Melody Crust - Fiber Artist

Quilt Show

2009-12-29T09:35:00.000-08:00

With the coming of the New Year all I want to do is sew! Scratch that ... all I ever want to do is sew! I'm working on a new embellished piece and the beading is going to take forever! In the evenings when the eyes and brain are tired I piece. I've made many quilts this way.

Here are two totally different looking quilts made with my favorite block.

Queen bed quilt

Wall quilt

Christmas at the Crust's

2009-12-27T14:51:00.000-08:00

Christmas this year was a bit abnormal. Wednesday, I got a call, my sister was unexpectedly called out of town. So I cooked dinner for 12 ... I was not inspired to decorate the table for dinner! We are getting together again next Sunday, stay tuned.

PS There was no fire!

Merry Christmas

2009-12-23T17:09:00.001-08:00

May your holidays be filled with joy and happiness!
Melody

Christmas tables

2009-12-17T15:56:00.000-08:00

My job at holidays is to decorate the table. Are there any ideas here? Usually by now I have settled on one idea. This year I have visions of sugar plums and too many thoughts. Must settle on one thing soon!

Thinking of Christmas

2009-12-14T15:49:00.000-08:00

Thinking of Christmas brings images of lights, trees and other Christmas symbols to mind.

Stenciling on Fabric - The Quilts

2009-12-12T13:11:00.000-08:00

Paint Sticks are oil paint in a crayon like form, my favorite for stenciling on fabric.
This example is painted using a purchased stencil on the back of one piece of fabric.

This is a friendship block, I thought that it would be a fun change to paint the block. I drew the block design on freezer paper, ironed it to the back of the fabric. Masked the areas not to be painted with more freezer paper on the right side of the fabric and painted with textile paints. Great way to personalize a block!

Stencil Like a Pro!

2009-12-07T02:37:00.000-08:00

1. Understand the paint:
Textile Paints can be applied with brushes, sponges, stamps and squirt bottles.
Luminere are metallic paints that brush on like butter. The paint remains flexible. They are opaque, even on dark fabrics.
Paint Sticks are oil paint in a crayon like form, very suitable for stenciling on fabric.
Dye-Na-Flow & Seta color are free flowing textile paints, not suitable for stenciling

2. Easy Clean up: Tape plastic to your table.

3. Discourage leaks: Use some hairspray on the underneath side of your stencil to make it stick on the surface, and to help prevent the paint seeping in at the edge.

4. Securing basics: keep a stencil in place by taping it at the top and bottom with a piece of tape and iron the fabric to freezer paper.

5. Less is more: Load the brush lightly, so that the ends of the bristles are covered evenly; wipe off any excess on a piece of paper or cloth. You'll get better results by applying two thin coats rather than one thick one. Wait for the first to dry before applying the second.

6. Work from the outside: Start painting on the edges of the stencil, working into the center. This helps prevent paint getting under the edges.

7. Appling the paint: Stencil brushes are round with short, stiff bristles. Use quick up-and-down movement to dab paint onto your fabric. This helps prevent paint getting under the edges.

8. Go multi-colored: To use more than one color in a stencil, use tape to mask off areas of the stencil you don't want in a particular color.

9. Wash regularly: If you're doing a repeat design, wash your stencil regularly in warm water to keep the edges free of paint. If there's some paint on an edge, you won't get a crisp edge to your painted stencil.

10. Store stencils flat: A stencil needs to be flat to be usable. Store it in a large flat box.

Painted Quilts

2009-12-03T10:47:00.000-08:00

Painted Desert

Pink and blue border fabric painted with textile paint, and freezer paper stencils.Rhapsody - painted with Dye-Na-Flow paint

Before quilting

Fabric Paints

2009-11-30T02:51:00.000-08:00

Fabric paints can enrich your material before you begin sewing—or at any time during the construction process. Use paints to add new designs or dimension to any portion of your quilts or garments, making the fabrics uniquely your own.

Paint sits on top of the fibers. The type of paint you use and how it is applied will determine the “hand” (or stiffness) of your finished item. To make paint easier to spread, try diluting it with between 25 to 50% water. Just keep in mind that full-strength paint colors will be intense, and the more you dilute it the lighter the color will be. Diluted paint doesn’t store well, so plan to use it up in a few days.

The nature of your project will help you decide kind of paint to choose:

Textile Paints can be applied with brushes, sponges, stamps, or squirt bottles.
• Transparency: You can increase the transparency of any color by adding Colorless Extender.
• Increasing both Transparency & Flowability: Add up to 25% water.

Luminere are metallic paints that remains flexible. They are opaque, even on dark fabrics. They can be easily mixed on the palette but will resist running together during direct application onto fabric.
• Pastels: Add #589 Neopaque White.
• Increasing Transparency & Flowability: Add up to 25% water.

Dye-Na-Flow is a free flowing, transparent, textile paint. This concentrated liquid paint may be used on natural or synthetic fabric. It will spread until it is thoroughly absorbed and even. (Heat set painted, dry fabric by ironing for 3 minutes on dry setting appropriate for fabric. Wash in cool water with Synthrapol and rinse.)

TIP: If you mix your own color, write down the recipe so you can make it again.

Embellishment Extravaganza

2009-11-25T10:42:00.000-08:00

In these days, learning opportunities fall at every doorstep. New and clever techniques are taught in the latest publications, at our local guilds and on the internet. Three pages or three hours provide enough information to explore a new concept. Yet…sometime we long for an in-depth, hands-on study with a master teacher. We seek instruction that spell binds us and pulls our creative energy outward. We want an opportunity to focus, to learn, and see what we can really do in an unhurried and encouraging setting. Add good food, laughter with friends, and late-into-the-night sewing and you have the makings of an adventure we might all long for.

Come embellish with me at Quilting Adventures. March in the Texas Hill Country routinely brings budding bluebonnets, apple green foliage and mountain laurel bushes leaning low with their blooms and intense fragrance. Plenty of inspiration for EMBELLISHMENT EXTRAVAGANZA.

I love embellishments, especially ‘all things shiny’ and uses them expertly in my work. Learn techniques in a relaxed, hands-on workshop. I will guide you in the creative use of fabric, foil, paint, paintstiks, buttons, threads, embroidery, other commonly available materials and "beads" to create your own special quilt.

You will also learn an easy way to make a bow, create texture with ribbons, plus make folded ribbon roses and lace.

This workshop is like having a week of private lessons from a Master Embellisher! Once you learn the techniques, you will be able to create your own embellished ‘masterpeices’ on any textiles from quilts to wall hangings to garments.

There will be plenty of time to work on small projects. You will be surprised at how quick and easy the smaller Eye Candy and Bead Candy quilts are to make. As your creativity flows, you will be dazzled by the results!

Quilting in the Limelight

2009-11-24T14:27:00.000-08:00

____________________________________________________
Tell Santa you want to go to Nancy Crow's barn studio to take a class with Philippa Naylor, author of Quilting in the Limelight. She will be teaching in the States next year.
April 19-30 Nancy Crow's Barn
Nov. 7-12 Art Quilt Tahoe
Her classes are fun and informative and she is a wonderful teacher!

Inspirations for Embellishment

2009-11-24T03:45:00.000-08:00

Shopping for stuff.

Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative

2009-11-21T02:33:00.000-08:00

Peace by Melody Crust

The Priority quilts for December's Show and Silent auction have been posted on small quilters' favorite website.

Here are the quilts and facts about the Smackdown:
Hollis Chatelain won the championship belt. Her quilt, "Fading" sold at auction for $3,600.
Becky Goldsmith came in second. Her quilt "Mini Passion Flowers" sold at auction for $2,500.
Sue Nickels' quilt, "Golden Feathers" sold for $1,200.
John Flynn's quilt, "Red Hawk's Star" sold for $1,000.

ALL of these quilts brought in more money than any other AAQI quilt previously sold. In my book, they are ALL winners.

Shopping

2009-11-19T10:25:00.000-08:00

I have been shopping for a new lamp. There is some really interesting stuff out there. Who knew? Great shapes for quilting designs or?

Dallas bling

2009-11-16T15:00:00.000-08:00

Many of you know I collect vintage rhinestone jewelry. I buy it whenever I get a chance. Phyllis, one of the lovely ladies in Dallas took me to Antiqueland, undoubtedly the largest antique mall I have ever seen.

Quilt Show

2009-11-13T15:03:00.000-08:00

Saffron

Color, always I am driven by color.

Machine pieced and quilted using cotton and silk fabrics. Using specialty threads with traditional feather designs as another design element is an exploration in texturing the surface.

A Walk on the Wild Side

Pure joy, rich vivid colors plus pattern and texture…the result? A Walk on the Wild Side.

This piece is composed of commercial cottons and decorative threads. It is hand appliqued, machine pieced and quilted.

Quilt Guild of Dallas

2009-11-10T16:05:00.000-08:00

We painted fabric

We foiled Fabric

Quilt Guild of Dallas

2009-11-07T15:54:00.001-08:00

We made labels

We made Eye Candy Quilts

It's Time for Dallas

2009-11-04T14:51:00.000-08:00

I'll be in Dallas visiting the Quilters Guild of Dallas for a lecture and three workshops.

Thursday, November 5, 2009
Lecture: Quilt Toppings

Friday, November 6, 2009
Workshops:
Eye Candy Quilts
Eye Candy quilts are stunning mini-quilts that are so much fun to make they should be illegal! They can be finished in practically no time and adding beads, buttons, ribbons, paint, feathers and a myriad of other commonly available materials is so fun and easy that ANY quilter will be dazzled.

Decorative Labels
Quilts personalized decoratively will enhance their value and interest with age. Using techniques developed for her pattern publications, Melody will help you to identify your quilts with permanent, colorful and attractive labels!

Saturday, November 7, 2009
Simple Surfaces
Learn all about paint sticks and foiling on fabric. Applying foil or paint sticks to silk or cotton is easy, fun and permanent. This informative hands-on workshop is for both traditional and non-traditional quilt and clothing makers. Based on her book Quilt Toppings; Fun and Fanciful Embellishment Techniques.

Bid now for Alzheimer's research!

2009-11-02T14:49:00.000-08:00

You'll see an usual phenomenon in the quilt world: otherwise friendly compatriots locked in a battle for quilting supremacy. You gotta see the first World Quilt Federation Smackdown Auction. It's for a great cause--Alzheimer's research--and the quilts are mini-masterpieces by Hollis Chatelain, Sue Nickles, John Flynn and Becky Goldsmith. Bid now!

Inspirations

2009-10-30T03:34:00.000-07:00

I'm in my studio thinking about my next quilt, and just can't get the images of Venice out of my mind!

Houston Paints!

2009-10-27T16:09:00.001-07:00

From the Paint Stick workshop

Embellishments

2009-10-23T17:10:00.000-07:00

Spirits Having A Human Experience

This quilt was made by Denise Austin of Orem, Utah. She says "Thanks in part for your enthusiasm and inspiration I was awarded the blue ribbon for the best use of embellishment on a Traditional Quilt at the Pacific International Quilt Festival in Santa Clara California!"
It is embellished with Swarovski crystals, llama and sheep wool for the people’s hair, outline embroidery, and various types of beads.

International Quilt Festival - Houston

2009-10-16T09:07:00.000-07:00

Serious shopping means - serious bling!

International Quilt Festival - The quilts

2009-10-15T09:10:00.000-07:00

To see all the winner go see quilts

I'm thrilled to announce that my quilt Wait-a-Minute was selected for an Honorable Mention.

This quilt is painted, hand beaded, machine pieced and quilted.