Last year, I became obsessed with some of the fabric manipulation techniques I read about in The Uncommon Quilter. Crayon rubbings on fabric was something that I really wanted to try while Debra Tomson Williams and Cynthia Treen were visiting. We found some really interesting old Montana headstones, and set to work.
It's really very simple - crayola crayons and the fabric (or paper) of your choice. We found it helpful to bring some low-tack tape to keep the fabric in position and some rags and a brush to clear the stones of dirt and dust. When you're back at home, press the crayon into the fabric using a warm iron and a sheet of paper towelling over the image or text.
The sharpest rubbings came from fabrics that had a stabilizer - I used some inkjet cotton that has a peel- off backing, because I plan to print on top of it. Cynthia brought some beautiful silk used for painting in China that has a light stabilizer on the back. Both worked well. I also brought a selection of papers and had great luck with them.
I was particularly fond of the text, and would take rubbings of certain words - "We'll be together in the clouds..." which I thought would fit well with some of my bird encaustic pieces.
Unfortunately, I haven't (yet) taken a single photo of the finished products, that's how busy we kept ourselves last week! But I promise you they are stunning and I will share them soon. Today, I'm actually going to hit some of the cemeteries in Butte and Anaconda, Montana - home of the copper mine kings - and I think I'll find some pretty amazing carvings there.
It's always interesting to see what people choose for their stones. Even more interesting that these two people aren't even dead yet.
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