Yesterday's theme for Wednesday Stamper is one of my favorites, "Gothic Arch". Belinda Schneider created these first last year and has generously shared her template with all of us for our Sunday challenges, Gothic Arch Sunday. But any opportunity to make an arch is a pleasure for me. I love the format. I didn't quite have the stamina for a triptych like Sija's beautiful arches on the WS homepage, but did manage to come up with a diptych.
The substrate is corrugated cardboard covered with fabric- -muslin that I dyed last year by boiling it in beet juice and vinegar for about a gagillion hours. I over-stamped it with Hero Arts "textures and patterns" rubber stamps and Staz-On black ink. Sides are covered in window screen wire mesh, and I used mesh as the middle hinge, attached with black brads. The designs at the top are rub-ons from BasicGrey, as are the stick-on numbers at the bottom. I dirtied-up a piece of string with more black Staz-On and strung it across the arches for the tugging rope and finished it off with some scattered black seed beads glued randomly around the bottom. The text and pics are from a vintage school book that I found at an antique store years ago.
On another note, please stop back later. As promised, I'm going to post Anton Hect's of "Blinking Ballet" fame (see post from Dec. 4, 2007) latest work, the One Note Band. It's worth seeing, and I'll have it up on my blog by the weekend. Anton has supplied me with some interesting background information which I'll post with the video.
See you later!
What a great idea. beautiful.
Posted by: Hermine | January 04, 2008 at 01:12 AM
Wow this is really fabulous. Lokks so great. Love it.
Posted by: Sandy | January 04, 2008 at 03:13 AM
Fabulous arches what a wonderful idea
Posted by: Andrea | January 04, 2008 at 03:41 AM
Beautiful diptych!
Posted by: Willy | January 04, 2008 at 05:18 AM
Wow, how cool is this. A great idea. Love the colours.
Posted by: Silvia | January 04, 2008 at 08:41 AM
Lovely double fabric arches, fun too!
Posted by: ~*~ Patty | January 04, 2008 at 09:42 AM
Fabulous arch!!
Posted by: Paula | January 04, 2008 at 10:52 AM
This is too clever. Love how you did the string going across both arches.
Posted by: audrey h. | January 04, 2008 at 11:04 AM
Wow! I really do love this one. The colors work together wonderfuly.
Posted by: Amy | January 04, 2008 at 05:04 PM
Wow... the colours are beautiful
Posted by: Anja | January 05, 2008 at 12:14 AM
Barbara I always love hearing your process that you go through. You are so way way beyond me in ART but I still like to hear. :) I really like the Hearts also of the sketch.
Posted by: Barbara | January 05, 2008 at 05:47 AM
This is the first time I've replied to a comment, but Barbara, how in the world can you think I'm "beyond" you in art? I've seen your gorgeous pieces, and your photography! Believe me, if one of my photos turns out, it's either pure luck or because I had help! Different skills for different people. You're very talented!
Posted by: Barbara Hagerty | January 05, 2008 at 12:53 PM
This is great!!
Posted by: Rein | January 05, 2008 at 02:03 PM
Great diptych, fantastic stamps you have used and the imagination behind this.
Posted by: gillian | January 05, 2008 at 03:05 PM
Wonderful arch! love your fun images, it's such a cool idea to to the rope pulling like this. Love your fabric colours! Thanks for telling how you made the arch.
Posted by: Dymphie | January 06, 2008 at 10:17 AM