Backgrounds for Embroidery

Had a busy Saturday at home and created two more samples for my C&G study book looking at created backgrounds for embroidery. First using the Inuit work as a source I created a pieced background by laying strips of leather rough cut/torn down and machine over them.

Next tried a few bonding items. Using oil sticks in silver and gold I added shapes to the rough side of two pieces of bondaweb. On one I also added some Treasure Cream too .. The first piece of bondaweb I ironed onto velvet , then removed the paper backing and then ironed green and purple sheers too ... Looks great - not sure the photo really shows it at its best. I have cut the sample in half as it was A4 size , so plan to work on one piece with machine and hand embroidery. All my original medieval design work has become the source for this.

The second piece of bondaweb, was used to trap some leaf skeletons first , then the paper was removed from both sides and green sheers ironed on ... Baking parchment being used to limit the damage to my iron. This looks great.

I may try painting some bondaweb next .. although this would not count as an additional sample for the C&G work , will be interesting.

See all the photos here Click here
So far the Backgrounds in the link above cover:

1. Needle Felt
2. Hand made paper
3. Silk paper
4. Machine resist dyed fabric
5. Rubbings made on fabric
6. Pieced leather machined over
7. Painted bondaweb on velvet
8. Bonded sheers

The next problem is how do I display these ? A book ? Glue them in, stitch them in or tie them? Slip into plastic folders ? Add eyelets on the edge and create a book ?? This last is fine for the paper and bonded bits but the dyed fabrics would not quite work I feel ...!!?!??!?!

+++ UPDATE : Sunday 4:30pm ...=) +++

After writing the text above this morning I had a flash of an idea about using some hand dyed tissue I had as background stitched to card. This really worked for me. Used more of the hand made paper to create the cover including adding freehand text. Finished off with a mixture of fibres to tie the side together. Printed off titles and brief details for each page on to ExtraOrgansa which I then stitched on the pages. Once all the pages where created I then glued them back to back , this gave them a little more strength and hid all the stitching.

See all the photos of the pages here Click here