Hand Crafted Fabrics For Sale!

Please join me this weekend at the Village Square Quilters - Quilt Celebration XII show!

Along with viewing the many wonderful displays you can join demonstrations and lectures throughout the day. I'll be discussing, How to Create Fabric - The Secrets of Surface Design, at 10:30 on Saturday and Sunday.

Don't forget to stop by the booth and say HI!

Saturday, April 6 and Sunday, April 7, 2013

10:00 AM until 4:00 PM
at JCC of Mid-Westchester
999 Wilmot Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583

Admission is $8 for adults and $1 for children under 12

There will be a scavenger hunt where all participating children win a prize

A silent auction of VSQ made quilt has been added to the festivities

Final Snow Dyed Project of the Season!

It took me a few months to fully embrace snow dyeing this winter but once I got the creative energy flowing I took full advantage of Mother Natures gift from the sky! This past Sunday there was one tiny little pile of snow left in the yard which begged to be used up in dramatic fashion!

I had to pick sticks and grass out of the snow!

One final bin of snow sprinkled with dye powder!

The tablecloth is 120" long and made from artist canvas. It's the largest piece I've ever created and the heavier fabric was a bear to rinse and wring but I'm happy! My goal was to create a tablecloth that reminded me of a summer garden in bloom.

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