Studio Play Date with Barb Olson!

What a treat to go to Barb Olson's studio in Boulder! The inspiration started with the drive over... can you believe the view from the highway! 

The goal was to experiment with deconstructed screens and I had a whole pile of them ready to go... but alas I forgot them at home = DUH! No worries we had fun with other techniques. 

Here we sprinkled dye powder on the fabric and pulled print paste across. 

We have some interesting results! Barb placed the foam circles and other objects from her sprinkled piece onto plain fabric soaked in soda ash and water. I don't have a photo but it turned out really cool!  My piece is over to the right. You can just make out a leave I placed as a mask... not exactly a dramatic look! Oh well - I learned somethings which was the point! 

Here Barb is showing me how to use a foam roller and wooden blocks for a cool print! 

The roller needs to be really saturated to get a strong print. 

Barb said she got the roller at Home Depot! 

Barb is pulling the print paste across the screen. Deconstructing screens means with each print the screen slowly releases the design until it's all gone! 

It's a time consuming technique due to creating the screens first and allowing the thickened dye to dry... but the results are so fun! 

When  got home I got busy with the print paste and screens - here are my results!

This piece had too much empty white space for my taste. I decided to paint a light wash across the surface which made the overall design feel more substantial. 

Any time spent sharing ideas and experimenting with a friend is priceless - but don't forget your supplies! 

The Studio is Taking Shape and Creativity is Taking Over!

Our new community and my new inspiration!

I felt like my wings had been clipped with no creative outlet over the past few months! We moved our household 2,000 miles west, got the elderly cat settled, met the neighbors (they are lovely!), unpacked and got our living space set up. Next up... a sneaky respiratory bug that I am just about to shake! When I put my head up and take a deep breath I feel good about the progress and can't keep a smile off my face when I see those beautiful Rocky Mountains. 

I have temporary studio space set up that is the beginning of something grand! My ultimate goal is to have separate wet and dry work spaces so I can splish-splash with my dyeing and still have a clean designated space for inventory, designing and sewing. The builder quotes are coming in and I look forward to a full working studio in a few months! 

Happy 2017!

The Relaxed Pace of Summer is Here!

Summer has always given me "permission" to slow down and relax. My typical pace is on the frantic side but the warm sunny days and the lush surroundings during the summer remind me to stop and take it all in! So... this attitude will be my new mantra for the next few months. 

I started by spending a long weekend with some buddies in New Hampshire. They are athletic and adventurous so we filled the days with hiking and kayaking. I came home with tired muscles and new shared memories. 

Sharon and I on the summit of Mt. Chocorua!
This was a 10 mile hike with a soft breeze and lots of sunshine!
I can't wait to dye fabric in multi layers of green fading into blue and purple - what a view! 

This is Mt. Chocorua from Silver Lake - yes - we were on the tippy top of that pointy mountain! I will try to capture the smooth feel of the water on fabric!

Sabbaday Falls is a quick hike with an awesome reward! The loud water and smooth rocks will be another studio inspiration. The rocks were a sweet combination of colors that will find it's way into the fabric!  

Sharon, me and Carolyn on the summit of Mt. Willard. This is a fun hike that is only 1.5 miles. The view is spectacular looking down Crawford Notch. I've been here many times and it continues to inspire me.  

Our final morning on Silver Lake. We were on the lake by 7:00 AM to take advantage of the calm waters. A water skier and rower had the same idea for very different reasons! The studio is calling and I will take my memories and use them to create new fabrics!