Sunday, September 14, 2008

Teabag Paper Samples

Time to grab a coffee again if you are going to read this. *LOL*
This weekend I have been sampling with Jackie’s Teabag paper.
Didn’t quite know what to do at first so started off making some beads. I used half a sheet of the paper and rolled it around a thin stick. The end was glued down with Polymer Medium. Once dry, I cut the tube into smaller pieces. I then dipped them in various Brusho Powder colours and when dry, gave them another coat of Polymer Medium. While some of them were still tacky I sprinkled embossing powder on in Pirates Gold and Bronze then heated with the heat gun and with the others I left them to dry thoroughly then rubbed Treasure Gold and Treasure Brass all over.I dip dyed the paper in some left over Procion dye. Yes I know, same old-same old, when it comes to colours but sometimes this works best for me using the colours I know I like as there is a better chance that I will actually use the samples at a later date.
In these samples I used the pleater to pleat the paper before colouring with Brusho Powder.This piece was folded double before pleating and colouring.This one has also been dipped in left over Procion and was a bit of a disaster. The Teabag paper has been glued to a piece of muslin using Polymer Medium. The colours were really pale so I sprinkled some neat dye powder on. Overall it doesn’t look too good but I may be able to save some of it as it does look a bit ‘rusty’.Thought I would see how the dyed papers came out on the embellisher. This one uses a stretchy velvet base:And this one is embellished on a felt background.
They both have a distressed look to them but wouldn’t stand up to too much handling.Tried organza on top with a felt background. You can just see the different colours of the paper underneath.
On these two samples I have bonded the paper to the stretchy velvet first using Gossamer Fuse from The Thread Studio. The paper doesn’t split quite so easily but it is a lot more stable.And once again with organza over the top.So, a bit of a non-starter really as far as embellishing is concerned.

This next bit is when I really started to get into it.
With these next samples I brushed a coat of Polymer Medium over the top of the paper. I laid it on a sheet of plastic and left it to dry. The first piece I did I painted right to the edges – and it stuck to the plastic too! So with consequent pieces I left a border around the edge. When you take it off the plastic the underneath is very shiny and smooth and the painted top feels grainy. The Teabag paper becomes translucent – almost looks like a sheet of cold water soluble fabric.
I used acrylic paints to paint on the grainy side and the paper remains translucent.Although it’s hard to see in these photographs, the painted sheets seem to act like filters. If you overlay them you get different shades.These are the three pieces each laid on top of a kitchen towel which had been used to soak up some Walnut ink. This shows the different shades you can achieve a bit better. Some of these experiments don’t look much but they are worth making a note of to take a step further.The centre and edges of this piece were burnt using a candle flame (a bit risky, so a large bowl of water was kept close at hand.) It was then coated both sides with Polymer Medium and laid on a wet piece of Tyvek that had been saturated with Walnut Ink. More ink was then painted over the top, but look at how the paper, although coated, seemed to suck up the ink. I shall try a dry piece of paper next and see what effect that has.This time I used my usual acrylic colours, again on the grainy side of another piece that had previously been coated with Polymer Medium.
This was then laid over a piece of copper coloured foil (from Fibre in-Form) that had been bonded to a strip of Pelmet Vilene. This piece needs to be seen in the flesh to appreciate the glow of the foil seen through the paper.Close ups.I then did the same with a larger piece but this time I painted the Bondaweb first and bonded the foil to a medium weight calico.Once I have decided how to decorate further and finish off I plan to create a vessel or two from this fabulous piece of fabric.This is a glimpsing of a small scale mockette I created for something that has been in the back of my mind for a while.As you can see from this close up, the centre is painted, melted Tyvek.While I was melting the Tyvek I came across a piece I had made some time ago. The Tyvek had been painted then a sheet of gold ‘Angel Hair’ (which I think, but am not sure, is Sizoflor) had been fixed to, possibly with Polymer Medium. Should have taken a before photograph so you could have seen that it just looked like a glitzy piece of fabric. Had a ‘what if’ moment and decided to melt this with the iron too.
Although it has made the colour pretty gross it straight away made me think of Val and her tree bark samples.But when you hold it up to the light, the most amazing transformation takes place.
Isn’t this wonderful. You wouldn’t believe it was the same piece.I’m almost finished with the birthday pressie quilt – the rate I am going it will be a Christmas pressie quilt if I don’t hurry up.
I’ve used squares of painted fabric, with painted, melted Tyvek on top. In places I used a soldering iron to burn right through the Tyvek then placed some ‘torched’ (can’t think of the right word – is it annealed?) copper shim underneath.Blogs
I have been given another award – this time from Connie. What pleased me the most is that I haven’t come across Connie before so it gave me the opportunity to discover her blog – and she does some really amazing work, go take a look.

Also wanted to mention Doreen’s blog. She’s made a vessel for her Guild exhibition using the fabric I created for the WOW article ‘An Elizabethan Dressel’. It looks really wonderful.

And take a look at Joanna’s fantastic card for the September Calendar Girls, a brilliant interpretation. We are all struggling a bit with the flowers each month so Joanna worked on the wording this time.

Sharon’s card for August was also terrific. She too used the wording and came up with this absolutely stunning card.
Both of these cards are going to be very hard to beat.

As you know, I don’t normally mention family and stuff on this blog unless it’s relevant but I just had to show you this.
Our middle daughter Chelsey was a Nanny for some 16 years before Charlie and Lottie came along and she often gets asked to make special birthday cakes for some of her previous employers children and friends. She has made some really good ones over the years and this one is no exception.
Goodness knows where she gets this skill from, certainly not me, as unlike Gina who is always showing her delicious creations on her blog, baking and I are definitely not compatible. *LOL*

22 comments:

Vicki W said...

I love to see all the ways that you experiment with new paterials - thank for sharing!

arlee said...

Now this was a delicious entry from start to finish! I love that tea bag paper as well, experimenting a lot after Jackie gifted me with some-----mostly paint and stitch, but will have to try some of your methods----gorgeous!!

Shirley Anne Sherris said...

Phew!! a bit of a marathon is this one. So much to take in.
Really like the look of the coppery fabric - note taken.
Is there any way you can keep the effect of the 'bark' pieces when held up to the light.
Cheers
SAS

Ruth said...

Great experiments. I can't wait to see how you take it further! Great birthday cake - I bet the kids love them.

Pat said...

Well that's my reading for the week sorted!!! Great experiments, loved the beads as I am into jewelry at the moment. The cake is wonderful, must have caused some excitment.

Sandy said...

Great cake. Now I'm hungry!
Your experiments are very inspiring. I need to try this too.

sharon young said...

Hi Lynda
Great post as usual, thanks so much for the tea bag paper tutorial, there are some superb ideas here! I will hav to bookmark this one and your previous post to read more fully when I've caught up with some more blogs.
Thank you for your comment on my 'return ' post, it's very nice to know I was missed ;-)

Unknown said...

First congratulations to Chelsey on that fabulous cake :)
your stuff isn't bad either LOL
that coppery one is a drooler

Carol said...

Wow that cake is superb! Lovely eye candy again today, love the samples, so comprehensively tested out. Hope your well friend. That quilt is just stunning by the way!

Doreen G said...

What an assortment of wonderful stuff you have produced this time Lynda--love the beads.

Sophie said...

Looks like a very productive day and some fabulous results. It's great to see how you've experimented with different products and techniques. I often want to experiment and explore like this but get stumped for ideas too quickly. Thank you for sharing your processes.

Gina said...

So many amazing samples as always Lynda. I love your pleating machine too!
Great cake!

Val said...

Wonderful wonderful Blog Lynda, the tutorial is just amazing, and yes, I love that piece of bark!

Genie said...

Lovely work Lynda, i;m with you re baking, lovely cake!
i have just started on your WOW Slinky secrets,
Have agood week

gunnelsvensson said...

Great work, great post! I like to try those beads myself!

TracyB said...

The birthday/Christmas gift, you could just blame it on the post being slow, lol!!

Morna Crites-Moore said...

Well, I just love what you do and that is why I have left an award for you at my blog. :-)

Debbi Baker said...

Did you say grab a coffee? Should have said picnic!! I've had to read the entire post a couple of times to really absorb so much information (and beauty)!

The cake is really cute - takes me back to when my boys were little and every year they tried to pick a more impressive cake (for me to make) than the year before! Thank goodness they have outgrown that particular habit!

Seriously though, everything is fascinating but I have to tell you that your copper fabric (for want of a more comprehensive name)is just awesome. Would love to see it in the flesh and I can just imagine the wonders you will create with it!

PS I really hang out for your weekly post!

Doreen K. said...

Wow, what wonderful samples you have made. I also like what the pleater did to the paper.

Anonymous said...

You never cease to amaze me, Lynda. You are my kind of artist. I would love to spend at least a day playing with you in your studio. I love everything you do. Keep it up! Emily

Linda’s Textiles said...

Lots of fabulous experiments and lovely things as usual Lynda.
Thanks for visiting & commenting on my blog.

Jackie said...

I am bowled over by your experiments. You really take it to the limit! I notice that you bonded the teabag paper in one trial but have you tried ironing it to itself? Its designed to heat bond to seal the tea bages without glue so its quite a good seal. I tried drawing with a soldering iron to seal it together in a wiggley line which worked quite well. Thanks for the link. Shop is open again!