1 Kings in the making

Wow, it has been a while....With a new studio, new energy. Hopefully!

The verse I have been working on is from 1 Kings 3:16 Then came there two women, that were harlots, unto the king, and stood before him.

King Solomon wished for one thing: Wisdom. And this story shows how wise he was.

2 women gave birth, one of the two babies has died. Each woman claims to be the mother of the live child. There are no witnesses. Solomon is asked to resolve the dispute. His decision is to cut the live child in half. The true mother soon reveals herself, by disclaiming the baby so that it will not be harmed.

King, baby, judgement, throne, harlots.

These are the elements which possible go into the artquilt. Time for colour choices...

The outline

Colour scheme, needs to be 'regal'

Made fabric by writing the word Wisdom lots of time. Make a template from wax paper to paint a throne.

And upside down....I am working on a different computer and it doesn't really work. But I just want to post it anyway.

I decided it needs a proper binding. First time I have used bias binding. I painted it gold to match the throne.

I see that I have to go back into the groove...I haven't taken enough pictures of the process. The 2 women faces are made from silk organza and then free motion stitched on. One has tears, the other the sword. I really have to make a better final picture.

 So yes, I have to work from another computer. And I have to make more pictures to capture the process. I enjoyed making this piece. The decission making process is always the hardest: which colours, which techniques, composition, lines vertical or horizontal? etc. But I guess that's one of the things I like about creating.

It hasn't happened before, but....I already have my ideas ready for the next one! And even slightly some thoughts for the one after that!

Lots of experiments, slowly getting to the result.

I have been working on my colour-competion-piece. I don't know if it is going somewhere. I do like the top part, but don't know if the bottom part is beyond saving....Will post a picture of the top part

I will continue working on it, but at the moment I need time to ponder and see how I can proceed.

The 2 Samuel 3:16 piece slowly takes shape. Very slowly I must add..I was reading a book from Melanie Testa:

  
She uses mainly mono print techniques with thickened dyes and uses freezer paper to block images. She also works with 2 layers. (4 layers in total, including batting and backing). Over the cotton layer she always put a silk organza layer which she also mono prints. Then my quest started...finding silk organza (found a company called sentosatextiles.com and they sent me a meter for FREE, how kind!) , how to make thickened dyes. Or can I use other paints? After many hours of research I decided to use: screen printing ink, textile paint, acrylic paint, acrylic inks. And then see which one is most suitable and which one won't alter the handle of the fabric too much.

I feel like I am doing Science Projects all the time :)

I have never done mono printing either, so after watching many youtube videos I gathered enough courage to at least try. It's a fairly random process, so I should not be so scared. Nothing lost after all!
You start by putting a few blobs of paint on the acrylic sheet. Move it around with a brayer and scrape away bits of paint by using glad wrap, stamps, and basically any objects which leave a mark. Put fabric on top, apply a little pressure and take it of and Voilà!

Tools ready: Acrylic sheet, cotton, paints, brayer, comb, lino cut, stamps, ink, sequin waste, bubble wrap.

Print from a Lino cut I made. Done with screen printing ink.

Close up from Textile paint with comb strokes and bubble wrap.

Lots of random patterns.

And my piece of silk organza...It doesn't show in the picture, but it is actually quite nice. 

 

And finally...my VERY Rough draft of the piece.

I very much enjoyed the mono printing process. Will definitely try some more pieces. I think I am going to use acrylic paints as they are cheap and leave the fabric not too stiff. Hoping it will work together with the silk organza and quilting!