us where there is a prize this month from Calico Craft parts. Have fun.



With much warmer this week here in the UK we have been attacking the back garden and getting it sorted out for the summer - new turf has been laid, fence painted and shrubs and tubs to be finished. We're getting there.

Enjoy your weekend with whatever you have planned.

hugs Brenda xxx


33 comments:

Julia Aston said...

What a beautiful reverse frame project Brenda! Your background and ruler framing are so pretty using your various techniques - love the colors. And what a great job you did coloring your dress form - the spools are just adorable lined up along the right side - a wonderful project for this month's theme! Julia xx

Jane said...

Good morning dear Brenda...well this turned out brilliantly didn't it.The background was perfect for all your lovely embellies. You have created a little vintage Haberdashery here..it's just gorgeous. The sunshine is so welcome isn't it. I hope those turfs are doing OK, enjoy your gardening.I'm off to Guildford to meet the girlies for lunch today then it's BBQ time in S'Ton on Sunday. Have a lovely weekend, hope to see you soon,huge hugs xx

Almo said...

Brenda this is fabulous. Thank you so much for the tutorial, It has been fascinating reading how you did all the layers of EP onto the dress form and sewing machine, I bet it looks even more stunning in the flesh. I (stupidly) thought the ruler was taken from Tims dapper paper or something similar but I should have known you would treat us to a brilliant technique of how to create our own vintage ruler. A brilliant post and a lovely project. Sounds like you are enjoying being busy in the garden whilst the sun is shining, long may it last. Mo x

Annie said...

Love your framed project Brenda x stunning colours with fabulous details

Have a great weekend

Hugs Annie x x

Redanne said...

Brenda, your reverse canvas is exquisite, I love every single little detail although my favourite part is the tape measure - I just loved reading how you did that. A truly stunning project... Hugs, Anne xx

Rita said...

Love your canvas Brenda. The attention to detail is fabulous. Hugs Rita xxx

Nichola said...

All of your elements are lovely. The colours are divine :)

Astrid Maclean said...

Such a fabulous canvas Brenda, love what you did with the PA stamp! The background like always is wonderful, so many lovely other little details and I just love the addition of the dress form to the butterfly, - so very clever!

Gina said...

Love everything about this piece, but have to admit the manikin butterfly is my fav bit :D XXX

A Pink said...

Fabulous! Brenda. Stunning background - love it and such a creative use of the dress form on the butterfly. All your 'sewing' elements are wonderful and positioning of them all ideal . Love the spools - the tall one really catches my eye .
have a lovely weekend and enjoy the sun
hugs x

Jennie Atkinson said...

Well Brenda ....... WOW !! Ive just been sitting here taking it all in from your very first photograph. So many absolutely fabulous techniques and ideas (the mini dress form on the butterfly is just so creatively brilliant!) and the fabulous mix of rich colours. Just amazing ....... have a great weekend xxx

rachel said...

Omg brenda ... this is absolutely stunning! Perfection!

Meggymay said...

A stunning canvas Brenda, fabulous details and the butterfly looks awesome.
Yvonne xx

Candy C said...

Brenda, this frame is just fabulous! I totally adore the blue and brown together. You always amaze me at how you can get such great texture on your elements. They are never globby but perfectly done. You have a great eye for detail and your pieces always have such great balance and interest. Your knack for capturing a vintage yet shabby flair is uncanny!

Paper Profusion said...

So very beautiful! Perfect design, composition and elements. I really love it. Have a lovely weekend. Nicola x

trisha too said...

Well I can see why you favor those stamps, they're wonderful, and you've created such a beautifully colored and detailed piece with them. Very thoughtful with all the elements, Brenda, a really lovely piece of art!

Thank you for stopping by--I'm sorry to admit that the wild blackberries are beating me down somewhat . . .

:)

Pamellia said...

Wow Brenda, there is always so much to take in with your projects! Every inch is full of wonderful elements, amazing colour blending and perfectly placed elements! Love the dress form and your layered stencilling. Gorgeous!

Words and Pictures said...

Glorious colours and distressed textures - loving the creative roll you're on at the moment - another triumph!
Alison x

Corrie Herriman said...

Love this colour combination ! Fabulous, Brenda !
Corrie x

Crafty Humphreys said...

Love this Brenda. So much detail and all works beautifully together. Suz (Surrey Crafts) x

Inkypinkycraft said...

A gorgeous project brenda x love the colours , te Xtures and all the detAILS X

Laura said...

Lovely canvas Brenda. Inspiring.

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Too gorgeous for words Brenda! I complete love everything about it.
Happy crafting, Angela x

froebelsternchen said...

This is such a wonderful project - with so much love in every single detail - a wowser - adorable!

SewPaperPaint said...

What a pure delight, Brenda! The layers are each beautiful on their own and combined to create quite the dramatic, beautiful composition! Fabulous!

Juliz Design Post said...

Stunning reverse canvas Brenda with many great details, but my favourite has to be your rusty scissors.
Hugs, Julie x

Sue said...

Brenda this is really beautiful, I love how you've coloured and distressed this xx

pearshapedcrafting said...

Wow! Just getting around to catching up! I love this Brenda! There are so many gorgeous details but I must say that ruler border really made me sit up………so that's how you do it!!!! I have scrolled through a couple of times as there is so much to take in! Great inspiration! Hugs, Chris

Jenny Marples said...

Oh I just get lost the details of this fabulous piece Brenda! The tape measure frame border, the stencilled background, the lovely dressform and those spools are perfection xx

S@ndy Diller said...

WOW Brenda - this is sew beautiful. Love all the altered items here especially how you wrapped the spools with the different materials. Your colors are beautiful and the butterfly is the perfect topper.
Love it. S@ndy xx

Martina said...

Dear Brenda, this is so gorgeous! I love the colors and the butterfly!
Thank you for visiting and leaving a kind comment on my blog! I enjoyed looking at your beautiful creations here again!

Annie said...

Such a stunning creation for this great challenge theme Brenda x wonderful details but the addition of the dress form on the butterfly is a favourite
Tfs and hugs
Annie x

Suzanne C said...

Gorgeous! I love the colors! The fabulous layer of colors and stenciling is divine. Beautiful details with the spools and dress form!