Femmage Workshop

Lunchtime Craft Session

 A few of us at work spent our lunch hour creating Christmas ornaments.  I had some glass cloches i was dying to work on.  I bought some mini trees and deer and had some snow and plenty of ribbons to share.

 Here are some pretty snow dancers - or maybe ice skaters?

Michaels had some glass ornaments with black chalk labels to decorate.

I created these two snow globe ornaments with a vintage christmas card as a backing and trimmed with eyelash yarn.

Bling - Altered Book

 This month I had my friend S's book to work in - BLING!  She created a black and white and sparkly book from a binder style bound book with assorted printed pages.  Love the lavish use of stones and metallic.

 We were asked to create spreads using black and white (or cream) and to add some bling - hence the name.  Here are the little sign in cards - we were to decorate and sign a blank card.  I clipped a bunch of black and white graphics from decorating catalogs.

 For my first spread I was drawn to this gentleman with a striped suit.  I thought he should look over his shoulder at some femme fatale. I placed this lady in white beneath a striped tent and glass star lantern.  I stenciled the background with gold ink pad and a stiff brush.  the ruffled ribbon was the perfect striped final touch to add texture! 

For my second spread I found these two ladies in black gowns in a magazine.  I thought they'd look great with a zebra to ride!  I collaged the background with some dictionary text and copper snail tape.  then added some words clipped from a Ralph Lauren ad - a  bit of creative poetry.  I added some black tulle netting to the gowns to add some volume.  and some swirly copper adornments to create bigger headwear.  then some jet black stones to create a yoke and reins for the zebra.

To see the other color themed altered books  from our 2014 round robion swap, click here:
 PINK, GREEN, PURPLE.
Next up - Red and Teal!

Fabric & Paper plus Sewing!

I spent the weekend with my friend K. and decided to explore the ideas in this magazine, SEW Somerset.

K. had book-marked a couple of ideas - the first was to make dresses on card stock.  

We were inspired by these paper and fabric party dresses by Collette Copeland. 

 K. made this dress - reminiscent of the dresses we made last year you can check out HERE.   I made the one shown at the top of the page. K. has yet to complete the composition - but look at the beautiful skirt made with torn fabric strips, test paper and lace.

 For my next dress i started with a piece of muslin cut into a classic ball gown shape.

 I tore little bits of paper and added some fabric  - the black and white checks and the paisley butterfly.

 I glued it down with a glue stick then added bright red thread.  i don't know how to "free motion" sew - we just used a normal machine and rotated the paper to get around the curves.  i wanted it to look sort of messy and loose!

 Next based on the inspiration of the magazine - i wanted to make a dress/birdcage!  I used a vintage map image for the background.  added three fabric birds and a few other things thrown in.  then sewed the birdcage with the red thread.  i added some stitch lines around the birds with a black sharpie pen.

 The next day i decided to add the frayed edge ribbon jauntily sewn on one side.

Next we both tried another idea from the magazine - a paper/fabric quilted wall hanging.

The piece shown was SEW beautiful!  by Kristen Robinson.

 I started with a heavy raw muslin background and laid on top various laces, fabrics and emphemera.  then added bits of lace and sayings stamped onto fabric with a brownish sepia ink.

 I sewed down all the larger pieces and glued down the smaller bits.  it is not quite finished - needs a few more chunky embellishments to fill in some of the empty spaces.

 K. started her wall hanging with a piece of muslin covered with ecru lace.  then she added patches of colourful pink, black and white fabric.  I love how she left visual "space" on the background.

Next she added words and phrases she had stamped on bleached muslin.  Touches of lace offset the bold black rick rack and felt hearts.  Thanks Somerset magazine for some great play date ideas.  And thanks K. for a great crafty weekend!

Altered Composition Book Swap

I participated in a swap this month - whereby you were matched with two other people and had to create two altered composition books.  You mail one to each person, and they mail one to you.  Simple!  This was hosted by the same person who holds the altered matchbox swaps. 

 I started with two plain old dollar store composition books - black speckle on the outside, ruled pages inside. From conversions with my swap partners i knew i would stay in a fairly vintage theme - with one person requesting orange and other would default to my go to blue. the orange was a challenge at first - do i have enough orange? I sure do! It became clear rather quickly that i could make the theme all about butterflies. this would be a nice counterpoint to the second book about birds.

 Here is Beth's book.  I covered the cover of the composition book with assorted papers and lace and added birds cut from wrapping paper.  A silk ribbon is tied around the book with a pretty bow.

 Inside the cover i did a collage of 4 papers, including some french dictionay pages with birds on them, and added a pretty tag.

To carry the theme throughout the boog, on subsequent pages i stamped, collaged or added little birdie details like this.

 My goal was to make each page a delight.  But i did not decorate ALL the pages!  there were many left blank!

 Here is the back inside cover - using a page of handpainted deli paper and a few stamped birds.

Sorry this is tilted - but this is the back cover of the book.  Vintage wallpaper, sheet music and a collaged bird.

 Here is gretchen's book - she said orange was her favorite colour.  The cover of the book was done with a collage of papers and some sticky borders, a few lace medallians and a nice big butterfly wall sticker!  The hand dipped silk ribbon is tied around the center of the book.

 Inside the front cover i used a beautiful page from an anthropologie catalogue -a damsel surrouned by butterflies.  The facing page has some vintage ephemera and more butterflies.

 On subsequent pages i stamped and added more butterflies and envelopes.

 Inside each envelope was a little treat - some stickers or stamps.

 Inside the back cover was more hand painted deli paper (did i mention it glues beautifully?)

 The back cover was left black and white with assorted book pages and some alphabet washi tape.

Before putting the books safely in priority post flat rate envelopes, i wrapped them as "presents" with pretty coordinating wrapping paper, ribbons and for Gretchen, adorned with a glittery butterfly.

And here is Beth's book in the soft blue and aqua pallette i love so much.  This is the same wrapping paper i used to cut the birds on the cover of her book.  pretty organza ribbon and wee bird charm complete the package.

I'll write about the lovely books and goodies i received in return soon!