Well, we have all pretty much become accustomed to writing 2011 for the new year...I cant believe that January is nearly over. Hopefully with the longer days, we will begin to get better weather.
This year I am determined to use more upcycling, more used clothing for parts in quilts. I have become enamoured with 'papercloth' and it is my new medium to explore1
If you would like to know how....
1. take a piece of fabric and lay it flat (try something about 16 inches square, to learn with)
2.paint a layer of ModPodge over the surface...not too thick.
3.lay strips of paper over all of the modpodge. I use 1/2 or 1 inch strips torn from the phone book, old letters and junk mail..oh yeh, and grocery receipts.
4.paint another "layer" of ModPodge over the paper and repeat. I usually do about 5 layers.
5.let it dry thoroughly (usually overnight, depending on how thick your ModPodge was)
6.paint a THIN layer of ModPodge on top of the last layer of paper.
7.paint over your papercloth with whatever paint you want to use...I like Lumiere fabric paints, and I like to leave bits of letters showing through the paint.
8.you can sew with papercloth on your machine...i have made purses, journal covers, etc. Its slightly flexible...and if you get "cracks" when you fold the paper cloth, just glue a paper patch over it and paint.
9. have FUN!

Try, Try Again

Here I am, trying once again to be a blogger. For a retired journalist, you would think I would have some interest in writing. I guess not...cause I dont. I havent been doing any quilting at all...not since right before Christmas holidays. I made 12 different papercloth journals for the family....you can see my valentine's version of them on my susiartquilts.etsy.com site....Im hoping to sell them. They are really nice journals...they are almost as heavy as leather and just as sturdy.

I am having laser back surgery Jan.27...I am hoping to still be able to sit in my office chair and work on my art quilts....they say that right afterwards it will be more painful than the pain I am having right now, but then it will be so much better...I sure hope so.

Happy New Year to all, and stay tuned for photos...hpe to post a lot more this year.