Baluba- african mask

A few months ago I started a project that I had  to abandon few days later because of the insufficient time that I have  in general.

The theme of a wallhanging is an  African mask and a few symbolic elements.
Four days ago I resumed it perhaps more inspired (some months ago I wanted to throw it) and that became :
Acum cateva luni in urma incepusem un proiect pe care l-am abandonat din cauza timpului insuficient pe care il am in general.

Subiectul in cauza era un wallhanging cu tema africana; o masca si cateva elemente simpbolice.
Acum 4 zile l-am reluat poate mai plina de inspiratie (acum cateva luni am vrut sa il arunc) si cam asta a devenit :

A collage in which I  used several techniques including  needle felting technique  (New technique for me absolutely fascinating!), couching and machine embroidery.

First the mask  and basic elements of collage was applied _I took me the most time because I wanted to use specific colors of African culture and had to think about their composition in collage and African symbolism, then embellish side - choice the seams, choise the felt symbols , the needle felting with that special tool that I bought it soon. I like very much the  needle felting! Pure colorful  wool can create incredible beautiful structures. :) But about needle felting soon.
Un colaj in care am folosit mai multe tehnici de lucru printre care needle felting-ul (tehnica noua pentru mine

dar absolut fascinanta!), couching-ul si broderia cu masina.

Intai a fost aplicata masca si elementele de baza ale colajului- mi-a luat cel mai mult timp pentru ca am vrut sa folosesc culorile specifice culturii africane si a trebuit sa gandesc compunerea lor in colaj cat si simbolistica africana, apoi partea de embellish - alegere de cusaturi, alegerea simbolurilor din fetru, needle feltingul cu acel instrument special pe care l-am achiziotionat curand . Tare mult imi place needle felting-ul! Din lana pura , colorata poti crea structuri nebanuit de frumoase. :) Dar despre needle felting in curand.

Finally everything was quilted watching basic elements, with free motion and echo quilting, trying  to not upload it with too many lines of quilting.

Four days in which  I worked mostly with Karina besides me - she  started to play by herself:)
I worked with a great pleasure because I combined several techniques, some new to me but they kept in "in socket" and  did not allowed me to get bored:)
So long and a good day all!

In final totul a fost quiltuit urmarind elementele de baza , cu free motion si echo quilting, fara sa -l incarc insa cu prea multe linii de quilting.

Patru zile in care am lucrat intens, cu Karina pe langa mine care a inceput sa stie sa se joace si singurica :)

L-am lucrat cu o placere deosebita datorita faptului ca am imbinat mai multe tehnici, unele noi pentru mine dar care m-au tinut "in priza" si nu mi-au dat voie sa ma plictisesc:)

Pe curand si o zi buna tuturor!

Fabric dyeing

Finally I was able to start and finished what should I have done for almost half a year: to dye fabrics.
In sfarsit am reusit sa ma apuc si sa duc pana la capat ceea ce trebuia sa fac de aproape o jumatate de an; sa vopsesc panza.

Morning I woke up quite early with the intention to draft a new project and trying to gather all information I found a blog, "equipped" with all the information about dyed fabrics: Http://fabricdyeing101.blogspot.com/ and I wanted to dyed fabric too :)
Dimineata m-am trezit destul de devreme cu intentia de a schita un nou proiect; si  tot incercand sa adun informatii am gasit un blog, "echipat" total cu toate informatiile despre vopsit panza .http://fabricdyeing101.blogspot.com/ si mi s-a retrezit interesul sa vopsesc si eu. :)

I had all the "tools" prepared in advance and I started working.

I decided that I will not paint than fat quarter of material in a wide range of colors, so why fat quarter? because I  work only decor objects and yet I do not need a lot of fabrics of one color.
Aveam toate "utilajele" pregatite din timp si m-am apucat de treaba.

Am hotarat ca nu voi vopsi decat fat quarter din material, intr-o gama mai larga de culori; de ce fat quarter? pentru ca eu nu lucrez decat obiecte de decor deocamdata si nu am nevoie de metri intregi de o singura culoare

I had already bought several colors of Rit dye products, a different paint from the  Dharma or Procion paints.  I painted with it  in the "cold"  because decor objects are not washable like  a classic quilt and  there is no danger to lose colors.
Aveam deja cumparate o serie de culori din produsele Rit dye,diferita de Procion sau Dharma. Insa am vopsit cu ea la "rece" pentru ca obiectele de decor nu se spala ca un quilt clasic si deci nu e pericol ca sa se piarda culoarea.

Regarding those who wanted to get, I thought I wanted some colored fabrics in a hue, gradient, like marble.  For that I got some plastic cup on which I put the limp piece of fat quarter as best as on the cup and then I added  over it the paint ready  in a separate jar.
Cat priveste cele ce doream sa obtin ,m-am gandit ca vreau niste materiale vopsite intr-o nuanta, in degrade, gen marble. pentru asta am luat pahare de plastic in care am pus bucata de fat quarter mototolita cat mai bine in el si peste ea am adaugat vopseaua pregatita intr-un borcan separat.

The whole process was an experiment in which I expected to have  failures, but I liked the result, in general.

After six hours in which I  kept plastic glasses in the house, in a warm room, I washed the fabric in cold water and the result is ton the wire:)
Intregul proces a fost un experiment in care ma asteptam si la esecuri ; insa mi-a placut rezultatul , in general.

Dupa sase ore in care am tinut paharele de plastic in casa, la caldura, am spalat materialele in apa rece si rezultatul e pe sarma :)

And here the fabrics are  dryied and ironed

Si aici uscate si calcate

I like the result, watercolor style, which is why I have decided that i want more and more:) but in two different colors.
For thisI used the technique for Low Water Immersion you find here it here :http://www.pburch.net/dyeing/lowwaterimmersion.shtml for who wants to try it.

The technique is not difficult  the patterns and interesting and exiting and differ one from another depending on how you apply the paint. In fact, it is said improperly apply not apply because it isnot any apply ;it is getting dyied with a small quantity of water as much is necessary for the fabric  to absorb the dye to disseminate  beautiful abstract designs.
Maybe a tutorial in Romanian on soon but depending on my leisure ...
Imi place cum au iesit, stil watercolor, drept pentru care am hotarat ca mai vreau si altele :) insa in doua culori diferite.

Pentru asta am folosit tehnica Low Water Immersion pe care o gasiti aici http://www.pburch.net/dyeing/lowwaterimmersion.shtml pentru cine doreste sa o incerce.

Tehnica nu e dificila si patternurile ies interesante si diferite intre ele in functie de cum aplici vopseaua. In fond , este impropriu spus aplici caci nu aplici nimic ; se vopseste cu o cantitate cat mai mica de apa atat cat ii este necesar panzei sa absoarba si vopseaua sa difuzeze in ea in desene abstracte superbe.

Poate un tutorial in limba romana pe curand dar in functie de timpul care il am la dispozitie...

Because I was not sure if I will succeed I made only two such experiments in which, first I used  purple and tangerines pigments and secondly purple and fuchsia. The first combination, the left image, I love it, is a successful combination. And the other is nice but monochrome.

Pentru ca nu eram sigura daca imi va reusi am facut numai doua experimente de acest fel in care, in primul am folosit pigment purple si tangerine iar in al doilea purple si fucsia. Prima combinatie , cea din stanga imaginii, imi place mult; e o combinatie reusita. Si cealalta e placuta  dar mai monocroma.

Here is a closer picture of the material, made in the evening on the balcony among the leaves that fall  not stop.

Aici o poza mai aproape a materialelor , facuta seara in balcon printre frunzele care cad si nu se mai opresc.

Satisfied by the result, I decided that I can relax to enjoy my green tea with cinnamon and do the "crime" to taste the pecan cookies , bought in order to serve guests not for me because I am on  diet ... cica:))

Multumita de rezultat, am hotarat ca ma pot relaxa sa-mi savurez ceaiul verde cu scortisoara si sa fac "crima" de a gusta din ispititoarele prajiturele cu pecan, cumparate cu scopul de a servi musafirii nu pentru mine care sunt la dieta...cica:))

Pe curand si spor la lucru tuturor!

Christmas fabric postcards

A few days ago, trying to returning on  the creative domain  I thought to do some textile cards. And because Christmas is coming soon I made some simple postcards with some fabrics I had around the house, with specific themes.
They came out nice, simple, very little or no quilted at all, they  framed more in the category of craft than quilt.
Acum cateva zile, incercand sa reintru iar pe domeniul creatiei m-am gandit sa fac cateva carduri textile. Si pentru ca se apropie curand Craciunul am facut cateva carduri simple,cu materialele pe care le aveam prin casa, cu tema specifica.
Au iesit dragute, simple, foarte putin quiltuite sau deloc; se incadreaza mai mult in categoria craft decat quilt.

What is important though is that I do like to work them, I discovered that I like to work small objects, meticulous, requiring patience and less a free motion on abig quilt.Certainly  I like to creat small things than bed quilts  ..  this doesn`t mean that I will not ever do  large quilts .
And another thing, each card is working otherwise, one even in shadow trapunto technique.
This is not to get bored too much of craft too: P
Ceea este insa important este faptul ca mi-a facut placere sa le lucrez; am descoperit ca imi place sa lucrez obiecte mici, migaloase, care cer rabdare si mai putin un free motion pe metri intregi de panza.Sigur imi place mai mult sa fac lucrusoare mici decat quilturi de pat..asta insa nu inseamna ca nu voi mai face vreodata quilturi de dimensiuni mari.
Si inca ceva; fiecare card e lucrat altfel ,unul chiar in tehnica shadow trapunto.
Asta ca sa nu ma plictisesc prea mult si de craft :P

A crocheted flower, some copper wire wrapped with something that is tied packages of gifts and a applied stocking , little foam bonded with glue on which I wrote a banal statement
O floare crosetata, cateva fire de cupru invelite cu ceva cu care se leaga pachetele de cadouri si un ciorap aplicat; putin foam lipit cu glue pe care am scris o declaratie banala







Here I used cotton and felt, sequins and beads, Christmas at the Pole ...
Aici am folosit bumbac si fetru, paiete si margelute; Craciunul la Pol...

Simple, banal postacard
Card simplu, banal

Postcard worked with  satin exclusively. It's my favorite card:)
Card lucrat exclusiv din satin. E cardul meu preferat :)

postacard worked with angelina fiber
Card lucrat cu angelina fiber:

This card is working with organza in shadow trapunto technique. I would have liked a little more fine organza but I didn`t found from the moment to Joann store...
Acest card e lucrat cu organza in tehnica shadow trapunto. Mi-as fi dorit o organza ceva mai fina dar nu am gasit momentan la Joann...

This is it  for now, work in progress some fabric bowls with Christmas motifs. I hope to finish on time but it is up to Karina.

I had some time and I "browse" the Internet to see what else people work (is working hard) and I found  a whole collection of vintage cards, printed. Superbe! from my point of view.
I do not know why they  attracted me  probably because of the decor in  which they take place   presented scenes: calm, warm and most of the times surprising  winter fairytale landscapes...

Cam atat deocamdata; in lucru niste boluri din panza tot cu motive de Craciun. Sper sa le termin in timpul stabilit insa asta depinde numai de Karina.

Am avut ceva timp si am mai "frunzarit" internetul sa vad ce altceva mai lucreaza popoarele(se lucreaza intens ) si am dat si peste o colectie de carduri vintage, tiparite. Superbe! din punctul meu de vedere.

Nu stiu de ce ma atrag aceste carduri probabil decorul in care au loc scenele prezentate: calm, calduros si de ce cele mai multe ori surprinde peisaje de iarna de  basm...

Probably  because they evokes a world where time was more friendly with people and have a flow of  its life, slow and quiet.

A world where I would have definitely liked to live.
Probabil pentru ca evoca o lume in care timpul era mai prietenos cu oamenii iar viata avea o curgere a ei , lenta si linsitita.

O lume in care mi-ar fi placut cu siguranta sa traiesc.


O saptamana buna tuturor!

Icoana- mozaic textil

A new work, a new project and an achievement I would say, that due to its complexity and detail of the mosaic art work .
O noua lucrare , un nou proiect si o realizare as spune eu; asta datorita complexitatii si muncii in detaliu a tehnicii mozaic.

I completed an icon of size 43x55 cm, created completely of fabrics, namely only satin worked in mosaic technique.

Am finalizat o icoana de dimensiunile 43x55 cm , creata complet din materiale textile, mai precis numai satin, lucrata in tehnica mozaicului.

Specifically: I have worked with small pieces of satin cuted to size 1x1 "and where was necessary I used strips the size of 2 mm width and 1 cm lungine. A pieces of satin were stuck on a previously selected fabric that I drawing the outline shapes of the icon, attached with fusible web, one by one. After  I finished  the integral gluing  I covered the whole icon,  gold edges , with old gold bronze tulle, to stabilize the satin pieces.

Concret: am lucrat cu bucatele mici de satin taiate la dimensiunea de 1x1"si unde modelul a cerut, am folosit si stripuri de dimensiunea de 2 mm latime si 1 cm lungine. Bucatelele de satin au fost lipite pe un material ales anterior pe care am desenat conturul formelor din icoana, lipite cu fusible web , una cate una; dupa ce am finalizat lipirea integrala am acoperit intreaga icoana, mai putin marginile aurii, cu tulle bronz auriu vechi, pentru a stabiliza bucatelele de satin.


After this operation I quilted the grooves of the  satin pieces. Finally I applied a gold border (I love goldchurches~ icon)because  it opens and creates the impression of continuous aura. I quilted the border too and I have to attach a binding, all gold, as a continuation of the border. I do not want to mix too many colors. On the connecting edge of the border with  the icon I have attached a green ribbon with antique gold, as a framework for the main reason.

Dupa aceasta operatie am quiltuit pe santurile dintre bucatelele de satin . In final am aplicat un border auriu- imi plac icoanele de biserici , aurii - pt ca mai deschide si creeaza impresia de aura continua. Am quiltuit si borderul si mai am de atasat un binding, tot auriu , ca o continuare a borderului. Nu vreau sa amestec prea multe culori . Pe marginea de unire a icoanei cu borderul am atasat un ribbon verde antic cu aurie , ca un cadru pentru motivul principal.


I chose thesatin to play the gloss  mosaic stone and that depending on the light the icon changes its colors become "other"
Am ales satinul pentru a reda luciul pietrei de mozaic si pentru ca in functie de lumina icoana isi schimba culorile devenind "alta".

In this work was valued Virgin expressiveness  and i admit that I worked at this point for I have not wanted to be a crude copy of the original image .I wanted  my icon to espress something special if even it was worked from fabrics.. La aceasta lucrare a fost apreciata expresivitatea maicii Domnului si recunosc ca am lucrat la acest punct pt ca nu am vrut sa fie o copie bruta a imaginii dupa care am lucrat ci am dorit ca icoana mea sa exprime ceva chiar daca este lucrata din material textil.



Do not ask me how work went .... of Sisyphus, but worth it I say, for hours i glues satin pieces, combining them to play the picture values plus the choice of materials. I had trouble with the fabrics because  I  not even had the colors and I  had to paint myself.... satin! And the use satin is a baroque satin  thicker than normal and more fluffy ..

Nu ma intrebati cum a decurs munca.... de Sisif, dar a merita zic eu; ore in sir de lipit bucatele de satin alunecoase, combinarea lor pentru a reda valorile tabloului plus alegerea materialelor . La materiale am avut probleme pt ca nu am avut chiar culorile pe care le-am dorit si a trebuit sa vopsesc eu....satin! Iar satinul folosit e un satin baroc, mai gros decat cel normal si mai pufos..


Here are finalized details of the icon:
Aici detalii din icoana finalizata:

And here is the finalized icon yet no binding (attach one edge of closing soon)

Si aici icoana finalizata , fara binding inca(marginea de incheiere o atasez curand)



Mosaic icon worked in town Lucca, Italy, it served me as a model for my work:

Icoana din mozaic lucrata in oraselul Lucca, Italia, mi-a servit drept model pentru lucrarea mea:

Although I would have liked a line closer to the original  I am  still happy with the result. Without false modesty I can confirm it is one of the best of my all work  so far even though I can`t framed it on quiltcategory . It is framed rather in mixed media art .... but I accept other opinions and criticism, of course.

Cu toate ca mi-as fi dorit o replica textila mai apropiata de original sunt totusi multumita de rezultat. Fara falsa modestie pot firma ca este una din cele mai bune lucrari ale mele de pana acum cu toate ca nu o pot incadra la categoria quilt. Se incadreaza mai degraba in mixed media art....dar accept si alte pareri si critici , bineinteles.



I wish you a new good week!
Va doresc saptamana buna tuturor!