Metal Button Wreath

I have enjoyed this Sunday sticking and gluing my collection of

metal buttons and snaps to make a wreath. I have been collecting all 

the metal buttons over the last few years. 

The ones you don't use for other projects.

 As some of you know I have set myself the challenge of making a 

wreath every month using the inspiration of the studio.

This month its 'Metal and Shimmer'.

See more of the wreaths and the studio displays

HERE

Foiled Embellished Bags

These are some more metal, foiled and embellished bags.

They use so many different layering techniques 

it makes the surfaces so rich and interesting.

See more by looking clicking the written labels below

Embossed Metal

I have got a lot of pictures and news to share and I have been 

asked by students, family, friends and Caroline's Mum to update my Blog. 

So here goes....

Above, is a drinks can that has been embossed with a shell and sea 

themed embossing plate and then coloured with acrylic inks.

Elaine had the plate for her birthday and we all had a lovely

time embossing with it. 

So, thank you to Suze for giving it as a gift and thank you to

Elaine for sharing. 

Some of the embossing plates are really detailed

 and you can pick out so many areas to use in your work.

Scrapbooking.com

Is just one of the companies that has some really good plates.

Just remember when cutting your drinks can to be 

careful of the sharp edges.

See more of embossing and metal techniques by clicking the 

written labels below.

Metal Samples with Embroidery

These are some of the samples that were produced at the class and 

continued at home. 

They are so rich in colours and so varied.

Remember they are all made out of drinks cans!

See more by clicking the labels below. 

Jewelled Bag

With teaching lots of metal work, students 

like to make their samples into a projects so here is one of the bags, 

inspired by Klimt.

Lots of metal foiling and stitch. 

Dragon Bookmark

Carol made a Dragon Bookmark for her Grandson from

the embossed and coloured metal.

Such a lovely dragons face!

See more about creating metals for textiles by 

clicking on the written labels below.

Textile Metal

We have had a couple of weeks embossing and stitching metal.

Everyone started with a drinks can but the results

are all different!

They are embossed with plastic plates through a Cuttle Bug or

by drawing with a ball point pen.

The metal is then coloured with Acrylic Inks, Staz On Ink Pads,

Glass Paint or Nail Varnish.

The metal is then cut out in so many different and applied with

the sewing machine using a variety of stitches to textiles.

Many made cards, brooches, bookmarks and bags.

I will be teaching more of these creative metal work and recycle

days this summer.

See more examples by clicking the written or photo posts below.

Creating Metal Work

What I love about the Textile Classes everyone is so open minded

now about creating and trying new things.

When I asked everyone to bring drinks cans and a Jeans needle,

everyone was intrigued.

When I showed them the start of the can and what you can

then do with the techniques, some

where a bit cautious but they soon got

stuck in and shared the results they were getting.

This has started another hoarding phase,

Sorry!

Recycling is so good and you can make so much treasure from it.

Foiling and embellishing added to the technique and 

I am sure metal will appear on lots of things in the future 

as now there is no fear of putting metal under their machines!

Sweet Foil Sample

I love using recycled items to make glorious textures. this one on the right 

is made up of a piece of felt,

 Bondaweb and then sweet foils and Christmas party hats applied

making sure I use parchment or baking paper to protect my iron.

You can then stitch all over it.

Use an open machine embroidery stitch as the close ones

will perforate the foil.

To seal the surface so that it can be used as a book cover

or have durability paint on acrylic wax or

soft beeswax or soft boot polish.

Allow it to harden before you buff!

See more metal samples by clicking the written labels below.

Metal Samples

With teaching workshops and City and Guilds 

I have had many metal samples over the years and this was the time

to put them all together in a sketchbook.

I have enjoyed putting them in some sort of order so I can

use them to demonstrate techniques and inspire 

metal creativity. 

All the metal comes from recycled drinks can and some

tubes.

I like to burn metal with a blow lamp or Creme' Brulee' Torch.

Health and Safety needs to be considered here remember! 

See my previous post HERE

If you go to far the metal will burn through.

I have also used cat food tins in the past for exhibition artwork.

See "Rabbit Armour" HERE

Burning Metal

As you can see I make the metal really flame. Depending on the thickness and type of metal and what colour you require,it will take a different amount of time. This is thin alluminium so it didn't take long as I only wanted a burnished bronze tint.
Be careful not to burn it too far as it goes very brittle. When you get the effect you want, wash it in a liitle soap and water and I rub clean with a wet wipe. This takes off any charcoal which may get on your work and cleans up the surface for additional colour.
I will now cut this up into sections and etch before embroidering and joining to the main piece.

See how I joined the roadkill metal sculpture on my website.

http://www.art2inspire.co.uk/

Burning Metal In Stewart's Studio

This morning Stewart let me into his studio to burn some more metal for one of the mixed media pieces I am working on, based on armour and costumes.

Health and Safety tip here make sure you protect yourself, I wear my leather apron most of the time when I am in my studio, so I can do most techniques without worrying about what I am wearing!
Wear a mask when needed.
Work in a well ventilated room.
Have water handy!

See more of my metal sculptures on my website especially under 'Roadkill'

http://www.art2inspire.co.uk/