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From a photo, I make a drawing on tracing paper, highlighting the different tonal areas. The basic shape is marked onto a base fabric and the collage is built up using lots of tiny pieces of fabric with reference to the photo and the tracing. When the main subject is complete it is cut out and glued to a background (which may also be collaged). When I am satisfied with the collage I 'thread paint' it using free-motion machine embroidery, which secures the fabric pieces and builds up the detail in the picture. The collage is then fixed to batting and quilted in a way that creates a three dimensional effect and produces texture.

3-Dimensional Fabric Collage

I first make a model out of Plasticine. Because the glue I use is a fabric stiffener and does not fix to the Plasticine, I can collage directly onto the model. Once the collage is mostly complete I leave it to dry then carefully peel it off the model. At this point I can choose to carefully cut the collage so that I can flatten it enough to thread paint it. The collage is then reformed and patched up if necessary. Once a background has been decided upon, the collaged animal is glued on and further details are added.

I first make a model out of Plasticine. Because the glue I use is a fabric stiffener and does not fix to the Plasticine, I can collage directly onto the model. Once the collage is mostly complete I leave it to dry then carefully peel it off the model. At this point I can choose to carefully cut the collage so that I can flatten it enough to thread paint it. The collage is then reformed and patched up if necessary. Once a background has been decided upon, the collaged animal is glued on and further details are added.

Hilary Davies is a fabric artist, based in Worcestershire, UK. She specialises in colouful quilted and 3-dimensional collages created from numerous pieces of fabric that reflect her love of colour and the natural world.

"My life has always been filled with art, creativity and song and I spent many years as a greetings card illustrator, an Arts worker with the homeless and with life limited adults and latterly, 25 years as a Community Choir Leader. Lock-down, in March 2019, necessitated a new change of focus and I re-discovered my love of machine sewing. I discovered Free-motion machine embroidery and quilting and soon found that I was able to combine it with my skills as an artist, my love of colour and of the natural world, to produce quilted and 3-dimentional fabric collages.
Fabric collage, for me, is like painting with fabric, building up colours and forms using lots of tiny fabric pieces glued onto a backing fabric. It is then ‘thread painted’ to add colour and definition and quilted to create texture and a three dimensional effect."

Hilary Davies is a fabric artist, based in Worcestershire, UK. She specialises in colouful quilted and 3-dimensional collages created from numerous pieces of fabric that reflect her love of colour and the natural world.

"My life has always been filled with art, creativity and song and I spent many years as a greetings card illustrator, an Arts worker with the homeless and with life limited adults and latterly, 25 years as a Community Choir Leader. Lock-down, in March 2019, necessitated a new change of focus and I re-discovered my love of machine sewing. I discovered Free-motion machine embroidery and quilting and soon found that I was able to combine it with my skills as an artist, my love of colour and of the natural world, to produce quilted and 3-dimensional fabric collages.
Fabric collage, for me, is like painting with fabric, building up colours and forms using lots of tiny fabric pieces glued onto a backing fabric. It is then ‘thread painted’ to add colour and definition and quilted to create texture and a three dimensional effect."

"My life has always been filled with art, creativity and song and I spent many years as a greetings card illustrator, an Arts worker with the homeless and with life limited adults and latterly, 25 years as a Community Choir Leader. Lock-down, in March 2019, necessitated a new change of focus and I re-discovered my love of machine sewing. I discovered Free-motion machine embroidery and fabric collage and soon found that I was able to combine it with my skills as an artist, my love of colour and the natural world, to produce quilted and 3-dimensional fabric collages.
Fabric collage, for me, is like painting with fabric, building up colours and forms using lots of tiny fabric pieces glued onto a backing fabric, then ‘thread painted’ to add colour and definition. Quilting creates texture and a three dimensional effect. I also discovered ways of creating fully 3-dimensional characters."