I used wax crayons to make a rubbing of some paper doilies on fabric , which I then quilted to make place mats. Unfortunately when I washed them the colour all disappeared - I thought it would last. Still the quilting looks nice.

I have used crayons successfully...just color, iron the wax onto newsprint, and treat like any other block. (the newsprint goes BETWEEN the iron and the fabric!) Your kids can get involved, too.

If you want to draw something for them to color on, just use a washable ink pencil (special buy, sorry). the turquoise ones wash out really easily.

I use Setacolor paints to paint on fabric. You can mix the paint with textile medium or floating medium to stop it running. Allow to dry and heat set with an iron or in the drier. I have used water color pencils too. I have not tried to do an actual pictorial piece but again they are set by allowing to dry and then using heat. Go to the web sites of the farious manufactures for information. Derwent have lots of information. Their Inktense stuff is great but not cheap. And it is ink not paint. I just did an experiment with pens for a demo I did for my local guild on labels. I used all the likely pens I had including ball point to write accross one line on fabric. I then cot it in 3 accross the lines. Pressed one washed it and an unpressed (or heat set) one and then compared them to the original.

Hold on to your pocketbook! Actually, I'm not sure that's right, but these sites are amazing.

Sherry Rogers Harrison:
http://www.sewfarsewgood.org

http://www.dreamingcolor.com

Thank you all!!

I'm going to look into some of your suggestions, I truly appreciate it.

I did do some painting with acrylics directly on fabric after finding an amazing website of a quilt artist who does amazing fine art paintings on her quilts. She does the stitching first though, then the quilting - but I am going to play with her technique for my own purposes.

Thank you again!

I have used textile medium with my watercolor pencil and regular colored pencils ( on fabric) and I have washed after use--no problems. As far as expense--I don't know how much I paid for the medium but I know I don't have to use much to do what I am doing so it lasts a long time.

Google "textile medium" for a variety of brands, pictures, Youtubes. It can be used with Derwent Intense pencils which are a lot of fun, but expensive. Irene Bluhm paints her quilts.

http://painting.about.com/cs/fabricpainting/gr/pr_GoldenGAC900.htm
I've never used this one, but it looks interesting.

Some of the mediums can be watered down a bit, I think, to reduce the effect of stiffening the fabric.

Have a look at show 903 with Velda Newman. She uses acrylic paint on fabric with great success. I tried it with my son for fun and it was great. I don't know about washing it afterwards though because I haven't tried but you could always do a test piece to see how it works. It's a fun technique though.

I want to experiment with painting on fabric but I don't want to spend a fortune on supplies - stay at home mom on a budget here! Anyone have any experience with any inexpensive textile medium that can be used with art supplies I might already have around the house? What have you tried that worked well? I have a stockpile of accrylic paints, water color paints, oil pastels, some oil pants, water color pencils, colored pencils...I don't mind buying a bottle of textile medium...I just want to create a painting I can quilt basically. Any suggestions?

Thanks!