Category: Mixed Media Art

Posted on

Monoprints with fabric.

All my work is packed up ready to hang my upcoming solo textile exhibition next Wednesday in the local Kinsale library. Time to play in the studio. I find mono-printing somewhat addictive once I get started so this time it was all about the preparation before ink hit glass. I almost invested in one of those cool gelli plates, but decided to hold tough with my sheet of glass from an old fridge which has served me well. I wanted to try using stitched fabric samplers to print images and perhaps make them into unique cards. Continue reading Monoprints with fabric.

Posted on

Mushroom Spore Prints…more fun with natures gifts.

I spend a lot of time in the woods, any woods, I love the energy, the smells, the sounds and the connections with trees. Fungi fascinates me and the more I learn about them, the more I am intrigued. I have learnt about a few that are edible and delicious, more that I don’t like much and a few my tummy doesn’t like. I have also made a pain relieving tincture from the Fly Agaric (Amanita Muscaria) Mushroom. I have a healthy respect for these exquisitely beautiful fungi and photograph them every year. This year I found so many huge honey fungus , sulphur tufts and cortinarius I decided to have a go at making spore prints. A super simple process. Continue reading Mushroom Spore Prints…more fun with natures gifts.

Posted on

Modge Podge photo transfer on silk fabric

As a textile artist I am often exploring ways to diversify and methods of reaching a desired look on my work. Occasionally I like to add some text, a few words or a piece of prose I have written. Modge Podge is a medium I came across during my Moroccan Art Escape Holidays with Katherine Soutar Caddick a few years back. I had read a few posts and articles that said it didn’t really work for text. I wasn’t that easily deterred. Continue reading Modge Podge photo transfer on silk fabric

Posted on

Autumn is upon us

We are a bit mushroom mad in our house too, the ones that grow in the woods now, not any other kind! we love hunting for them, identifying them and cooking up the edible ones. With Autumn now upon us, the woods are our favourite place to wander. Last weekend we went to Killarney National Park to hunt for them for reference. You aren’t allowed to pick anything there, only take photos. With all that inspiration I decided to have a go at creating some with wool. A mix of wet felted and needle felted mushroom have started emerging from my studio and I have to say I am rather pleased with them. It also gave me an excuse to random dye a whole pile of Wensleydale curly locks that I got from a local farmer and to card some of Leiko Felts gorgeous dyed merino wool from my stash into mushroom blends. Continue reading Autumn is upon us

Posted on

Dyeing silks and things in the microwave

I had some fun experimenting this last week dyeing various items in the microwave. I use Dupont silk dyes for all my dyeing projects and these are steamed fixed in a pressure cooker which can take up to an hour plus the use of water to rinse. Some time back I learnt that you could fix dyes in the microwave… but I was reluctant to try not being a fan of microwaves anyway.
However… having seen another textile artist posting gorgeous pieces on Facebook and learning that she had fixed them in the microwave, I vowed to try the very next day. A bit of googling and I found some basic instructions which I followed. This was not enough for my enquiring mind though. I wanted to test other materials that I had previously steam fixed successfully. Continue reading Dyeing silks and things in the microwave

Posted on

Mixed Media Textile Bundles on Etsy.

These are a wonderful way of gathering gorgeous bits n bobs without having to invest loads in large amounts of things.

As a textile artist I use a large range of products and materials across my various projects and have therefore amassed a vast pile of goodies. I decided to make up these textile bundles as inspirational packages for mixed media textile workers, or anyone who might find them a great resource. They can be used for junk journals, jewellery, scrap-booking, bags, wall art pieces, clothing, needle books and whatever your imagination creates.
These are available to purchase from my Etsy shop. Continue reading Mixed Media Textile Bundles on Etsy.

Posted on

Festival Time

We have been keeping ourselves busy at the Wildly Created studio and having some fun along the way. These two top hats are now completed.
Inspired by a children’s book that we all know and love, this hat is the perfect fit for a festival. Here in our part of the world we have an annual Mad Hatters festival where the towns people turn out in all manner of headgear. This adult sized top hat features soft denim fabric and fleece fur with floppy bunny ears and tail. The brim is decorated with all manner of vegetables, a watering can, wheelbarrow, a small felt mouse and a white picket fence. A robin sits atop one of the ears. Hats like these are timeless like the books. Continue reading Festival Time