Fabric For Sale!

Fabric For Sale!

I'll be selling my fabrics at the upcoming Village Square Quilt Guild show on April 6th & 7th! Please stop by the booth to say hi while you're enjoying the show. I'll have all types of fabrics from ice dyed and confetti dyed cottons to batiks and silks. It's time to clear the inventory in my studio to make room for more surface design projects.

April 6th & 7th

10:00 am - 4:00 pm

"Quilt Celebration XII"

Jewish Community Center of mid-Westchester

999 Wilmont Road

Scarsdale, NY 10583

Admission is $8 for all adults and $1 for children under 12. There will be a scavenger hunt where all participating children win a prize!

I hope to see you there!

 

 



Fabric Dyeing On Sticks!

I saw a photo of some fabric wrapped around sticks all ready to be dropped into a dye bath. The photo was of a community in Africa who had some excellent Shibori dye masters. I just smiled at the idea of using the resources on hand (sticks) to create such beautiful fiber works. I thought I'd give it a try... I picked up some sticks, gathered some twine and was good to go.

I didn't do any research on techniques which is quite apparent when you look at my results. I had fun and learned a lot about the tightness of the twine and the amount of dye needed. I'm defiantly trying it again but next time I'll put more thought into the end result!



I wonder what will happen near those knots in the stick?

I tired to tie the twine as tightly as possible

All tied up and ready for their bath!

They really soaked up a lot of dye but laying flat didn't allow the dye 
to go through all the fabric layers

Way too much white! I think I need a different deeper vessel for the dye bath.
Does anyone have some tips for me?!

Under the Sea Series

I need to include the idea of shells in my Under The Sea series. I gave some thought to the beautiful coral and soft cream color you find on the smooth inner side of certain shells. I don't know the specific names for shells but I see them all over the beaches and of course under the sea!

Color inspired by miles and miles of shells!

Fabric was soaked in soda ash and water.
Next I mixed up some coral, peach and antique lace dyes and filled squirt bottles.

Starting at the top of the fabric squeeze dye allowing it to run down. Once the dye runs down flip the fabric around to allow it to drip in the opposite direction for an even design.

Don't forget to lay a piece of fabric down to catch the dye as it drips.
You'll get a nice bonus piece!

Under The Sea Fabric Series

I continue to have images of being under the sea and imaging what the environment looks like! I imagine the sand, current, reflection of light and the creatures swimming about. I created two one yard pieces today using Setacolor fabric paints.

I started with PFD cotton and kept it dry rather than the typical misting before painting. I kept the underwater images in my mind and painted what I was thinking about. Once dry I heat set the paint. Next I painted a wash of blue and turquoise over the entire piece. I added a little salt here and there to get the paint moving and creased the fabric in places.

In my mind I was scuba diving along the bottom of the ocean!

Detail of rock cropping

The current was getting a little strong in this piece!

Detail of ocean floor

Kate Themel and my Iced Dyed Fabric!

Kate Themel

Kate Themel is a fiber artist whose work I love and admire. Her designs are distinctive and breath taking! I am SO excited that she's incorporating a piece of my iced dyed fabric into her latest work. It's such a thrill to see how another artist will use the fabric and I can't wait to see how her piece comes together. If you aren't familiar with Kate's work please be sure check out  her blog, website or Facebook page!

Painting on Fabric - Under the Sea Series

I've switched gears from paint and wax to paint and whatever else I can find! My son's friend, Sarah, is having a once in a lifetime experience off the coast of Colombia. You can follow her adventures at Wool Gathering By Day. The photos Sarah has been sharing of her dives is a real treat and I'd love to create a series of fabric inspired by the marvelous colors, shapes and shadows of life under the sea!

I have two one yard pieces completed just to get the create energy flowing. There is soooo much more going on in my head and as fate would have it my next roll of 30+ yards of PFD fabric is scheduled to be delivered today - just in time for the weekend!

 

The color combinations may not "read" under the sea to everyone but it's what I was feeling at the time and I find the combination soothing.

Hand painted using translucent Setacolor paints
and salt for movement

Detail

Hand painted using translucent Setacolor paints.
Once the paint dried I crinkled the fabric, misted with water
and using a 2" brush I hit the tops of the crinkles with additional paint

Detail