Morning Dew Drops

Halloween Needle Felted Apron

Needle-Felted Spider on Apron Bib Spins her Web

and Catches a Cocoon 

 

 

 I'm known as the Spider Lady at Halloween.  We have the biggest spiders at our house in the whole city, so I've been told.  So when all the ghost and gobblins come to our door will they get a treat? or a trick?  

 

 

Or will they be caught in my web and spun for safekeeping?

 

 

The apron bib and pockets were machine needle felted with wool roving, angelina fibers and scraps of netting, tulle, craft felt and yarns.  The spider was needle-felted and shaped with black wool roving.  I ran some machine stitching through the needle-felted pieces.

The spider is much more errie than it looks.

 

 

Especially with me wearing it!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

 

Happy Halloween!!

 

 

Sew, So Natalie - A Pair of Pillowcase Dresses Part 2

 If you missed the first part of this blog post,

please go here first

 Natalie - Pair of Pillowcase Dresses Part 1

 

Natalie says, "Meet my little sis, Sophia." 

 

 

Sophia says, "What's this sis?  OH, oh you cut a hole in Momma's pillowcase and I'm gonna tell.  You in troubbblle!"

 

  

 

Sophia says, "I sew so so sooorrry, Natalie!  

I didn't know what you were doing!"

 

 

 

 Sophia says, "You made me a pillowcase dress just like yours!

You the best sister in the whole wide world.  

Everybody is gonna want a big sister like you."  

 

We can all learn from Natalie -- not only is she learning to sew and loving it, she shares her sewing tips with us and she actually made her sister's dress before she started on her own.  

Kudos to Natalie!!

 

Again, if you missed the tips/pattern #, go here to learn more

Natalie - Pair of Pillowcase Dresses Part 1

 

We learn to create and love what we do on Morning Dewdrops -- as we embrace our passions, we can't help but get excited and share it with others.

 

 Blessings Terri

Email: Terri@morningdewdrops.com

Blog:   http://morningdewdrops.com 

http://www.facebook.com/MorningDewdrop1 

https://twitter.com/MorningDewdrop1   

https://pinterest.com/MorningDewdrop1

 

Sew, So Natalie - A Pair of Pillowcase Dresses Part 1

Natalie is learning the rewards of sewing and knows to take her time, drive slow and be patient, BUT OH the REWARDS!

Sew let's check in on Natalie and see how it's going.

 

 

Here's Natalie sewing a ribbon border around the hem of her dress, and YES, it's a pillow case. 

Natalie says that if her sewing machine could talk, she'd want it to say, "Pressure Bar Down!"  LOL -- And for those of you who sew, wouldn't this be wonderful!  

 

As Natalie was sewing her bobbin thread tangled under the needleplate, so we stopped to fix the problem.  We had to remove some of the fabric from the feeddogs. Then Natalie said, "That's why they're called "feeddogs" because they're real hungry to eat up your fabric."  LOL!

 

That's Right -- We sewers have all had our share of "feeddog" problems!!!

 

 

 

 

Natalie moved up to the serger today!  Natalie says she likes serging because you can go pretty fast.  She also likes that it cuts the fabric while you sew. She warns to keep your fingers away from those needles though and she'd rather not have to thread this machine!! -- Four Very Big Spools of Thread!!

 

Sew with all of these problems, how does Natalie do it!!  Focus, Determination, Patience but mostly LOVE  -- Love in creating -- 

  

 

 She's a Fashion Designer making her own ONE OF A KIND -- Fashion Statement.  WELL GIRLS -- Natalie looks lovely modeling her lastest design at Morning Dewdrops, a fuschia pillowcase dress trimmed in a grey and white herringbone ribbon and embriodered with daisies.

  Her mom, Kim, made the hairbow in the same ribbon used for the neck ties and hem border.  We're coming up daisies!!  OMG! I just noticed her toenails -- they even match -- what is that color Natalie?

 

Natalie learned to embrioder on the sewing machine today.  I think she liked that the best.  She embriodered the stems for the daisies.

Natalie sewed the ribbon border to perfection! And she learned how to sew on bias tape and how to pull the ribbon through the opening around the neck using a big safety pin.

 

But didn't we say a "Pair" of Pillowcase Dresses?

Sew this in about an hour, catch Natalie in Part 2 of our ongoing Sew So Natalie!!

 

Tip -- You can use a pillowcase for this dress and we did, but we also used Simplicity Pattern No. 2391 because we're learning about patterns too.  This is a good pattern to start with -- only one pattern piece was used for the dress!  And we're going to make more designs from it too -- Like a top and crop pants maybe.  

 

But Natalie said she wants to make a skirt next.  Oh That Natalie!  We can't keep up!

 

Sew Today -- Fall in Love with Sewing

Would also love for you to comment!

Blessings Terri

Email: Terri@morningdewdrops.com

Blog:   http://morningdewdrops.com 

http://www.facebook.com/MorningDewdrop1 

https://twitter.com/MorningDewdrop1   

https://pinterest.com/MorningDewdrop1

 

Featuring Magazine - Fabric Art Collage

As you know from my last blog, my fabric art collage was published in Featuring magazine in the Theme Gallery - Cheering, Stomping & Applauding. Many of you asked me to provide some closeup shots and go over some of the embellishments, so let's take a look.  

 

I've used the images of the faces and bird before in my work.  I recommend scanning all your drawings into your computer or from your camera to use again digitally. I printed the images onto Ludratur fed directly into my printer.  You don't need a carrier/feeder page.  Ludratur is a spun bond web material and is transparent, so anything printed on it appears softly faded.  It's great for text too.  Next week, I'm showing another piece using this fun material.  

This piece has been stenciled with acrylics, stamped with foil and stitched away. 

 

 

The letters, flowers & fleur-de-lis were first dye-cut, then painted, stamped, embossed with a heat gun and then sprayed with ink.   

 

 

Here is the collage in the beginning stages.  I drew the hands (Applauding) on Lutradur.  The image of the sneakers (Stomping) is taken from a picture I took of my granddaughter playing on a see-saw.  You can also see where I've created an ink wash of greens and pinks along with applying foil at this stage.  The foundation is white craft felt and muslin. Most of my fabric collages start with this foundation.  

 

 

Don't throw those scraps away!  This piece is embellished with buttons sewn over hand-made paper, scraps of organza and lace.  The basic embroidery stitches I use over and over are the the cross-stitch, chain stitch and fly stitch.  I actually cross-stitched over strips of metal in this collage.  

 

 

I had so much fun embellishing this piece.  I used brads and grommets.  I've even hand-sewn with some wire.  That's right the wire going through the grommets and silver pieces was hand-sewn with a needle.  Fabric squares have been stacked and sewn on with buttons.  And I drew the champagne glasses (Cheering) directly onto the Lutradur like the applauding hands.

 

 

Before any embellishing, I stitched the layers together on my sewing machine in a very random way (no pattern here) starting in the middle and moving outward.  I finished the edges with a zigzag stitch couching over ribbon. 

   

 

 We're Cheering, Stomping and Applauding in the Theme Gallery of FEATURING.

To see me in print, click on the BUTTON above (or on left sidebar), scroll down to the middle of the page where you will find "Preview", click on "Read more...", then click on "Take a Look, click here..." and a Preview PFD file of the magazine will appear in another tab.  I'm on PAGE 23 of the Theme Gallery and I'm on the back cover of Inchies -- PAGE 26 (center four squares)  YEAH!!!

Or see the post below to view the actual pages in the magazine.  I love hearing from you, so leave a comment

Blessings, Terri

Featuring Magazine - Art Journal, Mixed Media & More

Morning Dewdrops is Blooming Big with Celebration for Featuring Magazine 

 

 

 FEATURING is a stage for all kinds of artists -- And What A Stage it is!

Just Like Morning Dewdrops - A Stage of Inspiration

 

 

And a BIG applause goes to Marit Barentsen.  Thanks for listening to your son when he asked -- "Why don't you do it yourself then?" Thanks for thinking BIG!  And thanks to Marius -- great design-- You are blessed with a creative family!

We love to promote creativity at Morning Dewdrops!

 

 

So they're coming up roses over at FEATURING.  Marit wanted stories to READ -- articles, interviews, background  -- and she delivers!  

 

 

Congratulations to the FEATURING Team - Julie, Katie, Marcia and Annemarie

I encourage everyone to purchase this magazine and am honored to be published in their first issue.  The print/photo quality of is stunning and it's packed with inspiring stories and articles.  

SEE images below of my artwork and instructions to find me in their preview issue.  

 

 

FEATURING  is full of artistic international flair!

FEATURING is a gift for your coffee table -- Great reading with coffee in the morning and again in the evening with a glass of wine (or tea).

 

 

FEATURING  BLOOMS AROUND THE WORLD!!

  

 

 We're Cheering, Stomping and Applauding in the Theme Gallery of FEATURING.

To see me in print, click on the BUTTON above (or on left sidebar), scroll down to the middle of the page where you will find "Preview", click on "Read more...", then click on "Take a Look, click here..." and a Preview PFD file of the magazine will appear in another tab.  I'm on PAGE 23 of the Theme Gallery and I'm on the back cover of Inchies -- PAGE 26 (center four squares)  YEAH!!!-- AND SEE BELOW PICS!!!!

 

 

I'm writing a post later next week with some "how-tos" on this fabric art collage along with some close up shots of the piece itself.

 

 

My work back cover, you might recognize her from a previous post!! 

Stay tuned for more to come on the Fabric Art Collage

 

 

We'll learn about Lutradur, Transfer Artist Paper (TAP), three easy embroidery stitches and much more

 

Blessings to all of you - Terri

Please leave a comment - love reading 'em!

 

Please  join me in visiting more inspirational fun by visiting the following blog hops, parties and challenges

 

Beverly for Pink Saturday

 Leah for 2012 Create Everyday Challenge

Marcia - Artists in Blogland - for Show & Tell Saturday

Diana for Sweet Saturday

 Mary for Art Blog Hop

 Eva and Kristin for Paint Party Friday

 Marcia for Just Journals

Jennifer for Artist's Play Room

 

 

Reflections in Artist Trading Cards

Reflecting often comes this time of year and I've been reflecting on Morning Dewdrops while listening to Swan Lake (Chad Lawson, piano), so please get your coffee or glass of wine and join me. 

Where has Morning Dewdrops been?  Where is it going? I'm hoping to inspire creativity and I've been drawn for quite some time to a picture of a swan I took back in the summer (hence the song).  I've entitled the picture "Reflections" and created some simple Artist Trading Cards (ATC) after pondering over this picture. Why does it keep calling me to it.  I have a feeling I'll be using this image in several art pieces. What about a series? 

 

 

When I doubt myself during a creative process, I try to remember I'm creating simply for pleasure.  As a sole viewer, one can remain passionate and let their inhabitions go.

The reflection of this beautiful swan reminded me of Matthew 5 (Gospels of The Bible).  Through Christ..."we are the light of the world and a city on a hill cannot be hidden, place your light upon a lampstand to give light to all of the house."   I believe even a sole viewer is cheered from above by heavenly hosts. What a beautiful reflection!

 

 

 

 George Wither wrote  - "...Things to their best perfection come, Not all at once; but, some and some..."

 (1634-35 - Collections of Emblemes Ancient & Modern)

 

Isn't that lovely.  We play, we practice, we color, we paint and little by little we perfect our craft.

 

 

 

 

But we must first get out our crayons and color! Or sit at our piano and play.  Just play! Enjoy the process.  Enjoy the journey.  Get your paint brushes dirty.  Break a needle on your sewing machine.  Cut your fabric backwards.  Enjoy the journey!  We must -- or there will be nothing to reflect on not even funny stories ...

Like when I sewed the bodice of my ballgown on backwards. I was almost in tears, then I simply turned it around -- Thank goodness for side zippers and a full skirt!  Only one person, a gorgeous woman and quite the accomplished seamstress, asked me about the zipper.  We were freshening our lipstick in front of the mirror and she asked did that zipper bother me. (She knew I had made my gown.) I said, "No, I make all of my couture gowns with zippers on this side as I'm left handed."  Her lipstick tube stopped moving and she said "oh"

 

 

 

 

 

I put this little angel on an ATC and named it "Do You See What I See?"  I gave some as Christmas "happies".  She has a double meaning to me.  She sees His star "a star, a star, dancing in the night" but what else does she see?   What is she searching for?  

She inspired me to always keep searching, stretching, expecting  --  for BIG, BIG DREAMS, no matter if we are big or small or young or old.

 

 

 

Always Hope, Magnify Hope, Search Hope

See Hope, Taste Hope, Manifest Hope

Identify with Hope

 

 

 

And you'll have beautiful reflections.

 

Below are some tips on how I made these ATCs.  What's great is they take such little time to make! 

 

Artist Trading Card (ATC) Tips 

 

For those of you who do not know, Artist Trading Cards are miniature works of art about the same size of a baseball card or 2 ½ X 3 ½ inches, small enough to fit inside card sleeves. The ATC movement developed from the mailart movement in Switzerland.  ATCs are made from various media; including pens, markers, paints, paper, found objects and cloth. They are exchanged as business cards and swapped around and cherished as the masterpieces they are!

I printed the images on fabric paper or on iron-on sheets.  Check your craft store for printable fabric packs.  I backed them with craft felt.  Then I needle-felted them with my Babylock Embellisher using wool roving, angelina fibers, yarn, organza, dyed scrim, etc.

When I finished embellishing them, I backed them with another piece of felt and also added some magnetic strips - so these can also be used to put on your refrigerator or file cabinet or anywhere you want to place a magnet.

Try making them even smaller and backing them with a pin, so you can wear them on your coat or scarf.  Or if you've been wanting to learn a new technique, this is a great size to experiment on.  

I got the angel peering from the chimney from e-vint.com.  They have copyright free images for sale at very reasonable prices.  Go ahead and search the web.  There are copyright free images available at no cost as well as many other good websites where you can purchase them - it just depends on the type image you are looking for.

Try searching "artist trading cards" on the web for beaucoup inspiration.

Hope you enjoyed  - Tips from Terri

 

Thank you so much for spending time with me.  I'd love for you to leave a message. Any thoughts of hope or reflections you'd like to share, please do -- just a couple will do.

Blessings Terri

 

Also I'm linking with the following blog parties, hops and challenges, so please visit our hostesses for more inspiration as they share their stories, talents and smiles.

 

Beverly at  Pink Saturday

Leah at  Create Every Day

Julia for What's On Your Workdesk Wednesday

I WAS FEATURED ON THIS POST FOR SHOW & TELL SATURDAY, PLEASE TAKE A PEEK!

Marcia at Show & Tell Saturday

 Diana at Sweet Saturday

 Mary at Art Blog Hop