Fresh Snow + A New Bolt of Fabric = Playtime!

Although the recent snowstorm did not live up to the hype in the media we got plenty of fresh snow to get excited for snow dyeing! 

I started by soaking the fabric  in soda ash and water for about 30 minutes. The soda ash is needed for the the dye to latch onto the cotton. I wrung out the fabric and placed in a large pan to catch the drippings as the snow melts. For fun I put recycled containers under the fabric lifting it off the bottom of the pan.

One of the cool things about dyeing with snow is you can pile the snow onto lumpy surfaces and still get a nice result. When dyeing with ice for example you need a more even surface or the ice simply falls off the edges. 

Waiting is the hardest part! Here we are halfway through the melting. It doesn't help that my studio is a bit chilly at this time of year! I typically plan on waiting 24 hours before rinsing and washing the fabrics. Tick-Tock... the first snow dyes of 2015!

The circles are about 20"

I did not use recycled containers with this piece

If you have snow if your yard give this a try! I love hearing from you and seeing how you interpret a technique.

Happy Creating! 

SAVE THE DATE!

February 4th donations open at 10:00 Central Time - Don't be late! 

1. On February 4, the first 100 people to contact me (Virginia(at)VirginiaSpiegel.com) beginning at 10 a.m. Central will be given a link to donate $100 by credit card directly to the American Cancer Society through Fiberart For A Cause. 

To be fair to all, no e-mails time dated before 10 a.m. Central will be opened. I am not responsible for the vagaries of the e-mail system.
Please note your donation to the ACS will be credited through the Forest Lake Area Relay For Life. Why?

2. Each donor will receive an artwork from one of the 100 generous and talented artists listed below. Assignments of artwork will be made using a random number generator by someone other than me. Artwork will not be shared here in advance, but may appear on artists' websites or other social media before the event. See ourPinterest board for previews of many artworks. Thanks to Deborah Boschert for maintaining the board.

3. The artwork may be any size as long as the minimum retail value is $100. Artwork smaller than 8x10" will be mounted to 8x10" or 9x9." The artwork will contain fiber and may or may not be stitched. The artwork may or may not be made specifically for this event.

4. Each artist will receive her/his patron's e-mail address to arrange shipping. Artwork will be shipped directly from the artist. Please note this is an international roster of artists. Please thank the artist for not only donating the artwork, but also shipping it to you.

5. Each artist would love to receive a low res photo of the artwork in situ from the new owner. This is not required, but the best photos may be shared here after the event.

Questions? Contact me at Virginia(at)VirginiaSpiegel.comIf you would like to be sure your Request to Donate does not go in my spam folder on February 4, send a trial message today.

Special Note: Our goal of $10,000 will make Fiberart For A Cause's donations to the American Cancer Society a nice even one-quarter of a million dollars and FFAC will be happily retired.

Thank you in advance for your support!
Spread the word about "The 100"

Taming a Fabric Pile!

Don't you just love that final fussing of pressing newly dyed fabrics? This is the first chance to really see all those cool blended colors and designs caused by meandering dye particles! 

Here we have a bunch of snow dyed, ice dyed and confetti dyed fabrics... yummy! 

Fabric Paint with a Crinkle & Ice!

I love the instant gratification of applying color to fabric and watching it meander across the surface. For this blue piece I crinkled the fabric after painting and plopped a few ice cubes randomly on top. As the ice cubes melted it pushed the paint around and left a fun "crystal" look! 

I love the way the design looks like ice crystals.
Have you ever tried this before? Let me know how it comes out! 

Screen Collage!

Screen collage is my new favorite passion. It's a bit cumbersome and time consuming but o la la the results are fun! To me it's freeing and the excitement of seeing the colors mix and blend is my reward for the hard work. I've done a number of pieces now and I keep learning as I go. 

Here is my set up; I'm using thickened dyes.

You can add freezer paper underneath the screen to create a design

Gotta love that freezer paper! 

I'm not sure why I chose to put green and peach together but I did.

This piece is a soft pastel.

I need to tweak the drying method to get stronger colors... to be continued!

Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective + Romare Bearden =A Fabulous Exhibition!

Christina Blais, Mary Lachman, Karen Loprete, Wanda Seldon
Carol Vinick, Guest Poet - Kate Rushin, Antonia Torres, Linda Martin
Carol R. Eaton and Rosalind Spann

The Hartford Public Library hosted a reception for the Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective this past Saturday! Kudos to the library staff for organizing such a well planned event especially Brenda Miller and Jeffery Mainville. As an added bonus attendees were delighted with a reading by famed poet Kate Rushin.

The exhibition was inspired by artist Romare Bearden who became active in the Harlem Arts Guild during the 1930's. Bearden was a prolific artist who worked in New York City as a social worker devoting nights and weekends to his art. Over his lifetime Bearden experimented with many mediums and is best known for his textured collages. The Collective paid homage to Bearden's commitment to civil rights and his contributions to the jazz and art communities. 

Poet, Kate Rushin reading from her book, The Black Back-Ups 

The reception was well attended ~ thank you HPL!

CtFAC member Rosalind Spann addressing the audience. Rosalind was the wind beneath our wings to get this project off the ground!

Attendees enjoying the art work!

CtFAC member Wanda Seldon with her darling daughter!

How fun to chat with the visitors!

We're giving a shout out to Ruth Ann Olson who wasn't able to attend!
Rosalind Spann, Barb Adams, Kate Themel, Antonia Torres and me

My nephew Dane and his girlfriend Maggie dropped in to say hi!

Look - my sweet sister came to show her support (OXOX)

So much positive energy!
Mary Lachman, me, Ed Johnetta Miller, Christina Blais, Linda Martin, 
Jeffery Mainville, Karen Loprete, Carol Vinick, Antonia Torres and Rosalind Spann

Fundraiser to Fight Cancer - "Ladies Luncheon" is 1 of 100 Pieces of Art Work You Could Take Home!

Artist Virginia Spiegel is fundraising again for the American Cancer Society via her project Fiberart for a Cause. So far her fundraiser has earned over $240,000 in donations to the American Cancer Society! 

This year the goal is to raise $10,00! Would you like to donate to a worthy cause AND take home a piece of unique art...

1 Day - 100 Artists - 100 Patrons - $10,000

Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Opens 10 a.m. Central

"Ladies Luncheon" is my donation piece!
The ladies measure 12.5" X 14.5" and created using the screen collage technique along with artist Terri Stegmiller's bird thermofax screen, (it's one of my favorite screens!). 

How The Fundraiser Works:

On February 4, the first 100 people to contact Virginia Spiegel beginning at 10 a.m. Central will be given a link to donate $100 by credit card directly to the American Cancer Society through Fiberart For A Cause. Please note I am not responsible for the vagaries of the e-mail system.

Each donor will receive artwork from one of the 100 generous and talented artists listed below. Assignments of artwork will be made using a random number generator. Artwork will not be shared here in advance, but may appear on artists' websites or other social media before the event. See also our Pinterest board.

Participating Artists! 

Natalya Aikens
Pamela Allen
Frieda Anderson
Britta AnkenbauerBrooke Atherton
Marion Barnett
Alice BeasleyVon Biggs
Pat Bishop
Sue Bleiweiss

Pokey BoltonDeborah Boschert
Kathie Briggs
Laura Cater-Woods
Jette Clover Judy Coates-PerezMarion Coleman
Linda Colsh
Gerrie Congdon
Nancy G. Cook

Jane Davila
Vivika DeNegreSue Dennis
Jay Dodds
Diane Rusin Doran
Jane Dunnewold
Carol R. Eaton
Suzan Cloud Engler
Tomme Gill Fent
Clairan Ferrono

Jamie Fingal
Ann Flaherty
Cindy Friedman
Terry GrantCara Gulati 
Gloria Hansen
Leonie Hartley-Hoover
Patty Hawkins
Annie Helmericks-Louder
Leslie Tucker Jenison

Terry Jarrard-Dimond
Marie Z. Johansen
Lyric Kinard
Sherry Davis Kleinman
Susan Brubaker Knapp
Franki KohlerLynn Krawczyk
Pat Kroth
Jane LaFazio
Kristin LaFlamme

Carol Larson
Susan Lenz
Eleanor Levie
Susan Purney Mark
Jeanelle McCall
Judy MomenzadehSusie Monday
Carol Moore
Gail Myrhorodsky
Fannie Narte

Kathy Nida
Karen Stiehl Osborn
Frieda Oxenham
The Pixeladies - Deb Cashatt and Kris Sazaki 
Valarie Poitier
Yvonne Porcella
Cate Coulacos Prato
Daren Pitts Redman
Wen RedmondSue Reno

Lesley Riley
Karen Rips
Lora Rocke
Kristin Rodriquez-Girod and Janelle Girod
Beth Schillig
Norma Schlager
Susan Friedman Schrott
Sandra Sider
Cheryl Sleboda
Carol Sloan

Lura Schwarz Smith
Mary Ruth Smith
Kay Sorensen
Sherrie SpanglerVirginia A. SpiegelCynthia St. Charles
Terri Stegmiller
Melanie Testa
Jeanette ThompsonK. Velis Turan

Larkin Jean Van Horn
Mary Ann Van SoestGordana Vukovic
Terry Waldron
Judy Warner
Laura Wasilowski
Vicki Welsh
Leni Levenson Wiener
Kathy York 
Vivien Zepf

Art, History and Social Activism - Meet the Artists!

This weekend at the Hartford Public Library!

Confetti Dyed Fabric + Stencil Overlay = Let the Wild Rumpus Begin!

What fun it was to create these 2 pieces of fabric! They remind me of Maurice Sendeck's, Where the Wild Things Are. Can't you just imagine the wild rumpus taking place in this colorful forest! 

I started with a piece of confetti dyed fabric. Confetti dyeing is when you shake dry dye onto damp pre-treated fabric. You allow the dye particles to wander across the fabric surface creating unique patterns. After washing the fabric I took my latest favorite tree stencil and created repeat patterns. 

SOLD - THANKS FOR THE POSITIVE RESPONSE... I'LL MAKE MORE! Each fabric is 12" X 22" - if interested in adding a piece to your fabric stash I have 2 available at $15 each plus shipping. Drop me a line at carolreaton@comcast.net. 

Old World Maps - The Printed Fabric Bee Giveaway!

Old World maps is a favorite topic for fellow Bee artist Lisa Chin! She is fascinated by them and the Printed Fabric Bee dug deep to create some very interesting custom fabrics. There are still a few artists finishing up their pieces but the giveaway fun has begun! Jump over to Lisa's blog to post a comment and you are automatically entered into the drawing! I loved the idea of Old World maps and had fun creating an antique look from something new...

I created a fictional 1674 European city. I started by staining the fabric with tea and splatterings of paint.  I had a stencil of a modern city and using a little of one section and than another I built Lisa's Old World map. It was challenging to get the old flavor but once again my involvement with the Printed Fabric Bee pushed me outside my comfort zone to explore... and I love exploring! 

Here is my 6' X 6" giveaway piece. Please head over to Lisa's blog to leave your comment before the January 15th drawing - click HERE.  Lisa has links to all the other artists and you can follow their design approach and progress to creating their custom piece.