Free Style Fabric Paint - Progress Photos!

In a quest to expand and explore my approach to art I'm using fabric paint in a more free style manner! I'm trying to be loose and not worry so much about the end result. I find I have to talk myself through not being fussy in order to stay loose. My brain automatically wants to "correct" my work. I didn't realize it would be such a challenge to be free! 

The working title for this piece is, "Lavender Farm". I had an image in my head and just went for it painting directly onto the fabric! I started to quilt the piece and will keep a circular theme going throughout the design. 

I'm happy to say the free style approach is keeping me calm and patient as I quilt. In the past I just wanted to get stuff done and hurried through the different phases for creating a piece of art. This time I take breaks, work on a section and then jump to another without feeling the need to be methodical... it's a new happy place for me! 

I'll post more progress photos and continue to explore the free style journey later! Right now there are Christmas cookies to bake!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! 

The 'Ole Dawg Learned a New Trick!

Now that I have more time available to pursue my passions I took a Tiny Tapestry class at the Denver Student Arts League. It was a great experience and I was thrilled to work in a new medium. 

My ultimate goal is to create free form tapestries but FIRST I must learn weaving basics! What I quickly discovered is that it takes a really long time to weave - I had no idea! I tend to be an instant gratification gal but I'm finding great joy in methodically working the soft fibers. 

This was the cardboard loom and tool the instructor gave us during the class. They aren't much to look at but they were effective and a great starting point for learning. 

Try not to giggle at my first creation! It took HOURS to weave and was enough to get me hooked on the technique. I have to say I've shown unaccustomed strength in resisting the urge to buy every fiber that I fall in love with! I am taking it step by step and putting in my hours to get better and try to master a few techniques so I can spin off into a more freestyle design approach.

To get started I purchased a small 10" loom at Shuttle, Spindles & Skeins, a local shop in Boulder, CO. I also bought a book titled, On the Loom, A Modern Weaver's Guide. It shows the basics for getting started along with instructions for non-traditional projects. I borrowed, Tapestry Weaving by Kristin Glasbrook from the library. That was a great find - it clearly explains a variety of weaving stitches along with great photos. I'm thinking of buying a copy. After the experience of creating a few small pieces I purchased other tools for my new adventure; a wooden beater and a couple of 12" pick-up-sticks. 

I am off to complete two more little coaster rugs... it's the holidays and a great way to learn a new technique while checking off my Christmas gift giving list! HO, HO, HO!

Permission to Reinvent Myself!

It's been months 4 months since I resigned from my job! I spent 15 years working in a very stressful environment and over the past two years my relationship with upper management became more challenging. Despite retirement being a few years off the decision to resign now was the best one for me. 

The new me is all smiles! I approach each day with purposefulness in the choices and decisions I make about how to spend my time! With that being said, I've had an evolution of self since I resigned. 

I realize now that I compartmentalized my creative self with my outside work image. My boundaries were so firm and formal that my whole self was constantly split and at odds with each other. Moving forward I can embrace my soul and nurture my passions... it feels good just saying that out loud! 

I'm shedding what is no longer necessary whether figuratively or literally. The changes may never be noticed outside my family but each evolution brings me joy and freedom. I can fully explore my creative and artistic self. There is no longer a need to "hide" any parts of my personality for fear of not conforming to my former employer. 

I've given myself permission to explore other forms of art while enhancing the skills I've already acquired. To date I've dabbled in watercolor, sketching and weaving. I'm learning about what makes my heart sing and I feel "whole" for the first time in years! 

My wish is for all creative souls to have the ability to nurture what makes their hearts sing and to find joy in each day!  

PEACE

Channeling Cave Paintings!

My attempt to go back in time and create like a cave dweller! 

I created a piece of confetti dyed fabric that I thought was too plain. I lived with it on the design wall for a few days and thought it looked a little like stone.... mmm.. something prehistoric was creeping into my mind! 

I pulled out a thermofax screen created from pictographs. A few years ago on a family vacation near Moab, Utah I took a photo of the ancient symbols.
Terri Stegmiller custom made the screen - check out her shop!

The design is a group of antelope (?), horseback riders and a dog (?). I am not 100% sure what the story is telling but the area in Utah has many similar stories left behind by our ancestors. 

I wasn't quite satisfied so I laid the fabric on cement and rubbed it with Shiva paint sticks. 

I checked out cave painting books from the library to research the tools, colors and typical subject matter our ancient forebears recorded. It is amazing to me that in such a primitive culture artists were active in making marks and recording their stories in the caves they used as dwellings. 

Thank you ancient artists - I hope today's mark makers  do you proud! 

Look What Charlene Created!

Charlene O'Rourke made this fabulous fabric collage titled, Baroque. Charlene used a piece of ice dyed sateen for the background, Indian batik and a floral print. Charlene outlined the print with stitching to create this lovely design. 

Beautiful job Charlene! 

Charlene made the ice dyed fabric I made look beautiful. If you need a unique piece of fabric for your art work please hop over to my Etsy shop to look around. My fabrics are one of a kind so hopefully you will see a piece that grabs your attention! 

Soak + Sprinkle + Spray = Confetti Dyeing!

To create a confetti dyed piece you start by soaking the fabric in soda ash and water for about 30 minutes. Remember this step prepares the fabric for dyeing and accepting the dye in the most colorful way! 

Next wring out the fabric and lay on any surface. I've used a table, the ground and even a bush! Sprinkle the dye powder across the surface. 

There are multiple ways to go from here. Just have fun and experiment! One idea is to hang the fabric on a clothesline and allow the dyes to drip and blend. If you want more interaction try spraying the fabric with a solution of soda ash and water.

Another option is to scrunch the fabric and allow more opportunity for the dye particles to separate and spread. Again, if you want more movement spray the fabric with soda ash and water. 

How about moving the dye around with a found object... go for it and try weird things! 

What do you think might happen if you were to fold your fabric before sprinkling the dye?

I encourage you to go have fun - you can't possibly make a mistake because there are no rules! 

Let me know how your experiments go. 

Indigo Dyeing - First Batch of the Season!

There is something special about Indigo. It connects us to a very ancient tradition of dyeing textiles. The traditional indigo recipe is tricky so I chose to use pre-reduced crystals from Dharma - I know my limitations! 

It is very freeing to grab found objects to clamp or tie into the fabric to create a design. I know there are methods for creating very specific designs but I tend to approach loosely with a free spirit. I am happy to experiment and just see what happens!  

These marks were made using old CD's and hotel key cards! 

The crackle look was created using rubber bands. Once the fabric was washed and dried I sprayed the surface with a bleach/water combination to create the fun spots.   

This piece was loosely pleated and rolled with rubber hands to keep it in place! 

I folded and clamped this piece!

The design came out very different in each section of the fabric! 

I'd love to hear about your Indigo dyeing experience! 

To learn more about the ancient traditions I recommend, Indigo - In Search of The Color That Seduced the World, by Catherine E. McKinley. 

I had a group of artists from SAQA over to enjoy the new Indigo vat. We had a great time! SAQA is an organization dedicated to promoting the art quilt and those who create them! To learn more about SAQA I encourage you to click HERE 

Please take a peek at my Etsy Shop where I sell my hand crafted fabrics! 

I Opened an Etsy Shop!

Opening an Etsy shop to sell my hand crafted fabrics has been on my to-do list for a long time. Finally, I took the time to figure out the details = yippee... it's up and running! 

The shop name is, CarolREatonDesigns and I upload new fabrics at least once a week! I've appreciated the positive feedback so far from folks who took a peek. I am still available for collaboration with artists working on a special fabric color palette and can be reached via email from this blog!  

Thank you for the support! 

Fencing + Paint Roller + Dye + Fabric = Cool Textures!

My friend Barb Olson showed me how she uses a small foam roller to create patterns from wooden blocks and stencils. I have a lot of tools in my studio but no small rollers. I'm in the frame of mind that I should be using all the tools I have on hand rather than running out to buy more so I commandeered a standard size paint roller from hubby.  

I see many possible designs with this piece! 

I mixed up a batch of thickened dye and poured into a plastic paint tray liner. The roller soaked up the color and I was ready to go!  

The fabric was placed on fencing causing the interesting textured pattern.

I stopped rolling when I was satisfied with the coverage. 

The fabric always comes out a little lighter after washing but this photo reads even lighter than the fabric actually is. There are 2 greens coming through and it's a medium brightness! 

The final piece from the batch is Jade. Again, the photo reads lighter than it is. From my perspective the fabric is brighter than the photo and I'd consider it a medium to bright value. 

What is your favorite way to create a textured looking surface on fabric or paper! 

Come Walk with Me!

I just finished this piece titled, Come Walk with Me. I was thinking about my childhood... what was important to my foundation as a person - people, places, and things. I grew up with a strong sense of family and parents who let my creative side run wild. I was also blessed with a Grandmother (Nana) who provided unconditional love - I still smile when I think of her. 

The overall size is 41" X 31". 

The base starts with a traditional Grandmother's Garden pattern. I used the raw edge technique rather than piecing - I know the limits of my patience! I was trying to figure out if the trees should float off the edges to liven it up a bit.

I played with the trees for a while but realized the Grandmother's Garden pattern didn't stand out... I wanted my Grandmother's memory to jump out the same way her personality jumped out. I took a deep breath and started clipping the edges. 

There's no turning back now - the piece is already quilted! 

I added some sparkly white paint here and there to give the snowy background more character.  

I think clipping the edges was the right thing to do. Sometimes you just have to take a deep breath and jump in... my Grandmother taught me that!  

~ All fabric created by artist ~

Fun with Dye and a Bathtub Mat!

My buddy Barb Olsen invited me over for studio play time! Barb has gathered many cool and unusual tools  over time. I was amazed when she pulled out a number of bathtub mats in all shapes, sizes and textures. It was instant love... the textures on the top and wonderful suction cups on the bottoms were perfect for printing!

This piece started as a folded and Indigo dyed fabric. I was unhappy with the open white spaces and wasn't sure what would make me happier. The suction cups on the underside of the bathtub mat were a great solution! 

In this detail shot you can see how fun the circles are. I placed the bathtub mat on the table and laid the fabric on top. Using thickened dye on a foal roller I rolled across the surface... voila!
Thanks Barb! 

Studio Play Time!

I made a promise to myself to spend more time in the studio with no pressure and no plan. Sometimes I try to be so efficient with my time and energy that I miss the wonderful spontaneous creations that happen when you have open "play time"! 

I started this piece in a free-form screen style. It was a little choppy looking once it was washed so I tossed it back into the bin for some ice dyeing. I thought the added depth of the 2nd dye was worthwhile. I'm contemplating a 3rd technique... but we shall see! 

I still had a hankering to use my giant screens so I ripped up some freezer paper for a random design on the screen. I don't have much yellow/orange in my inventory so I tried to keep it light. The 1st wash was too light and the design wasn't jumping out. I tossed it into the dye bucket again and using ice I was left with a mottled look... which is OK. I think I'll stop here and call it done! 

Next up was an opportunity to use a heavier weight silk. Using sponges I stamped some shapes across the surface. I don't know what I was thinking as it was so random and odd! I guess that was the point of my free play time so I kept going. This piece too got dropped into an ice dye bath and although still unusual looking I kinda like it! 

Ice Dyeing continues to be my favorite so I couldn't leave without at least a couple of wild creations!