SMALL TEXTILE PURSE
  
  To make the purse, I first handpainted calico (muslin) with acrylic paint, building up
  layers of colour(in various densities of green). Next I placed the fabric over a printing
  block and rubbed oil paintstiks in iridescent gold, purple, green and turquoise over
  the fabric. Once it had set and been ironed I stitched very freely on a wide zigzag in
  metallic golds, purple and green and then freely couched down some thick gold cord.
  
  Tyvek paper - I spray painted it with green, turquoise, purple and yellow paints and
  then stitched all over, mostly in circles with similar threads to the above. Next I
  placed the paper between two layers of baking parchment and ironed it on both sides
  until the paper shrivelled up and created interesing shapes. I cut out little shapes as I
  sewed it to the fabric base as it pleased my eye.
  
  Molten metal bits - these are pieces from an Aussie beer can which I had heated over
  a blow torch. I cut up small pieces and stitched them to the surface along with the
  tyvek pieces. With the metal I like to stitch it in so that it looks molten rather than
  just popped on. 
  
  I had a lot of fun with this project and what started out as a book cover became a
  purse. I broke no needles and the metallic thread rarely broke. My machine loved it!