Sun Prints for My "Leave Only Footprints" Fabric Series!

My passion for woodlands is only surpassed by my obsession for creating art influenced by nature!

I started with a yard of PFD cotton fabric and painted greens, browns and a touch of red across the whole surface of the fabric. My all time favorite fabric paints are made by  Setacolor diluted with a little water.

I picked some large ferns and laid them on top of the wet fabric. The ferns had firm round stems so I ended up pinning them here and there to “assist” them in laying flat. I added some Kosher salt around the edges to help the paint migrate and left the piece in the sun until dry.

 

It’s hard to be patient and not peek at the progress but the more you leave the natural materials undisturbed the stronger the sun print will be!

 

If you'd like more detail about this piece please visit the "Leave Only Footprints" fabric series page located in the right hand column.

Under the Sea series - well "near" the sea!

I've added another panel to my "Under the Sea" hand crafted fabric series. Although it's not technically under the sea it is a beach scene! The weather was glorious today and I spent the whole day painting fabric outside and taking full advantage of some late season sun printing. If you'd like more detailed information about the piece please visit the "Under the Sea Fabric Series" under Fabrics for Sale. 



Beachside Panel
43" X 44"
 

The Printed Fabric Bee - Custom Fabric Collections!

The Printed Fabric Bee is a printed fabric exchange between ten professional textile artists. Each month a member of the colony chooses a theme, making her the Queen, and the members of the Hive create a piece of fabric based on her choices. In the end, each member will have a collection of custom made fabric made by all the members of the Hive.

We will post the fabric we create on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/theprintedfabricbee. 

 

Please follow our progress and watch for ways you can win a special collection created by the following fabulous surface design artists!

Lynn Krawczyk:

http://smudgedtextilesstudio.com/

Julie B. Booth: http://www.threadbornblog.com/

Gerrie Congdon: http://www.gericondesigns.com/
 

Leslie Riley: http://www.lesleyriley.com/
 

Carol R. Eaton: http://carolreatondesigns.blogspot.com/
 

Jackie Lams: http://www.studiolams.com/
 

Lisa Chin: http://somethingcleveraboutnothing.blogspot.com/
 

Susan Purney Mark: http://susanpm.com/
 

Lynda Heines: http://www.bloombakecreate.com/
 

Pokey Bolton: http://pokeysponderings.com/

Ice Dyed Table Runner

My sweet young friend Lindsey recently got married and I wanted to create something for the happy couple! Lindsey and I share a need for practicality so I wanted to make something that was useful but not cumbersome to move around as newlyweds tend to do. We also share a love and respect for nature so I wanted to dye the fabric in woodland colors.

I started with some ice dyed fabric but it wasn't quite woodsy enough... back into the dye bucket for another round of ice and dye. I was happier with the over dye and it seemed to pair nicely with solid black. The runner is off in the mail and I hope she enjoys it...

 

 

Look What Kate Themel Did!

Fiber Artist Kate Themel recently completed a challenge project for Viewpoints 9. I was delighted she chose my fabric as the background piece for Red Fox, Blue Fox! It's a fun piece with a blue fox who wears a sly grin... I wonder what he's thinking about?!

Kate recently earned the Young Emerging Artist Award and the People's Choice Award for her work in Quilt National '11. Please be sure to check out her sites to view more of her unique designs.

www.katethemel.com
http://katethemel.blogspot.com
Facebook: Fiber Art by Kate Themel

Red Fox, Blue Fox
Kate Themel

Red Fox, Blue Fox - Detail 
Kate Themel

 

Sun Printing with Fabric Paints!

The day was sunny and warm creating the perfect conditions for painting with Setacolor fabric paints. We have a weeping cherry tree in the yard that needed a trim so I snipped off a few branches to use for this project.

I started by painting red and pink paint across the surface of the fabric. I laid the leaves on top of the wet paint and repainted some leaves with a light green. After the paint was completely dried I heat set the fabric with a hot dry iron.

I like finding organic materials around the yard for sun printing. I really don't know how the paint reacts to the sun... magic... Keebler Elves... I'm not sure but the end results are fun!

Hand Painted and Sun Printed Cotton

Hand Painted and Sun Printed Cotton - Detail