Wednesday, April 8, 2009

music satchel




I promised more art, and here it is! My sister is an opera singer and she said last year that she was trying to find a satchel type bag that she could carry her music in to work. She was having trouble finding something that wasn't either the wrong shape or too boring looking. So I hunted and hunted for a modern looking satchel (which was hard to find, I might add!) and then I added an artwork to the front of it to make it different!




The satchel turned out to be a fairly cheap one from a stationery shop. It was perfect with its large blank front panel.




The artwork is handmade "fabric paper" - I have seen this technique in "Cloth, Paper, Scissors" magazine and in Beryl Taylor's wonderful book "Mixed Media Explorations". It is a process of building up paper with PVA glue on a fabric background. I used a plain fabric in the background and then layered sheet music, serviettes, and images on card and paper with PVA glue. The servittes are wonderful because they go quite transparent with the glue and you get different layers showing through from underneath.



This image was from a glossy magazine. I blended it in by gluing serviettes over the edges of the paper. I chose her because I loved the glowing colours of her outfit, and her classical pose.

This image is of L'Opera in Paris (quite suitable for an opera singer's bag!!) and it was a reproduction image that was a giveaway in a "Somerset Studio" magazine.
Once I was happy with the layers I had built up, I took to the art with my sewing machine! I picked some plain and some fancy stitches and sewed around the images (to help make sure they didn't dislodge later) and around the whole artwork to frame it and secure the edges. Please don't look too closely at the sewing because I am NO seamstress! I love that I can finally make use of my sewing machine in mixed media artwork. Sometimes I go crazy with it, and I don't worry at all that the sewing is terrible!!
I gave this to my sister for Christmas and she was over the moon with it! I hope that it hasn't fallen apart yet!!!!

15 comments:

Margaret said...

Ah, a woman after my own heart!! I'm so with you on the layering, it looks amazing, lovely colours and great texture, don't be deterred, this is exactly what you have your sewing machine for! I've also been trying a bit of tissue, I love the way it softens the edges and gives a slightly
3D 'glass' look to the piece. Fab!

Joanie Hoffman said...

Oh, Leanne, it's lovely. I also love the colors and that you made it for your sister.
It's also great that you tell how you did this.
Thanks for your support of my blogs.
Happy days,
Joanie

Anonymous said...

Hey thanks for popping by today and I am glad I did. I wanted to see how that technique panned out. Never tried it, but wanted to.,

I adore opera, have had a season ticket for two years now. You must tell me what operas your sister has been in, I amy have seen her!

cheers,

Denise

Elizabeth Golden said...

This is gorgeous! I am sure your sister will love it. Also everyday she can think of you and how blessed she is.
I do love that paper fabric technique. It also holds up really well.

mimilove forever said...

Yay! I love your sewing comment..I'm right there with you on that! :)
Beautiful satchel xx

Caroline said...

What a fascinating technique and so effective too!

Your sister is very lucky!

studio lolo said...

wow, this is stunning!! Beautiful gift, and so perfect!

Kate Carvellas said...

Oh...what a lucky, lucky woman to your sister is!! You did a fantabulous job on this!! I love, love, love it! Great piece of artwork!

Kim S Owens said...

This is lovely!! I would be thrilled with it too :-))

Casey said...

That os stunning!!! Your sister is one lucky lady!

Anne, Bulles dorées said...

stunning artwork !!

Cynthia said...

Beautiful work and fabulous images. That red and orange gown is luscious. What is a serviette? I don't think I've ever heard of that.

Janet Ghio said...

Your fabric paper is beautiful! and I like the way you have used it. I have also been making fabric paper. If you are interested in seeing it, I have some on my blog.

Lisa said...

Wow, that is awesome that you could make a plain satchel look so stunning! your sister is one lucky lady! (and it's nice to have someone appreciate the beautiful work you do!)

Lori W said...

I love the bag/satchel. Was just drawing out a shoulder bag and was trying to think what would work for the display part - now I'm inspired! Thanks.