Confetti + Ice = New Technique Combo!

I had a piece of confetti dyed fabric I wanted to rework. I decided to over dye with ice and the results were a nice surprise! I like the way the lines and scattered color particles look under the more fluid feel of the ice dyeing. I had screened the leaves on before the ice and now I wish I hadn't done so... but... I have some new thermofax leaf screens to try so perhaps this is the opportunity! Time to implement my motto of if you don't like something keep working it until you're satisfied! 

The base is the confetti technique which creates the vertical lines
and scattered appearance

The ice dyeing gives the fluid washed look blending the colors more.
The leaves are created using freezer paper and screened onto the fabric. 

Dying More Fabric for Kate Themel's Magnolia Workshops!

Fiber artist Kate Themel had fabulous results in her recent Magnolia workshop! The students embraced her technique and created beautiful wall art. For a complete list of Kate's workshops click here. 

For my part I'm busy dyeing fabric to put the magnolia fabric kits together. The kits contain gradated colors for the flowers, browns and greens along with a one of a  kind ice dyed background.

I'd better get busy...

Here is a detail of Kate's Magnolia piece

It's hard to believe this pile of colored ice turns into such a lovely piece of fabric!  

Here are some fabric kits from Kate's previous workshop

More Mixed Techniques!

I started with a confetti dyed piece of cotton. While the fabric was wet with soda ash and water I lightly folded the fabric to create a textured look. The piece was pretty quiet so I began to stamp fabric paint with a sea sponge. I was going for an organic woodland feel. The overall design is still mellow but it feels calm so I'm happy. 

Please click on the Mixed Techniques tab at the top of the page for purchasing information. 

Mixed Techniques!

I'm still pulling fabrics from my "to be continued" basket and reworking the surfaces. This piece repeats the circle shape as more layers are added using a number of techniques. 

I started with 100% cotton and painted the surface using Setacolor fabric paint.
I stamped some found objects and stenciled ferns across the surface. 

Next I melted soy wax and using a circular shaped sponged
stamped the hot wax across the surface. 

The piece was over dyed with ice creating a terracotta background.

I mixed green fabric paint with a clear decolorant and sponged circle shapes on the fabric. Once the product is dry I heat set with an iron. As the fabric absorbs the heat the circle shapes begin to appear - It's like magic!

This is one of my favorite stencils and I thought the piece needed some
dragonflies flitting about.  

Here is the finished piece

If you'd like information on purchasing this one yard piece please click on the "Mixed Techniques" tab at the top of the blog. 

We Have a Mosaic Fabric Pack Winner!

Lesley Riley chose a winner at random for The Printed Fabric Bee's custom fabric pack giveaway! Please click over to Lesley's blog to see if it's YOU! 

Next month will be my turn to give away a fabric pack so please, please, please check back and be ready to post a comment when prompted. My theme explores the colors and textures of woodlands... I can hardly wait to see what the artists create! 

For now pop over to Lesley's blog to see who the winner is! If you don't already know Lesley take a few minutes to peruse her blog and see what's happening in her creative arts business!

Ice Dye + Batik = Happy Fabric!

I've mentioned in previous posts that I have a basket where all my "unhappy" fabrics go. When I create a fabric that I'm not thrilled with I toss it into the basket to be reworked at another time. To me fabric is never unusable... just "unhappy" in it's current state! I recently pulled out some unhappy fabrics and using the batik technique I got some of them to a happy place... others went back into the basket... again! 

Hand dyed fabric with circles added using the batik technique

The original ice dyed fabric before adding soy wax

Once the soy wax was applied I dyed the fabric Indigo

#batik #icedyedfabric #handdyedfabric