Friday 18 January 2013

Sea monsters

Our guild issued a challenge this fall. They hung lots of plastic bags from which we were to choose one and make something inspired by the bag. I immediately spotted a bag from a toy store which I thought would be fun.

I don’t know how many ideas I have had for my challenge piece, but I can truly say I got inspired, and more than once. However, actually choosing one of them was not that easy. My degree of procrastination seems to correlate with time available. Now, as I posted about on Tuesday, there was not much time left and I got to work.

This pillow

is clearly inspired by this bag

I used the bag as a pattern, simplifying the design a bit, and doing some under/over/under appliqué. It’s a great technique and I wish I had taken pictures, but I will do a tutorial later.

I restricted myself to using fabrics from my old stash, and the only piece that would fit for the back side had a few bleached lines at the folds from being stored for so long. Solution: couch cotton yarn over the lines and add more lines to make them part of a design.

Worked like a charm!

Now the sea monsters get to live with grandson when he goes back home.

And did I stick to my plan of doing something creative every day yesterday? Yes indeed. Not for long, but long enough. With both kids safely tucked into their beds, I grabbed some light sheers from the Kvist class spare part bag, a sheet of deli paper, a never used Golden Soft Gel medium, and the little water colour painting from last weekend and started making fog (inspiration here).

Note to self: gel medium and water colour paint – not a good match. The paint bled into the medium as I was working, making it muddy green here and there. Not a problem on this piece, but something to remember for future projects. Live and learn.

I'll be linking up with Finish it up Friday and Link a Finish Friday today.

11 comments:

  1. That pillow is so awesome!!! Looks like you had a good time making it. I am always amazed by your work!!!!

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  2. Such a fun pillow Nina Lise. I love how your mind works!!

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  3. Så stilig pute og så gøy med inspirasjon fra en plastpose.. Kjempemorro og tøff...

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  4. Love your sea monsters, bet the boys do too! Is that a tiny monster with a crown, how fitting! Yes, spray on protective for watercolor, gel medium for acrylic....Still full of textured wonder. xox

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  5. The sea monsters are awesome! So much fun - and the couching on the back adds interest - very cool. Hope your daughter is feeling better....have a nice weekend.

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  6. such a cute pillow. There's inspiration EVERYwhere!

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  7. Your pillow is AMAZING!! And using the bleach lines as part of the design? You are one brilliant lady!

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  8. Morsom pute du har laget :-)
    Og så spennende prosjekt du er i gang med....

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  9. Helt superskrämmande sjömonster!!!
    De vill jag inte möta i sommar då vi seglar iväg på vårt "leva-drömmen" segling.
    Dina mönster jag köpte följer med i quiltpackningen :o)
    / Pirjo

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  10. Beautiful work! This is really great! Found you through the blog hop, happy to be following you now!
    -Bethany
    http://eatemup121.blogspot.com/

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  11. Great idea on the couching to cover up stuff. Always learn from you!

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