Words!

"Do not wait until you have skill to start your project. Your project will teach you the skill." Jen Herchenroeder (as seen on Jane Monteith's Instagram page)

As I was heading in to visit Margie this morning something caught my eye in the big pine tree.  I saw it from a long way off....and I was intrigued. The closer I got I was sure it was some kind of necklace....but an odd linked necklace. And how in the world did it get up there?

But when I finally got close enough...I realized it was breakfast for the birds....Cheerios strung onto pipe cleaners!  Clever!

  

This was the first morning in a while I walked outside with Paul.  It's just been too darn cold.  

But it felt good to be out...and we visited the hackmatack tree....and those sweet little pine cones are still hanging on.

I love this tree....and can't wait to watch the needles appear in the spring.

I had a little lightbulb moment with on of my circle paintings. I knew it needed something...but was a little baffled. But there was some nearby collage ephemera that included book pages that gave me an idea.  Words!  That's what it needed.  

I happen to have some pre-fused text fabric...so I cut a few more circles and ironed them on here and there.  Game changer! It seemed to unify the piece without being overbearing.  I think this one is done. And now I'll think of some way to improve the other one.  

Fusing 101 lesson #4: Fusing Words and Images 

I'm going to save motifs lesson until tomorrow....because today it's all about words!

There are all kinds of ways to print on fabric....but if you use fusible webbing you end up with fabric that works like an iron on patch. And that can come in handy. 

This afternoon I added fusible webbing to some bleached muslin.  I trimmed up three sides leaving the bottom edge making it easier to peel the paper off later.  

The release paper gave the fabric enough stability to glide right through my printer.  

WITH THE PAPER STILL ON......I placed the fabric in my paper tray with the fabric side down...and it printed like a dream!  

I pressed it with a hot iron (with a pressing cloth) to set the ink.  Now I have a whole sheet of JOY tags....and a few labels to iron on the back of projects.

I have ironed one of these little joy tags on several projects...including every one of my 12 Folt Bolt projects.  This December piece has not only a little printed joy....

but also a printed image of a bottle.  Nearly the whole piece is fused.

 

Here's the page I printed onto fabric.  I found an image of an old bottle...and printed it in a couple sizes.

You can print anything on fabric! And sometimes WORDS are a game changer.  Especially the word JOY!