2013 AUTUMN JOURNAL: Fox

As the season goes on, I'm can't tell you how much I enjoy FALL....and love working in my Autumn Journal.  The page I will share today is titled "FOX" for obvious reasons.

It started with wanting to do something fun and whimsical.  So I sketched out a fox and used canvas letters to simply write FOX onto a gelli printed page with fabric accents.

I didn't really like the overall look of the fox, so I added some reinkers to the mix.  I loved how this looked.  Kate Thompson showed us this technique and material during her class. 

I planned on keeping the fox, the same shape and whimsical aspect....but once the ink dried...I didn't care for his figure, but loved the background....so.....

I used another technique from Kate's class ...and started an image transfer of adorable real life fox (foxes?!? not sure what the plural is...my mom would be so ashamed :(  I acquired the images from none other than Pinterest. 

Before printing I mirrored the images:

The images below show the initial result from rubbing off the paper.  I did this a couple of times to make the image not so cloudy.  (Hint: You can use Tar Gel to make it even more clear.)

  

So after the paper dried, I used a Stabilo ALL black pencil to highlight accents of the fox plus it created a better outline.  I instantly fell in love with these little guys (I refer to them as guys since I have so many Warrior girls already in the journal)

I felt I was done at this moment.

But the next day, I needed to add a bit of orange/rust via watercolor to make them more FOXY :)

And I fell deeper in love with the guys. 

Other pages I have completed using inspiration from classes include:

Warriors

Free Spirit

My goal is to complete my first vlog once the album is finished showing each page. 

I truly adore this and love mixing the papers and fabric plus embellishments.

 www.aligitt.etsy.com

SUNNY CARVALHO: Crazy Ladies

Day 2 began with some breathtaking views on my drive to the studio. I can only imagine when the leaves all have changed. 

...and some frizzy humid mountain hair

But arriving at Random Arts, there were yummy Danish rolls there and several friendly new faces. And hence the class began: 

This napkin was used in the background. My table mate had the most amazing napkins to use. I adored this one. Especially the feather and dragonfly. 

Then lunchtime was back out on the porch for a Fried Shrimp Po-Boy and chips. Delish!

Hair is slowly calming down. Lol. 

After sketching out figures. I opted to do a Fox Girl looking up at the dragonflies. 

This was my stopping point for the day as I wanted to leave on time to get to Pearson Falls. It is suppose to rain here tomorrow dampening my options. Pun intended. 

But first a group photo:

And then a short ride and hike to get to the falls. Once again playing countdown  with my iPhone battery. 

The top was soo worth it and the sounds of the falls were so relaxing. 

After a short trip around town searching for food, I drove to the cottage. Again gorgeous views!! And a renewed desire to finish my artwork. 

MEET HARRIET!!  

"Harriet rhymes: 

One, two, three, four, and five

I caught a hare alive. 

Six, seven, eight, nine, and ten

I let him go again."

You can see outdoor lighting is so much better. But hard to obtain at night. 

FABRIC FUN: 2013 Autumn Journal Foundation

 

I have fallen in love with fabric journals.  So for the Fall season, I decided to create one adapting the woodland creatures as my theme (squirrels, foxes, deer, etc)

 

To begin, I created foundation pages with various backgrounds using gelli plate, Silhouette, stencils, gesso, texture plates.  Added various embellishments and ribbon plus started a few drawings on some pages.  So far, I am completely smitten with it.  Let's hope the momentum keeps up. 

 

used a stencil to create a colorful leave over another gessoed stencil

metallic paints with the United States stencil

burlap, ribbon and gelli print with leaf stencil on feed bag

Fox drawing page including burlap ribbon and letters atop gelli printed page

used a feed bag for this page I got while at The Depot in Concord, NC

some pages were created with upholstery samples

FAVORITE RIBBON - found at vintage store...LOVE.

attached some pinecone charms to this page

used a deer stamp repetitively on this page, adding other stamps on the tag
(you can't really tell, but I stamped "September" & "November" in a light ink above/below October)

used a gelli print on vellum paper as well as a squirrel charm and wooden heart embellishment

many pages are made from feed bags which I love the feel and texture of

added HELLO DEAR wooden tag, plus used the outline of a texture plate with gesso + puffy paint to outline (plan is to watercolor the background of the mountain and forest/stream)

FAV PAGE:  I used a feather stencil applied with gesso.  Then did multiple colors on a gelli plate to create the look.  Added THANKFUL in a pink from a Silhouette cutout.  Just adore it..and will leave it as is.

2ND FAV: Used an owl placemat to create the stenciled look on my gelli plate.

added a mistable feather embellishment I found at Marshall's....yes they now have art supplies.

Adore this vintage napkin, so I will leave this page alone as well...may add a word or something, but it reminds me of growing up in Nebraska and picking strawberries at my grandparents' house

Another page done on a manila folder using textured plates and gesso; then gelli printed.



Attempted to gelli print on fabric...result was a duller effect, but once I added the leaf stencils...Perfection.  The final touch was adding two fox charms. TOO CUTE ...if I say so myself.  The small end of the napkin will have the word HARVEST embroidered on it.

I plan on using this spread for an embroidered grid I am making titled "I LOVE FALL"; however I haven't decided if I would rather frame it.  TBD I guess.

I used a stencil with Venetian plaster and then once dried...sprayed inks to define the stencil more.  It is a heart dangling from a tree branch.

The feathers are a stencil used on a gelli plate then cut out to create an edging to the pages.  Another favorite moment in the book.

(notice the little fox sleeping ...ADORABLE) 

Another attempt at gelli printing on fabric plus a few stickers and wooden embellishment.

 

Once the album was complete and bound, I glued it in place inside the album cover which is found here.

 

If you are interested in your own Fabric Album, please let me  know and I would be happy to create one for you based on a theme or just for any use.  ETSY STORE - Ali Gitt

 

DONNA DOWNEY STUDIOS carries a majority of the supplies I used in this project.  It is like a stencil heaven plus ribbons galore.  Go check it out.