I have been making cartonnage boxes and cases for a few
years and I am so happy with the projects I have made… I started with simple
ones, just a few pieces of cardboard, paper and fabric and I made beautiful
journal covers, hinged lid boxes and more. Then I started getting more and more
excited about this technique and all the possibilities of shapes and sizes of
boxes I could make. Since then I have
made several different boxes, suitcases, cases….. wonderful unique pieces that
I am so proud of have made them! Plus have
been teaching this technique for
hundreds of students in in-person and online classes have been making my life so full of
purpose and happiness!
You may know, maybe not, but when living in Brazil before
moving to the US in 2012, I was a food engineer….yeah! I worked with food
companies, restaurants for about 12 years, but at the time we moved here, I
wasn’t happy with my profession and I decided that moving to here, I was not
just changing the place I was living, but I would be also changing my work and
my life.... And I did!! And I am so happy I did it! I always loved arts and crafts and so when I
discovered Cartonnage I fell in love with this amazing craft and couldn’t stop
anymore…. I found my new work: a crafter, a teacher, a cartonnage
designer!
Well, my husband laugh and says that at least my engineer
course is helping me now to build the boxes….and
he is not totally wrong…. May be all the knowledges I have learned in college and in my previous work help me
when designing new pieces, some projects have 30 or more pieces that need to
fit perfectly….
Until last year I was always using commercial fabrics in all
my boxes and cases. So many wonderful patterns we have in great quilt stores. But then……the artist inside me starting
thinking and missing some arts I used to make in my earlier years…. I have
painted towels, glass, plaster and used to have so much fun around the paints….
So, one idea started to come in my mind frequently….. why not try to paint my
own fabric for my cartonnage projects?...... start with white fabric and make everything??
Then, I decided to start learning how
could I do that! At this point, I have watched many videos in the internet, so many
wonderful ideas there, but not sure what to do.
In the same time I met a great talented fiber artist in Indiana, Lynn
Hodge, and her love for paints and
fabrics make me be totally sure I would find my way to paint my fabric! So, I
made some tests, trying to find my style in painting and also the best way to
apply them to my projects, because, more than paint I also want to do more…. I
also like to sew (not very talented in this though, but with practice I will be
better), and adding some stitches, free-motion quilts could improve even more
my projects and give me even more pleasure making it!
Let me make this clear, I am not trying to totally change my
work, I will continue making new
cartonnage projects and using some gorgeous commercial fabric, but this new
idea is to fill my inner artist spirit with more joy and why not maybe to
inspire others??
This January was very special for me, with this cold weather
up here in Michigan, some snow outside, I took the time for myself, to try, to
learn, to try again, to have fun…… and I am so happy with my results so far,
that I want to share some of them with you! I hope you like my journey that is
just starting……
Today I am gonna tell you about one course I took this
weekend and what I made from there! I
have other pieces I made using another techniques to paint, but I will share in
the next post, as I want to make some more to combine more ideas into that technique.
So, let’s talk about turning white fabric into amazing
designs using hand dyeing! I took this
class at Smith-Owen Sewing and Quilting store with this great teacher SueCortese, from SELC fabrics. I have tried dyeing other times, but taking a
class changed everything….. so, now I am aware of what and why to do! And here
is the point that chemistry arrive again in my life.... During the class I was
feeling like when I was in my chemistry
labs during my college and master….. so fun!
Dyeing is totally chemistry! The reaction between the fabric, the dyes and activator will create beautiful designs! Loved!
Take a look at some pictures during the class……
Sue taught us how to have different gradient of the same colors, how to mix colors, and other
fun ways to dye the fabrics. Here is the final result of the fabrics after washing and
drying….. I am amazed with them!!
Now, the ice dyeing...they are my favorite, for sure! It's amazing how unpredictable they are! We will always have a surprise when ready!
Of course, I couldn’t wait long to make some projects with
those great fabrics! So, here are some pictures of me making the boxes and
cases and the pieces ready! Oh boy, I
can’t believe in my eyes! So many new
ideas and possibilities in my mind now……. How fun! How unique!!!
We have a good amount of snow outside now and then…..guess what?
Already made new fabrics using the snow dyeing technique!
That’s what I want to share with you today! I hope you liked
it! I can tell you that I am having so much fun! Next week I am planning to share another
technique combining hand painting, hand dyeing, fabric applique and free motion
quilt!
See you! Have fun!!
Claudia
