Third Quarter Challenge – Part 3
I have showed you two segments of the process of creating my “cityscape” for the third quarter challenge and had gotten to the point of adding needle felted windows and doors to my buildings. Now on to the free motion machine stitching.
I started with the doors and I did a few many times overlapping. This wasn’t a good start but instead of tearing it out, I decided to push forward and see if I could fix it as I went.
I finished stitching around all the windows and doors. I was still unhappy with the perspective and the doors on the left hand building were standing out too much.
So I added a slightly darker thread and stitched the slats across the buildings and then covered up a bit of the lighter threads where they seemed too prominent. As I said last week, it would have worked better if I had done the diagonal lines across the buildings before I added the windows and doors. The perspective would have ended up better. Perhaps I will remember that the next time I do something with buildings and perspective required.
Next up, I needed to put a bunch of stars in the night sky. I had some Bonash Bonding Powder already. It is a powdered form of fusible which melts when ironed. I borrowed some silver foil from my friend Paula. It’s like this stuff. I tried a sample on some nuno felt on the right. You have to put the shiny side up and then cover it with parchment paper and then iron for 5-10 seconds. Let it cool down, peel the foil paper off and magically you have stars!
On the left, you can see the powder sprinkled on to the nuno felt. Then the foil paper is put on top and ironed down. Let it cool and when you peel it off, your shapes will appear in silver foil. You can use any kind of fusible and even cut out shapes if you like. I used the powder so it would look like the milky way/starry sky.
And here’s the result. I think I might have gone a bit crazy with the stars but it does resemble the inspiration photo. Hopefully, everyone will be looking at the shiny, night sky and not notice how the perspective is off in the buildings. So I hope you enjoyed the saga of the “cityscape” challenge. I think I will put this one on a black background and call it “Garnet Night Sky”, after the ghost town it was based on.
12 thoughts on “Third Quarter Challenge – Part 3”
Ruth – it’s fabulous! What a brilliant idea for the beautiful starry sky. In art, perspective is only important if it’s a realistic piece – when it’s an impression it doesn’t matter, and anyway Annie and I both prefer wonky.
‘Garnet Night Sky’ has captured the character of Garnet – if anyone doesn’t know what Garnet looks like, google some images.
It won’t stay long on the gallery wall before it has a red dot.
Thanks Lyn, I do like the end result. Hopefully, someone will love it 🙂
Oh my, Ruth – I love the stars! I don’t think they’re exaggerated at all, since this is a work of art you’re more than allowed to add a bit of oomph to it 🙂
Thanks Leonor! The stars definitely make the piece.
This is wonky enough to be very appealing.
I have never heard of this powder before. The effect is magical.
Thanks Lillian, I don’t use the Bonash powder often but it works perfectly for this effect.
It’s brilliant Ruth! I’ve never heard of the powder but you got terrific spooky results between the stars and shadows. Well Done!
Thanks Marilyn, the stars definitely make it better.
Wow, the stars really set it off. It is amazing they made night, fall over the ghost town. I hadn’t heard of bonding powder either. I don’t think the stars are too much. When you get away from light pollution there really are that many stars in the sky.
Thanks Ann, well there is definitely no light polution in the ghost town.
Ruth your piece has great atmosphere and any wonkiness just reinforces the fact that this town has been left to the elements. Your starry sky has added the finishing touch in translating your original picture.
I know of the powder (which I remember needs careful handling as it can go everywhere) via a patchwork creator, although I have never used it. This method of using is interesting and opens up lots of possibilities.
Thanks Antje! Yes, the powder can easily fly all over if you aren’t careful. I usually just put some in my hand and then sprinkle a pinch at a time.