QUILTOGRAPHY CHALLENGE 2014-2015: Mounting pieces on artist canvas

KOI POND by Karen S. Riggins, Nonesuch, KY 2014

 Members of the Quilt Artists of Kentucky, an auxiliary guild of KHQS, have been participating in a "Quiltography Challenge" that started in September 2014.

We have been interpreting photos, taken and submitted by our members,  that have been issued on line, every  two months since September 2014. Each participant could end up with four, 12"x12" pieces.

THe whole collection is going to be displayed at the Kentucky Heritage Quilt Society " Getaway" and at the Berea Quilt Extravaganza.

In an effort to make the pieces easier to display, the Quiltography committee is asking each participant to mount their pieces on 1/2" artist canvas.

My piece above is already mounted and that's how I discovered that I can't measure 12"x12". It's exactly 11" x 12", therefore the added border of Mother of Pearl beads.

Start with a 12"x12" canvas.

Place D-rings or eye rings on the back of the canvas. I prefer the D-rings because they allow the piece to lie flat against the wall. Add the picture wire.   I've signed the back of this piece with a permanent ink marker that is acid free. I prefer that over a label because a label can fall off.

Paint the edges of the canvas using any acrylic paint. I used black paint on each of my canvases, because that is what worked for me. 

For the "KOI POND" I ended up painting the 1" border with an additional coat of metallic copper paint.

For this Iris piece, which is not part of the challenge,  I painted the canvas with a purple metallic paint.

Crested Iris by Karen S. Riggins 2015

Once the paint has dried, glue the piece to the canvas. I use Aileen's Tacky Glue. I cover the back of the piece with an even grid of glue lines and then press it into place on the canvas.

Additional embellishments can be added with thread that is stitched around the edge of the piece , through the edge of the canvas.  I used a 30 weight cotton thread for this stitching.

Detail of edge stitching on "FUNGUS" 2013

Mounting these small pieces in this way gives them a much more professional look and it will make it easier for the committee to transport them and hang them at exhibits.

For information about the KHQS Getaway, click on the link at the right for Kentucky Heritage Quilt Society.  You will find the Getaway Brochure on the front page of the web site.

Creating Always,

Karen