I have always liked crafts and sewing. About 17 years ago, I started decorative painting with acrylics as therapy for stress. Then about 10 years ago I began to think about how I could combine sewing with my painting. In the process of exploring this idea, I came across a book by Alison Holt, the Beginner’s Guide to Machine Embroidered Landscapes. In the book she showed how she painted landscapes on silk with silk dyes, and then added details with free motion embroidery techniques. Her combination of upper thread and bobbin thread colors to create contrast, texture and dimension fascinated me. It inspired me to use acrylic paint and a fabric medium on muslin with free motion sewing to create my pictures. I like using quilting techniques to add more dimension to my pictures as well as to frame them. I am also exploring the use of other types of embellishments and sewing to add interest. The above artwork is a closeup of one of my Thread Art pieces. This shows the intricate detailing of three dimensional texture and colors present in these creations.
Bebe Tulley
