Collage Mittens
I needed new mittens so knitted them using some leftover yarns. But when finished, my knitted mittens looked so plain! Even if I had knitted stripes to make them more interesting. I got an idea: I crocheted embellishments which I sewed on the mittens. Yes, I like them now! Very folk with a modern twist!
The mittens were finished but this story is not over. I began to think how I got the idea about the crocheted embellishments. Well, you know my love for collages. I was thinking about collage mittens! I find these words most inspiring when combined: collage and mittens. I got plenty of ideas how I could take the concept even further and begin combining crochet, knit, quilted fabric, ribbons and so on. Probably I will make those crazy collage mittens next winter.
Remember, if you need new ideas, think about naming your project by thinking how they would call it in another substance area. For example, how would carved mittens look like?
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Get Inspired by Fine Arts
The world of fine arts is bursting with ideas that you can use in art journaling or any crafts. On the left, there is Emile Vernon’s painting Elegant Lady with a Bouquet of Roses. On the right, you can see my interpretation.
The secret is not to copy but find the concept of the painting and transfer it to your personal style. I began with the dominant factor of the painting which was the beautiful dress. Then I added the various details of the painting in my style. Almost weightless objects and angular lines combined with soft shapes create the atmosphere for both of the work. Because I love surface patterns I wanted to study the painting as a pattern too. I must admit I love the result. It represents the kind of nostalgia that I find very appealing.
Another painting to go. I chose Claude Monet’s Impression Sunrise.
Here I kept the theme of the painting but used torn paper pieces to represent the thick brush strokes. The sun was the most interesting detail, so I made many of them. A horizontal composition combined with vertical lines was also repeated. I copied many of the concepts but not the exact painting.
How to Do It?
1) Take your favorite painting and analyze it to pieces. What is the composition, the colors and their relations, the eye-catching details?
2) Reconstruct the pieces and add some of the things that reflect your personal style.
After this exercise, you’ll never complain about the lack of ideas! The whole world of fine art is waiting for you.
Get Inspired and Express Your Inspiration!
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Choosing Creativity
This watercolor piece was made last summer. It was found when I organized my papers. During a long summer night I browsed one of my favorite books: Alphonse Mucha Masterworks. After closing the book I wanted to make something Art Nouveau myself!
My sisters used to say that I am an affective person. I get easily excited and affected by everything that surrounds me. Within years I have learned to steer myself by choosing what’s around me. No one can choose everything, but there’s plenty of choices that can be made during the day. Like which book to open.
More than before I choose to close the television. I also try to stop browsing endlessly what others have made. It is surprising how little input is needed to get the creativity flowing. Having a glimpse of Mucha’s masterpieces can be enough. Limiting consuming and increasing creating can take us closer what we want, like time traveling to Art Nouveau.
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Things Learned From Quilting
My latest collage here is influenced by fabrics and quilting. After being linked from Amy’s Free Motion Quilting Adventures blog I got the idea to blog about my roots in quilting. And even more: what I have learned from quilting.
I used to be a quilter you know. Within years my quilting became more and more complex. I fell in love with hand embroidery and it felt like the needle was my pen. Quite soon after I made this, “The Time of Miracles”, I knew I could not just go on. It took too much time to complete one, even small quilt.
I discovered paper crafting hoping it would be faster. And it was! That time I also combined paper with fabric.
But after taking the first steps in paper crafts I realized that I had learned a lot from quilting.
1. Using ugly colors
Choosing only pretty colors makes them all ugly. Every quilter buys neutrals, blacks, whites, solids and other duller fabrics to make pretty even prettier.
2. Selecting colors that differ in intensity
Hues that have the same intensity look flat and unappealing together. Like in nature and in photos, the hues vary and I think it looks beautiful.
3. Mixing patterns
By bringing new and new fabrics to the quilt it gets more and more appealing once the colour choices work. I love mixing a variety of patterns together!
4. Layering
Applique is the technique where the fabric motifs are sewn on the background. Layering creates depth and makes the end result interesting. I try to maintain clear color contrasts between layers.
5. Attachment
In quilting all the pieces are first attached by sewing. They form a connection within each other even before the final step: the actual quilting. In collages I always try to group elements and give them some kind of border. Pieces that float look like they do not belong anywhere.
I still make quilts now and then. I do not make traditional blocks or plan my quilts. I like sewing intuitively like I would be drawing something unexpected.
Skills can be mixed and styles can evolve from the experience of making a wide range of things. Whatever you create, hopefully this encourages you to combine your skills for the next project!
More design advice applied to crafting: Folk Bag Workbook