Gnomesville by Greig
Many emails have been received by QueenGnome asking for gnome fabric. For a long time the only gnome fabric available was sold by private people who just happened to have some in their stash at home. I discovered some of this on the www.Ebay.com auction site. In addition I have managed to purchase a supply of some gnome fabric distributed by www.reprodepot.com.
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Gnomesville by Greig |
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There are a few folks selling small reproductions of gnome artwork, printed onto fabric, using computer printers and special printable fabric sheets. These are wonderful and great for embellishing something special.
Fabric painting is fun and easy - but beware it is addictive! You can start with plain white cotton (finally a use for those old white linens) or silk if you have the budget! I like to cut the fabric into manageable sizes before turning it into special gnome fabric art. You should wash the 'sizing' from new fabrics prior to embellishing them with paint or stamping. Sizing is a product that will alter your finished fabric look as it is known to cause color to fading.
Wet
on Wet Technique - You can create wonderful scenes on fabric and then once
dry embellish them with gnomes. This piece was started with fabric dampened with
a water sprayer. The wetter the fabric the more your paint will blend. The
background for this scene was done with three main colors (blue, yellow &
red) with white and silver added for the sky and clouds. I used both a brush and
sea sponges to apply the colors to the damp fabric. Then I let it dry and once
dry heat set the colors with a hot dry iron. NO STEAM. Next I embellished the
initial background with both brushes and sponges. This time the paint was
applied to the DRY fabric so that it would not bleed. Once the paint was dry
again the fabric was pressed with a hot dry iron. Ok I now had a nice scene with
no action. So, I added embroidered buildings and gnomes using my Janome 10000.
The tiny gnomes were digitized using Janome's Digitizer 10000 program. If you do
not own an embroidery machine you can add little appliqué gnomes using fusible
backing, fabric glue or needle & thread, or by using gnome rubber stamps!
Wet on Wet Texture - After applying paint to wet fabric you can sprinkle salt onto the fabric before it dries. This will cause the paint to mutate. Different salts (sea salt, table salt Epsom salt etc.) will give different results so try a variety. This method works best with dark paint. Once your fabric is dry shake off the excess salt . Place a pressing cloth on your ironing board. Lay the right side of the fabric on top of the pressing cloth and press the back of the fabric with a hot dry iron to set the color. You will need to wash out the excess salt that will remain in the fabric however I recommend that you wait 24 hours prior to washing to to allow the paint to thoroughly set.
Appliqué Gnomes - It is best to apply the fusible backing to the fabric prior to cutting out your appliqué. Then follow the manufacturer's instructions for affixing them to your DRY fabric. Most fusible backing is applied with a hot dry iron and some can actually be removed with a hot dry iron! A tip to remember. Local fabric stores and even Wal-Mart sells this inexpensive product. I recommend that you also stitch down your fused appliqués - I've lost gnomes in the washing machine!!! This is best done with invisible thread which is available from fabric stores, Wal-Mart and even many Dollar Stores. Read the packaging as some makes of invisible thread are less tolerant to heat and will melt away if it comes in contact with a hot iron. Should you choose to not use a fusible backing then I suggest you use a product that will prevent the edges from fraying. Anti-fray is available at most stores that sell fabric.
Rubber
Stamping Gnomes onto Fabric - There are a number of rubber gnome stamps now
available. Some are featured in the November and December 2005 newsletters and
more will be featured in future WWGA newsletters as they become available. When
stamping onto fabric be sure to use a stamp pad that contains pigment that is
made permanent by heat setting. There are a number on the market and I am in the
process of testing them and will update this page as I get results. I did try to
use a regular acid-free black pigment (black) however found it faded after just one
wash. Also, when I tried to color the stamps the black smudged. It is important
to stamp onto DRY fabric. And then heat set your stamp prior to coloring it.
Heat setting normally can be done with a dry iron. Another method is to put the
article in the dryer on high heat for at least 10 minutes. I do both for added permanence.
Coloring
Stamped Gnomes on Fabric - There are several different fabric paints
available for use on fabric. Another less expensive way is to use crayons. After
coloring your gnomes and fabric you press the back side of the fabric with a hot
dry iron. Be sure to put a paper towel between the fabric and your ironing board
to absorb the wax as the iron melts it. You will instantly see the crayon colors
adhere to your fabric! This method produces a nice water color effect. Finally a
use for all those crayons - and you can create wonderful effects from crayon
shavings (the bits left over after sharpening). A mixture of colors makes a
great field of wild flowers for your gnomes to enjoy.
Making
Gnome Sponge Stamps - You can purchase dehydrated sponge from Michaels craft
stores (and I'm sure there are other shops that carry this inventive product).
It looks like cardboard and you can draw on it, cut out your shape, and then use
it to stamp gnomes (and other shapes) onto fabric. You would apply the paint to
your damp sponge and gently press the sponge onto DRY fabric. Smooth cotton
works best. Reload the sponge with each imprint for crisp images. To vary the
tone make several impressions before reloading the sponge with paint.
Embroidered Gnomes - Finally, you can embroider gnomes onto your fabric. There are a few embroidery companies selling gnome embroidery for those of you who have home embroidery machines. QueenGnome makes he own custom gnome embroidery (in various sizes). If you do not have an embroidery machine you can purchase embroidered appliqué to add to your projects. These can be affixed in the same manner as fabric appliqué. Tip: To attain soft gnome machine appliqué use a water soluble stabilizer and bridal tulle! Visit my embroidery pages to see some embroidered gnomes.
Special Shapes and Silhouettes - To make special shapes or silhouettes on fabric you can use butcher's paper. This is brown paper with wax on one side. Using a warm iron you can affix it to your fabric. I needed to make a number of jar toppers from some fabric. I did not want them all the same so I cut out a number of 9" circles from some butcher paper and ironed it onto my fabric. I then was able to paint the circles without paint being absorbed by adjoining circles. This acts like 'wax resist' and is a fun way to create shapes. You can also use it in the reverse. If you wanted an area on your fabric left unpainted cut out the shape from the butcher paper and press it on the fabric. For example, you have a piece of white fabric. You want it all shades of blue but you want the center to remain unpainted in the shape of a leaf. Cut a leaf shape from the butcher paper and press it on the fabric before you apply the blue paint. Let it dry and then carefully remove the butcher paper. Masking tape can also be used. This method creates great silhouettes.
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After turning this white 100% cotton fabric in a lovely muted pastel green I divided it into four quarters. Each quarter has the same pattern. I used rubber stamps (artwork by Nordenstrom © 98), heat set them, and then painted the designs with Setacolor. The whole piece was ironed again to heat set the Setacolors. Now it's waiting to be turned into something special. When creating fabric be sure to either sign it or add a special mark. I have chosen to use a crown as my original 'mark'.
If you have any additional tips or questions about creating your own fabric email QueenGnome.
QueenGnome's Artistic Gnome Fabric Discovery Chart
| Acrylic Paints by Americana and FolkArt (water based) (non-toxic) | These paints require the addition of "fabric medium" to help the to flow and bond to fabrics |
| Gare Acrylic Paints (water based) (non-toxic) | No fabric medium is sold by Gare and I tested their paints with great success. |
| Pebeo Setacolor fabric paint (water based) (non-toxic) specially formulated for use on fabric | They leave no residue - paint acts more like a dye and is absorbed well into fabric thus the painted fabric retains its softness. This product must be heat set to make it permanent. |
| Sharpie fine point markers | A must for adding fine details. Careful though these are permanent markers. Not wanting to take chances I heat set it before washing the finished item. |
| Stamp Pads especially formulated for use on fabric include:
"Fabrico" Ink Pads by Versa Craft All of these require heat setting to make them permanent |
Be sure to choose one that indicates that it is for use on fabrics and is made permanent by heat setting! This is VERY important especially if you plan to color your stamped fabric. I have used Fabrico pads which is acid free and made permanent by heat setting.. |
| Crayon coloring | I love the watercolor results! Soft and subtle. Just be sure to be consistent with the amount of crayon applied as the more you apply the more vivid the color result will be. After removing the wax with a hot iron you can add more layers of color. |
| Teflon Pressing Sheet | I prefer to use one of these whenever I have to use a hot dry iron. It gives me confidence that I will not scorch the fabric or get product onto my iron. Highly recommended gadget! |
| Fusible Webbing for Appliqué | I recently created a painted landscape quilt that include some tiny gnome appliques that I fused on using Heat'n'Bond (Lite). I put the finished quilt in the washing machine on a gentle cycle and had to go in search of the gnomes at the end of the cycle as they came unfused! I now recommend that you fuse and stitch them to your fabric. Next time I will test out a heavier Heat'n'Bond. |
| 100% Cotton Quilt Batting | In keeping with my desire to use 100% natural fibers from nature I used 100% cotton quilt batting in my latest project. After washing I noticed some brown water spots. I am washing it again and hopefully they will disappear. I will put the wee quilt in the dryer this time on a low heat setting. |
| Easy quilt stippling using sponge painted fabric you create! | I am a beginner at making quilted landscape scenes and hand
paintng fabrics. After completing my front design I chose a backing that
has large sponged designs on it which I created during a fabric painting
class. After sandwiching my fabrics and batting, I stitched around the
large sponged designs on the backside; this provided instant friendly
stippling. The back had designs that complimented the scene. The quilt now
has large dragonflies and leaves stippled over it. I used variegated
threads on top and in the bobbin - each complimenting the fabric colors.
When creating painted fabrics you may want to remember this and create or buy large sponge stamps to use on fabrics for landscape quilt backings. Instant stippling patterns to follow! Bees, birds, fairies...visit the children's section at Michaels where you can find lots of precut sponge designs to use or show off your personal style and make your own as I did from dehydrated sponges. |
| Rubber Stamps | I have ordered stamps both mounted and unmounted. Sometimes stamps come with a sponge backing that you can just peel and mount the stamp to a block of wood. However sometimes they come without the peel and stick backing. To affix the rubber to wood use Contact Cement. As you know, water will warp wood. For this reason I have decided to seal all my wood. I clean my stamps with a wet soapy sponge; quickly rinse them; and then immediately dry them off with a paper towel. You can also purchase special stamp cleaner. |
Visit this page often as it's my work book and will be constantly updated.
Some of my gnome fabric creations...all pictures are done on 8-1/2 x 11" pieces of white cotton fabric - a size I find most managable. Great for appliqué or quilting. I used Pebeo Setacolor fabric paint (water based) (non-toxic) specially formulated for use on fabric! Paint is heat set. The cooking gnome has mushrooms 'stamped' onto the bottom of his apron that does not show up in the picture. The stamp was bigger than the width of the apron so I simply placed a piece of white paper over the area I did not want stamped. Another great use for your growing collections of rubber stamps.
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Bedside Caddy |
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