FREE MOTION QUILTING AND MIXED MEDIA TIPS FROM THE PROFESSIONALS

HAVE YOU EVER WANTED TO MAKE SOMETHING SUPER SPECTACULAR SUCH AS A GLORIOUS FABRIC JOURNAL? OR A MIXED MEDIA FABRIC PICTURE TO HANG ON A WALL?

ME TOO! I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW HOW TO MAKE SUCH PRETTIES!

RECENTLY, I JOINED 'CREATIVE WORKSHOPS' ON GAIL SCHMIDT'S SITE:
CREATIVE WORKSHOP LINK  to learn how to create Suzy Quaife's Peaceful Pondering Fabric Lace Book, a class Suzy has created for a basic (and swoon worthy!) fabric and lace journal. Suzy does not show how she does free motion techniques on this particular workshop as she only uses chip board between the pages and uses sewing or glue to adhere the fabric and laces onto her workshop journal. She shows how to make a fabric book with chipboard inserts which she glues or sews the fabric onto the cardboard. So if you are looking to make a journal with padding/batting, this is not included in the course. The course does give you the basics on how to make a fabric journal, with fabric and lace embellished cardboard but lacks the instructions on how to make a totally padded/batted fabric and lace journal, (which in Australia they call batting something different). In fact she hardly shows any scenes at all in her videos where she is actually sewing on her machine!

So, with that in mind, I needed more instruction as to how to do free-motion sewing where you drop the feeds on your sewing machine, and using batting, in between two layers of fabric, you would be on your way to learning how to make a journal with real batting instead of just a chipboard cover and 'pages'.  Suzy did not go into her superior batting and fabric technique in her workshop, which I was hoping that would be part of her class instruction.  Oh well.  I am still learning lots of things in her workshop.

So, I went on line, looking for other blogs which gave examples of free-motion sewing and came upon a blog titled: FREE MOTION QUILTING ADVENTURES which has the basic instruction/techniques to begin the beginner on the road to free motion quilting and mixed media fabric art and fabric journals.

AND HERE IS ANOTHER YOU TUBE LINK TO AMY'S FREE MOTION SEWING PLAYLIST VIDEOS:

AMY'S PLAYLIST FREE MOTION VIDEOS LINK

I have a few books in my craft's library which are also quite informative to learn the techniques of free motion quilting and mixed media fabric art.  My favorite one is 'Layered, Tattered & Stitched' by Ruth Rae.  Ruth's creations are so glorious!  I can only hope to some day accomplish what she has created.  Her swoon-worthy creations are exquisite!

I also have 'Sew Wild' by Alisa Burke where she shows how to create with stitch using mixed media projects.  There is a video included with her book which shows her sewing techniques, (but again, she does not instruct the student on how to do free motion!. She shows her painting and spritzing techniques, and block stamping on fabric, stenciling on fabric, and a myriad of other mixed media craft ideas you can create yourself! I highly recommend her book.

Stampington Publishing also has 'Art Quilting Studio' magazine which I have the Premier 2009 issue which has some of Ruth Rae's projects included in the issue.  I highly recommend purchasing it on Etsy or Ebay if you can find this out-of-print issue.It would be well worth your time to subscribe to 'Art Quilting Studio' if you are serious about creating free motion mixed media pieces.

Anyway, that is what is on my agenda to begin creating a journal from vintage fabric and laces.  I swoon every time I go to Suzi's Threadworks blog which you can find her link on the right had side bar of my blog.
Suzy is probably the most talented when it comes to creating her one-of-a-kind fabric and lace books, and also her one-of-a-kind mixed media fabric and lace wall embellishment hangings.

I hope you find yourself doing something like this during the autumn and winter months if you live in the Northern Hemisphere, or just want to have something very lovely to make for gifts.

You can always begin on a small scale and make a wall hanging fabric and lace mixed media piece to get the feel of the technique.

There are other gals who have made free motion journals including Nellie Wortman, which I also have one of her videos. 

Thank you for your continued visits to my blog.

love and light to you!
posted by Teresa in California

OUR VICTORIAN MASTERPIECE OF A HOME, CREATED BY A GENTLEMAN WITH A DREAM...

OUR BELOVED LAURELWOOD.  A DREAM HOUSE WHICH WAS 23 YEARS IN THE MAKING BY A LOCAL GENTLEMAN.  HE HAS PASSED ON, AND WE ARE THE THIRD OWNER OF THIS MANSION.

I WILL BEGIN WITH THE ORNAMENTAL SCULPTURES IN THE GARDEN.  THIS IS A CHERUB AND SWAN FROM AN ITALIAN SCULPTOR.

THIS IS ONE OF THE HUGE ANCIENT OAK TREES IN THE BACKYARD, ALONG WITH A SIDE VIEW OF THE BRICK GARAGE AND GAZEBO IN THE FAR BACK RIGHT.  IT'S NOT REALLY A GAZEBO BUT IT ACTUALLY A CUPOLA FROM THE TOP OF A VINTAGE SCHOOL BUILDING.

THIS IS AN ORNAMENTAL GRECIAN STYLE PLANTER IN THE BACKYARD

ONE MUST HAVE OF NECESSITY AN OUTHOUSE FOR THE GARDENER. THIS ONE HAS A FULLY FUNCTIONAL TOILET WITH A PULL CHAIN UPPER TANK.  NOTICE THE CRESCENT MOON UPON THE DOOR.

THERE ARE CHARMING FRENCH FRESCOES EMBED IN THE BRICK WALLS ALONG THE WALKWAYS OF THE BACKYARD.

THIS IS ONE OF THE HANGERS WHICH HOLDS THE OUTDOOR PORCH SWING. IT APPEARS TO BE A GRIFFIN.

A CLOSER VIEW OF THE GAZEBO. PLEASE CLICK ON THE PHOTOS FOR A CLOSER VIEW.

HERE IS A FULL  VIEW OF THE CHERUB AND SWAN SCULPTURE BY AN ITALIAN SCULPTOR.

HERE IS A NEWSPAPER CLIPPING WHICH IS FRAMED WHICH GIVES INFORMATION ABOUT THE GENTLEMAN WHO BUILT BEAUTIFUL LAURELWOOD.  PLEASE CLICK ON THE PHOTO FOR A CLOSER VIEW TO READ IT.

THE BACKYARD GARDEN HAS A COUPLE OF LIONS IN THE HEDGE AREAS.

MY HUSBAND AND I GO TO ANTIQUE AUCTIONS.  THIS IS ONE PAINTING WE FOUND WHICH THE FRAME AND PAINTING WERE QUITE BEAUTIFUL.

THIS IS A HAND-PAINTED TILE SCENE WHICH IS IN THE MASTER BEDROOM BATHROOM WHICH HANGS OVER THE JACUZZI BATHTUB.

ON EITHER SIDE OF THE HAND-PAINTED TILE SCENE FROM THE PREVIOUS PHOTO ARE TWO SWEET HAND-PAINTED CHERUBS.

THIS SPIRAL STAIRCASE, AND FIRE POLE, CAME FROM A FIREHOUSE IN ENGLAND.  YOU CAN IMAGINE THE EXPENSE IT WAS JUST TO FREIGHT THESE TWO ITEMS ACROSS THE OCEAN TO AMERICA.

I BELIEVE THIS CRYSTAL CHANDELIER ORIGINALLY WAS IN A HOTEL IN RED BLUFF, CALIFORNIA DURING THE GOLD RUSH DAYS. THIS HANGS IN THE FORMAL DINING ROOM.  NOTICE THE TIN CEILINGS.  ALL OF THE CEILINGS IN LAURELWOOD HAVE TIN EMBOSSED CEILINGS.

THIS IS A MARVELOUS ENAMELED IRON FOUNDRY CEILING LAMP HANGING, AND AGAIN, NOTICE THE TIN WORK ABOVE THE LAMP SHADE. 

THERE ARE OTHER LESS FANCY CRYSTAL CEILING LAMP SHADES.

THIS IS ONE SIDE OF A PAIR OF DOORS WHICH CAME OUT OF A LOCAL RESTAURANT IN OUR CITY CALLED 'THE VINTAGE PRESS' A FIVE STAR RESTAURANT WHICH SERVES CAVIAR AND VERY FINE FOOD.  THE RESTAURANT WAS REMODELED AT ONE POINT, AND MR. DONAL DOUGLAS WAS AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME SO HE BOUGHT THE PAIR OF DOORS TO ADD TO HIS ASTOUNDINGLY GOOD TASTE IN DECORATING HIS VICTORIAN DREAM HOME.

PILLARS WERE ADDED THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE WITH BRASS FILIGREE, AND NOTICE THE BRASS FILIGREE UPON THE CEILING SCONE TOO.

HERE ARE THE FORMAL STAIRS LEADING TO THE SECOND FLOOR.  THE CARPETING IS A CUSTOM DESIGN AND IS WOOL, MADE ESPECIALLY FOR LAURELWOOD.  LOTS OF WOOD AND INTRICATE PANELING LINE THE WALLS OF THE HOUSE.

A HAND-FORMED CEILING SITS ABOVE THE WET BAR WHICH LEADS INTO THE KITCHEN.  PLEASE CLICK ON THE PHOTO FOR A CLOSER VIEW.

THE WET BAR HAS ITS ON SWEET COVE WITH ITS OWN LITTLE SINK WITH MANY SHELVES.  WE FURNISHED THE HOUSE AFTER WE BOUGHT IT WITH VINTAGE FINDS.  ONE FIND WAS THE VINTAGE CASH REGISTER.

THERE ARE MANY STAINED-GLASS WINDOWS OR INSET INTO WALLS WITH BACK-LIGHTING. THIS ONE IS IN THE WALL LEADING UPSTAIRS.

HERE IS ANOTHER PAINTING WE PURCHASED AT AN ANTIQUE AUCTION.

HERE IS A PORTION OF THE CORNICE AND BOXED IN CEILING OF THE FORMAL LIVING ROOM. LAURELWOOD IS A 3,400 SQ. FT. HOME.

HERE IS ONE OF THE SECOND-STORY BEDROOMS.  THE ROOF IS GABLED HENCE THE SLANTED LINES OF THE CEILING.

HERE IS THE KITCHEN WHICH IS QUITE SPACIOUS AND HAS LOTS OF CUPBOARDS (WHICH ARE NOT VISIBLE IN THE PHOTO).

THE FIREPLACE YOU CAN SEE IS PART OF A BELOW GROUND-LEVEL SITTING AREA.

THIS IS A BARBER CHAIR WHICH IS SITTING THE THE FAMILY ROOM.  YOU CAN NOTICE THERE IS A LOWER SITTING AREA BEHIND THE CAROUSEL HORSE.  PLEASE CLICK ON THE PHOTO FOR A CLOSER VIEW.  NOTICE THE ORNAMENTAL RUG DESIGN.  IT IS QUITE INTRICATE.

HERE IS ONE OF THE VINTAGE GAS STOVES IN THE KITCHEN.

AND THE BLACK ENAMEL DOUBLE KITCHEN SINK WITH BRASS FAUCETS.

HERE IS A VIEW FROM THE SUNKEN SITTING AREA LOOKING TOWARDS THE FORMAL DINING ROOM.  THERE ARE SOME VERY INTRICATE STAINED-GLASS WINDOWS ABOVE THE UPPER GLASS WINDOWS. YOU CAN SEE THE BRICKED IN PATIO GARDEN AREA THROUGH ONE OF THE WINDOWS.  CLICK ON FOR A CLOSER VIEW.

THAT ABOUT WRAPS IT UP FOR TODAY'S VIEWING OF LAURELWOOD.  I AM NOT FINDING MY OUTSIDE PHOTOS OF THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE.  AS SOON AS I FIND THOSE, I WILL BE POSTING MORE PHOTOS.

I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE TOUR!

POSTED by Teresa