Friday, March 20, 2009

Another heart fabric postcard

Well, I seem to be in the mode right now of making fabric heart postcards. And actually, being in the mode and mood of making art, any art, whatever it is, is a good thing in my book....since I'm just recovering from being in a dreaded art slump/funk. I love using hearts in my art, and also using fabric. I have a wonderful stash of accumulated fabrics, many of them remnants bought at thrift stores, some at yard sales. Sometimes I buy clothes at yard sales, which tend to be very very cheap, for the purpose of cutting them up to use in my art. It's rare indeed that I actually buy new fabric to use in my art, except for quilting fat quarters (always on sale) occasionally, because I love the colors and patterns.

When I make art postcards, they are always 4x6 inches, the standard size for a postcard. Or as near to that as I can get. And most times, when I work with fabric in my art, it's hard for me to resist fraying the edges, especially with postcards. I love the way frayed edges look, and also love using the threads from fraying, glued down for great texture. Which is what I did on this piece, and then rubbed the threads with lavender acrylic paint for contrast.

I used the same Mod Podge technic on this piece as on my last post, to add strength and flexibility to the fabric. It just works so well, it's almost amazing. MP is also relatively inexpensive (still, after all these years), and I always use a 40% or 50% off coupon when I buy it. The fabric I used for the two squares is the same fabric I used for the pc base. The middle piece is cut out of a window blind sample I got at Lowe's, the same as in my last posted piece. (Lowe's has a wealth of great things to use in art.) The hearts were punched out of a paint chip. Last but not least, I chose to glue down (using gel medium) two small skeleton leaves.

I do like the colors on this, and experimenting with color combinations. Although I don't think I do that often enough in my art. I don't really know much about color, so I mostly just go with what colors I think look good together.

I'm submitting this to Saturday Surprise (http://saturdaychallenge.blogspot.com/) for their challenge this week.  The theme is Sewing Basket -- using anything that can be used for sewing in our art. 

16 comments:

mary schweitzer said...

For someone who says she doesn't know much about color, you did a great job with this piece! It feels very feminine to me. I really like it.
Mary

Brenda said...

I love your beautiful fabric postcard, you've used my favourite colours

Heather Robinson said...

I just keep looking at this and each time I do I see more details that I love. Your piece is so beautifully composed and this one in particular has a lovely gentleness and all of that wonderful texture that I adore in your artwork. What a pleasure to have you join the challenge this week.

Unknown said...

yummy, yummy, yummy! The colors are outstanding. Thanks for the reminder about MP. I'll have to check to see if my jar is still good.

Cory said...

Beautiful...I love fabric in artwork.

Kim said...

Love it! You're always good with colors, and the balance is lovely too.

Linda Jo said...

Beautiful work!!!

Anonymous said...

Good job with the colour, Val!
Lizbeth

Marva Plummer-Bruno said...

Oh this is cool! I love hearts and they're even purple! :D Marva

Helen Percy Lystra said...

Your postcards are an inspiration.

Barb said...

Oh what a fantastic creation - purple is my favorite color.
Thanks for sharing with us. :)

Aimeslee Winans said...

Val, just thought I'd comment how much I've enjoyed your creations recently. I don't care for MP so I might try this with Royal Coat Decoupage medium. At any rate, lovely creations.

Fiona said...

What alovely piece - I love the colours - so restful

Beth said...

I Love your fabric postcards! Beautiful colors!

Vibrant Jewels said...

I'm giving you an award b/c your blog is fabu! come on over and pick it up.
Karleen/vibrantjewels
www.vibrantjewels.blogspot.com

Yogi said...

Very nice and I do love the colors.
Have you ever sent one of your fabric postcards thru the mail?? and do you know in what condition it arrived in?? Especially the fringe area. Is it something you need to get hand cancelled or is it stiff enough to go through the automatic postal machines??
From a very curious person...