Using reclaimed materials! Link.
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March 2009
I found these Bakerella easter cake pops (and yes there is recipe and how-to) via jek-in-the box at twitter – how utterly cute and lovely and yummy. [Oh you can follow me now at twitter too twitter.com/whipup]
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This cutie is free through April 12 (aka Easter), and is available in two sizes in stitch-filled an applique machine embroidery designs, plus hand embroidery and stock art. Download from Urban threads.
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Julie discusses designing using recycled textiles
About the designer: Julie is a freelance designer and writer. She has a two year old daughter and works out of her home studio. Julie has a passion for finding new uses for old, loved things, and will sew anything: sweaters, shirts, jeans, pants. Nothing is safe if it fits under her presser foot! blog and etsy site: her Christina denim bag is a a finalist in Crafty Nation’s Craft Off – vote.
When I first started making bags out of recycled textiles, I never thought they would all look so different. After almost two years of trying to come up with a “signature” pattern, I have come to realize that they have a mind of their own. Every shirt, sweater and pair of pants is different, and if you listen closely, they will speak to you.
Sometimes it’s a pleat or some snazzy buttons that want attention. Other times it’s a detail like a flower or an embroidered pocket that insists on being the center of attention. When working with sweaters, it’s usually the ribbing or cables that dictate how the bag should be designed.
Often times it’s easy to hear what the original piece is telling you. When I found this shirt, I was actually looking for plain gray sweaters. It shouted to me from across the room. “Look at me! Check out my pretty flower and funky beaded tassels!” I couldn’t ignore it, so it came home with me.
So, how does this translate into a pattern? I wanted to keep the tassels at the bottom, so I decided not to box the corners. I also wanted the bag to be as large as possible. Luckily the flower was just tacked on with thread and I could move it down. Using simple, solid fabric for the straps and lining allows the flower and tassels to really shine.
Working with recycled textiles helps you develop your creativity. Designing within constraints pushes you to think harder about a solution rather than beginning with a blank canvas.
I encourage you to look at your old shirts, sweaters and pants (or shop for some at your local thrift store) and listen to what they are telling you. Then go create something that’s one of a kind!
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Becka was one of 50 participants who received a packet of IKEA fabrics to transform in to an art quilt.
About the author: Becka Rahn teaches and creates a little bit of everything fiber art related, from sewing and dyeing clothing and creatures to beading and embroidering whimsical accessories and tiny art quilts. She has made hundreds of puppets to sell at local art shows and has designed costumes and puppets for several community theaters. Becka lives with her husband and a big blonde dog in Minneapolis. You can find her online here or her etsy shop.
In August 2008, IKEA Twin Cities challenged local contemporary quilters to design art quilts using IKEA fabrics. IKEA partnered with
Textile Center, a non-profit art center located in Minneapolis, giving IKEA a way to connect to the local fiber art community.
I was one of 50 participants who received a packet of IKEA fabrics to transform in to an art quilt. Using these fabrics was a real creative challenge, and I started my design many times before I really came up with an idea that would work. For my quilt, I chose to use just one of the four pieces of fabric and lots of decorative quilting. The IKEA aesthetic has such large-scale bold patterns that they are not what you would think of as quilting fabrics. My yardage was more like a canvas weight fabric, so it was tricky to do anything really tiny or intricate. I learned to quilt by watching Saturday morning quilting shows on public TV and reading lots of books, which take a much more traditional slant on what makes a quilt. I like that my piece really ended up looking a bit like a traditional quilt in a design sense, but was created in a more unconventional way.
The packets of fabrics were given out on a first come, first served basis and interested quilters started lining up outside the Textile
Center as early as 5 am to get their fabrics. Participants had a deadline of January 31 to complete their works of art and on Saturday March 21, the quilts will be on display at IKEA Twin Cities for the world to see. A panel of local judges will award prizes, including a $1000 IKEA Studio makeover to the Best of Show, $500 and $100 IKEA gift cards to first place and Juror’s Choice awards. Proceeds from the sale of the art quilts will be donated to the Textile Center’s summer youth education programs, which teach sewing, knitting, dyeing, felting and many more fiber art techniques to kids and teens.
Working with these unusual fabrics really brought our local art quilting community together. I know one trio of artists who got
together to work on their quilts and brainstorm together. Many swapped and traded different fabrics from their packets. Several were so inspired by the IKEA idea that they created their very first art quilt just for the challenge. The Textile Center got calls looking for advice on “How much quilting does it really need to have? My sewing machine can’t stitch through this many layers!” About 25 of us are planning to meet up at IKEA for the celebration and unveiling.
Pieces by Nancy Mambi and Karen Wallach are included with permission from the artists.
Links if you would like to learn more: Project patchwork challenge : gallery of images.
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Female reproductive system by textile artist Christa Rowley- seen on craftster - find more on etsy.
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star wars mice from the house of mouse etsy shop – too too fantastic – shown here are: R2-D2 Mouse, Yoda Mouse, Chewbacca Mouse [thanks fanboy + drawn]
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