I've been playing with butterflies.
I wanted to make a few dimensional butterflies for my latest bead journal piece, inspired by the butterflies I saw at the butterfly farm.
I have stitched stumpwork butterflies using wire and buttonhole/long and short stitch but that would have taken more time than I was willing to spend. Plus, I wanted them to be representational but not necessarily perfectly realistic.
Rather than stitch them all by hand, I traced the patterns onto water soluble stabilizer, layering fabric on either side. I then sewed around them on my machine with a tiny stitch...dunked them in water and left them to dry.
I tried using lace but I'm not sure it worked for this small of a butterfly...these are only about 0.5" or 1 cm...pretty bitty. I do think the lace would be beautiful on a much larger butterfly so I'll have to try that later.
I also wanted to try the look of the black thread versus white thread. I liked how the stabilizer gave the pieces a little dimension if you shaped them before they dry.
Note: Many thanks to the cute little model-mouse that I used to showcase the blue butterfly in the first picture -- it was made by Charlotte Lyons...and I bought it from her last Valentine's day.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Bitty Butterflies
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11 comments:
Suzan, you are really amazing in what you come up with! I love your itty bitty butterflies, they are adorable. Can't wait to see what you make with them.
WHAT in the WORLD will you do next?!?? How in the world to you control your machine to make those tiny stitches in that small of a space. You are amazing. I think you could easily open a shop selling embellishments; at the very least supply them to local shops to sell. Can I market for you?!? ~lol~
What month will you do Avatar?
XX, Carol
So pretty! I love that first picture with the mouse...adorable!
You don't just play with needles, m'dear... You play with EVERYTHING!!! That's what I love most about you... experiment, play, create! Your butterflies are just adorable and so much better than the ones you can buy at Michael's or JoAnn's... so personal, so you, so much fun!
Robin A.
Your butterfly are so cute ! I plan to try this technique soon, for a camelia flower, as explained in Di Van Niekerk book. I 've never tried water soluble fabric.
Susan, I love your work. Your photos are exceptional. Thank you for sharing all that you do.
So sweet! Of course anything miniature is adorable in my book, but your hand lends that magical touch. ;)
I LOVE it when you show how to do something. I learn so much from you! Thank you, thank you!
Forgive my ignorance but what is water soluble stabilizer?
I can hardly wait to see what happens when you use lace. I have a big cache of lace from my mom, just ready for something....
The butterflies are cute but how about that ORCHID. Beautiful. Do you raise them by any chance. I have fallen in love with them since being in Florida.
Hugs
FredaB
VERY clever, my dear! You are on such a roll, it is amazing to watch.
This is such an awesome concept and can be applied so many ways...I need to keep a list of Susan Ideas to try out..and that list keeps getting longer and longer!
Very cool, Susan. I love the mouse with the butterfly on his nose... so adorable. You are a wonder!
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