BLOG vs FACEBOOK

I like the fact that my BLOG posts don’t go away so fast. I can go back and review what I’ve written and how I was feeling about my life and my work at a certain point in time. You, dear readers, also get to join me on this journey and hopefully understand why I make art, and also, when I don’t.

I particularly like this new ability with BLOGGER to create stand alone pages, seems like things are more organized this way, and easier to find. We’re all pretty busy these days, and information overload can quickly turn us off, it does me anyway. I hope to make my BLOG a place you can come and find something new, something exciting, and more in depth info on a subject that interests you.

Yesterday I figured out how to do the “follower” thing, now I’m working on moving the fabric painting info to it’s own page.

But here’s a scan of piece for you to see today. It’s just a little larger than the scanner bed, so you see pretty much all of it. Not sure what will happen with it next. Putting it up on the design wall for now.

Noveldom Abatement

Noveldom is not over yet, but seems to be subsiding. Not sure yet if it’s the current story or the whisper from the studio. Last week sometime I visited the Cloth Paper Scissors on-line group, probably when I was working on that “Running with Scissors” entry, looking for inspiration. But I digress.
Today Judi Hurwitt wrote in her BLOG,“Energized and inspired by last week's interview with Sherrill Kahn and the peek we were given at her new work, Monday morning found me setting up the wet studio for some marathon fabric painting. I used to spend days and days doing this- mostly on paper and wood- and I have missed it a lot, lately.”
Hmmmm, I’m relating to that last line about missing the painting process. So I’ve  hauled out some of my collection of collage inspiration and put them next to my reading chair.

What might happen next?

Hand Dyes

Since I just posted to the PAQA list that I would be bringing my fabrics to the meeting with a fresh link to my BLOG, I figured I would post some refresher photos of my hand dyed fabrics.

flowers to brighten my day

sometimes I just need a little color to brighten my day, and maybe yours. And they smell so wonderful. I absolutely love flowers and yellow particularly. I’ve noticed the last few years I use much more yellow in my work. Whenever I have a coupon to buy Setacolor paints I never have to worry about what I might need, any yellow will do. Buttercup #13 is my absolute favorite, however. It’s a lovely warm yellow and reliably pops next to #29 Violet. Then just add #49 Fuchsia.  WOW, It doesn’t get any better than that. It really helps lift my spirits when the sky’s so overcast.  Tomorrow will be brighter.

The Unvieling

Painted Outfit

My entry in the 3rd Annual Creativity Continuum exhibit is the result of a challenge to me by our Facilitator, Julie Rose. Her words were straight forward, “stretch yourself, do something totally different than your usual work”.

I admit I was stymied for quite a while, then one day, as I was searching through my own closet for something to wear to an upcoming event, I came across these three pieces that had hung in there for ages. The skirt I had never worn, the tops only once or twice. All three pieces were white, but there the similarity ended.

They are totally different fibers and textures so would require different medium to be permanent on all. I admit the idea, once formed needed no further consideration except to decided on the color. I covered my dress form with plastic, dressed her with all three pieces, set her out in the middle of my garage, filled my spray bottle with thinned textile paint and went to work.
Knowing when to stop is often a problem for me, I think I got it just right this time

Painted OutFit

This is what I did with Setacolor Paints. The skirt is 100% rayon, the under blouse is polyester satin, and the over shirt is polyester sheer. I've had these pieces in my closet forever. The skirt never worn, still had the tags on it. The under blouse and over shirt worn maybe a few times. I poured and sprayed the diluted paint from the top down all within a 15 minute time frame so the colors would blend together. I took it to my Creativity Continuum meeting tonight and they loved it. It will be part of our group show in September. The theme/title of this interactive show is: A Woman's Wardrobe, An Expose'.

WHAT HAVE I BEEN DOING?

this

and some of this, but

mostly this

SKYDYES

Yesterday I mentioned a fabric-painting book, by Mickey Lawler, which I purchased in 2001. I have painted on canvas and paper for many years and at that time had a pretty impressive collection of acrylic paints. When I first began experimenting with them on fabric I was always disappointed with the stiff plastic results. The fact that this is inherent in the nature of those paints was beside the point, I continued to search for a solution. My first experience with Setacolor paints happened at a PAQA retreat when Melody Johnson brought some for all of us to play with. She brought fabrics she had painted with this stuff, heat set it, washed it, and wonder of wonders, it did not change the hand of the fabric significantly, in most cases, not at all. This was one of those totally WOW experiences for me.

My next step, as is my normal pattern, was to find a book and learn more. At my favorite local, not so traditional quilt store, I found the book. I read it from cover to cover the first night. The very next day I went in search of the paints. My favorite local crafts store stocked them along side the T-shirt blanks. 9 or 12 pretty basic transparent colors, $9 bucks a bottle. That was really expensive for me at that time. I was accustomed to 49 cents a bottle for most acrylics, maybe $1 for airbrush quality. On the wall I found a starter kit, with 6 small jars, mostly primary colors. Ms. Lawler said, in her book, that a 50/50 dilute with water was her starting point and sometimes more. I had a 40% off coupon so I figured OK, I’ll try this and see how far it goes. Magic !!! Years and years and yards and yards of fabric later, watching the wet into wet paint moving, primary colors, secondary colors, tertiary colors, becoming new colors, right there on the fabric still excites me!!! If you want to try fabric painting, buy this book and work through the exercises, you won’t be sorry.

Yes, that's a piece of my fabric up there at the top.

OFF-THE-SHELF Fabric Painting

by Sue Beevers. The info I’ve been getting is that this GREAT RESOURCE for fabric painters is out of print. Amazon has a few available from their Marketplace sellers. This is the book I have been recommending (strongly suggesting) to students in my fabric painting class at TLD Designs. It is the only one I have found, other than SKYDYES, by Mickey Lawler, that address ONLY FABRIC PAINTING (no dye recipes or techniques included). This book shows you the way to create fabric soft enough for use in your quilts, wall hangings, or garments. Sue Beevers takes us step by step through 30 recipes and 15 techniques (she calls them recipes for gourmet results) with easy to understand and follow instructions and great photos of her results.

Geri MacRoy Long Arm Quilt Artist

This is a close-up of the wonderful quilting done by fellow PAQA member, Geri MacRoy on a piece of my hand painted fabric. At the time she bought it, she told me she was pretty sure it would become a whole-cloth quilt.

It sure did!!! and a beautiful one it is.

Malibu Burning

quilted with neon threads and embellished with Swarovski Crystals and Tintzl
The finished quilt size is 41” by 38”

"It got in to the MQS Show in May and it got pretty good marks,
I have not yet heard from the American Quilters Society on whether it has been accepted.

I entered it in the Fabric Art division", says, Geri

"This year I have been entering lots of quilt shows.
Currently I am teaching longarm classes for Sewing Concepts in Woodstock and Carpentersville over the summer. I am loving it. It is a series of classes which begin with basics and are leading up to more advanced topics.
I attended lots of hands on classes at MQS in Overland Park this May. Some of my teachers were Cathy Franks, Dawn Cavanaugh, Jamie Wallen, Sharon Schamber, Irena Bluhm , Paula Platter, Cindy Roth and more. I am still absorbing and applying the wonderful things learned from these wonderful teachers. In August my husband and I are going to the Nashville Quilt Show. Rich is now a card carrying member of AQS!
This week I am completing a lovely Depression quilt top into a finished quilt for a local customer. The quilt top was made by her great grandmother. It has really been a worthwhile experience. I am doing custom start to finish quilts for people who request specific quilt projects".

Her web site address is www.lovingquilts.com.