A little Carpet Bag Book Cover

So as I was idly attempting a tidy up of my fabric stash, I came across some old furnishing fabric. 

Left over from an armchair revamp many years ago, I couldn't bear to throw the remnants away at the time. 

Feeling the soft velvety nap of the gold and sand coloured fabric, I was reminded of the carpet bags of travelers long ago. Carrying only a few articles of clothing and cash Phileas Fogg of Around the World in 80 Days, traveled and discovered. Mary Poppins had her magic carpet bag full of tricks! 

So, adding some more up cycled furnishing fabric, old lace and hand made polymer buttons. A little hand and machine embroidery here and there I created a travel journal slip cover. I love how it feels in the hand!

Hand crafted fabric journal slip cover.

Layers apon layers

Have always loved the look of encaustic wax on canvas. The idea of secret layers being built up with only snippets from previous layers peeking through. Some of these art works can look almost ethereal.
I have over the years used similar methods of semi - transparent layers using acrylic paint. Placing washes of paint over dried layers then wiping off to leave just a hint of what came before.

When you let go - Julie Smith (mixed media on canvas)

 But then I came across the book below. ( I receive no income from this link)

Encaustic effect using acrylic

And found wonderful ides for building up layers using acrylic mediums to create a wax like effect. Yay! No fumes!

Well, I had a wonderful old time! Lots and lots of layers - about 8 in all then finished with pencil and Posca pens just for a little depth.

Acrylic mixed media on canvas

And then found a little easel. So cute.

Abstract landscape 1

I'm very pleased with how this turned out and the brain is ticking over with more ideas. So many ideas, so few day light hours!

Anemone Wool Felted Painting

My Mum passed away last year and one of the gifts I inherited from her was a love of flowers. She would grow them, embroider them, paint them on porcelain. I think that after my Dad, flowers were her great passion.

Roses were first on the list, closely followed by Renuculi and Anemones. In all colours! The garden was always full to the brim and Dad made sure that new ones were planted each year to add to the bounty.

Red Anemone

As I was browsing through a few of my photos I came across one image taken from Dads garden and thought this would make a nice wool felt and embroidered painting.
So gathering up my supplies it was time to play.

Wool Felt Floral Painting

Using different micron Merino wool roving which I had dyed myself. Some wool nepps and slivers of art yarn for texture.

Wool Felted Flower

Needle felting followed the wet felting to add a few details and then it was off to the machine for machine embroidery followed by lots of hand embroidery embellishments.

Machine and hand embroidery detail.

I think I may pop this one in a little box frame. :-)

Wet felted and embroidered Anemone by Julie Smith of  Sesenarts and Crafts