Trish Stuart Designs

I love Hummingbirds. They used to come in huge groups at my former house. Probably because I lived on a large property. It was safe and open. I miss my sweet little hummingbirds.

It’s so easy to let yourself think what you are creating is not important. That it won’t appeal to anyone or that it has no meaning. It’s hard to share sometimes, especially when you have no purpose for whatever you created! But I want to encourage you to create anyway. It doesn’t have to be perfect for anyone else. It doesn’t have to be for something specific. Sometimes we need to create just to pour out our joy, our sorrows, our feelings. Don’t stop creating. It’s who you are.

Testing what fabric to use as a border. Any suggestions?? Feedback? Too dark? too busy? needs a pieced border? Just trash it? Create an assortment of florals with vines separating the blocks of florals??
I think the quilting will make a difference too, so the flowers pop and the background recedes. Help. 🫨

I just posted the second wall hanging. It’s like the first only different. lol. Okay. That makes no sense…but you’re probably used to that with me by now!!
I want to create a “set” now. The posted images are wall hangings. Collages. I’m thinking of jumping in to a larger project. A little hesitant. I’d love to get feedback. Are you interested in creating wall hangings like this or do you want lap quilt sizes?? Thanks for responding. I appreciate your advice.

I’m back! And loving being in creative mode again. The past few years have been “interesting” and I’m so happy to finally be in a position where I can create again.
This piece is a hybrid: 1) painting the flowers on fabric and 2) adding a collaged background with scraps of fabrics. I’m getting ready to add the blue border.
I’m struggling over whether I should leave this as a wall hanging or if I should expand it by including more images around it. That way it could be a lap quilt or???
Do you have any ideas? I need to reconnect with others again so don’t be shy!
I’m so glad to be back with you. I have more artwork in my head. I’ll post when they are back in fiber art form again.

Are any of you creating like this hybrid project? Would you be interested in seeing a posted tutorial on how to do this?

Basic Steps:
1) draw an outline of the flowers and leaves on a piece of white cotton cloth.
2) paint the focal image using fabric inks/pens.
3) press fusible web to fabrics you want in your background.
4) slice fabrics to mimic sun beams in the grass and rain. Trim so edges of the beams meet the edges of the flowers.
5) press sunbeams to fuse to background fabric.
6) layer top artwork onto oversize batting and backing.
7) free motion stitch outlines of flowers, stems, leaves, etc. with a black thread.
8) stitch with a neutral or variegated thread(s) to anchor the layers and give more texture to the imagery.
9) trim completed artwork
10) add hanging sleeve and bind to finish.

I was recently reminded of the fun I had making this piece! Linen background, felted wool, thread work by machine and by hand, some ribbon work on the borders. I think I’m going to immerse myself in this again. It was a lot of fun to create it. Maybe I should have a challenge!? See what everyone else comes up with?? Are you game?

I’m diving into creating abstracts on fabric now. I love how you never know how it’s going to look when you’re finished. It lets me frame it if I can’t bear to cut it up. The next time I’m going to see what can be created for use in a quilt. Or maybe something dimensional.

Soooo… Left side was a long time ago. Middle was a couple years later and Right side is recently. Notice anything?
Everything is getting smaller!!
Never stop creating.

Browsing through my photos brought this up! I forgot I had created this. This was created what feels like ages ago!

Talk about mixed media and lots of different techniques to get the trees and landscape put together…

A nice reminder of the past. It’s on my wall in the entry hallway now. 😄 at least for a little while.