Hand Painted Cotton "Over-Dyed" with Snow!

I know most of us have pieces of fabric we've created but never fully embraced the end result! Maybe you even have a piece of commercial fabric that has lost it's allure. If so don't give up - over dye it! Again with the snow plentiful I chose to over dye using that technique. If you don't have snow you could use ice cubes. 

I had a couple of hand painted pieces that got tossed into the catch-all basket waiting for inspiration. I looked at them for the umpteenth time but this time I decided to over dye with snow. I should have taken a before and after photo but I was so uninspired with the "before" that I didn't think of it! 

This piece was originally painted and has sunprinted leaves scattered throughout.
Next the hiking boots were screened across the fabric.
I over dyed with snow using a bright red.

Here is a detail shot. I was delighted the sunprinted leaves remained visible.

This piece was painted with pink circles and blue swirls.

Here is a detailed shot over dyed with brown.

The first fabric with the hiking boots is 34" X 42".

The second piece with pink and blue is 34" X 44". 

Each piece is $25

I would love to hear about your experience over dyeing fabric and creating a piece that's more exciting!  

More Large Snow Dyed Pieces!

Embracing snow dyeing has made me more tolerant of the snow piles that live outside my studio door! I pulled three more 3-yard pieces out of the dye bath today... fun... fun... fun! 

I was thinking about my flower gardens today and
combined 4 different dyes in this piece

This piece is Dutch Chocolate and Havana

This was my surprise piece. I added the three primary colors expecting something completely different than what you see here - I'm not disappointed
but it was a surprise! 

Yards and Yards of Snow Dyeing!

If you can't beat winter you might as well embrace it! I recently snow dyed three 3-yard pieces of 100% cotton. It's such a cool technique... you get to pile loads of snow on top of fabric - add some color and boom! Most artists squirt dye mixed with water and soda ash directly onto the snow but I use straight dye powder. I think it's just my habit from doing so much confetti and ice dyeing. Both techniques provide great results. 

Grey, Blue and Green

Raspberry, Blue and Green

Blue, Grey and Tan

If you have the perfect project for these pieces please contact me directly!

100% cotton

3 yard length

$60

... and the winner is!

Congratulations to the winner of the Wonky Lines fabric collection! 

Gale Dupell is the lucky lady! 

Stay tuned for the next collection and your chance to win.... you're going to like it!  

Follow The Printed Fabric Bee on facebook for updates and sneak peeks.

1. Lisa

   February 12, 2014 at 7:51 am

   Congratulations Gale!!!

CT. Fiber Arts Collective - Gray Matter Challenge!

At the monthly meeting for the Connecticut Fiber Arts Collective we revealed our "Gray Matter" challenge  pieces! Mary Lachman provided each person with a bundle of gray related fabrics and we we challenged to use at least 2 fabrics in the design. The pieces are mounted on an 11" X 17" canvas... so here you go - my piece is titled, "Acadia".

I started with gray hand painted fabric.
After adding the boat I layered tulle across the piece.

The shaded effect comes from the tulle and a little stitching...
it was so simple it worked! 

Check the CtFAC blog for the reveal of all the members Gray Matter challenge! 

Snow Dyeing!

The sense of urgency to get out and snow dye before it melts is calming down! I now realize it's only mid-winter and the snow will be here for a while! 

I love the results when dyeing with snow and can't seem to get enough of the snow-burst design. The "bursts" are created using recycled containers to prop up the fabric. Any container will do but the more unusual shape the better. I'm not sure what to do with the fabric but it's a whole lot of fun piling it up!