Long Absence - But more rust!

I am shocked to find that I did not post at all during September!

I have been very busy but too often in a place away from the computer so I've been unable to post. Here is a selection of photos which show some of the pieces I've been working on. They are all based on the rust theme I am currently exploring ready for the planned exhibition next year.

The first one started as needlefelted fibres and fabrics which were then covered with organza and felted again. I did a bit of heating before adding machine and hand embroidery and then heating a bit at the end.

This second piece has some Lutradur which had a rubbing of the rust surface I have been using printed on to it. The backing is acrylic felt so after machining I heated both surfaces to create the holes. The piece was finished with some clusters of beads.

The final piece for now is based on a piece I saw in a recent Quilting Arts by Morna Crites-Moore. I couldn't find any old woollen jumpers so I knitted some squares and felted them before cutting them up.

Each of these pieces still need to be mounted for presentation but I'm still thinking about just how I will do it!

I've also done some pieces with the fabric I "rusted" so I'll get some photos posted in a few days. I had great trauma while sewing the main piece as I lost count of the needles I broke. The tension on my machine also went mad and I found free machining very hard work. I suspect the rust had something to do with it as I've done normal stuff since and had no problems.