Found some silk scarf blanks the other day when I was digging through some stuff looking for something else (of course I didn't find the other something else). I haven't dyed in awhile so I thought I'd give a whirl. After the first dye bath/batching I randomly applied discharge paste and then spent time ironing it away. Think I'll do another 2 tomorrow in a different color pathway.

Complex Art Cloth - Newest Small Business Venture!

Over the weekend I realized I liked surface designing cloth more than composing and finishing art quilts (oh yes, it's true). A friend encouraged me to follow my desire because - Lord knows - in my day job world I have "musts" but shouldn't have them in my art world. Right?

The small pieces above are for sale (I'm going to try to get them in my Etsy shop tonight).

The yellow piece has at least 3 layers of techniques and measures just a smidge under 9x13". It will be priced at $10.00 for the piece.

The pink fossil piece (which looks a bit lighter on my monitor than it is in real life) is 11-1/2x13" and is priced at $12.00 for the piece. I used at least 5 techniques on this one.

All fabric is smooth weaved, premium Kona cotton. Gorgeous.

Some results of scarf dyeing and discharging - unironed. My favorite is that chiffon one, top left.

Fabric Abstract

The paintings I've been doing lately have inspired me to - once again - try to replicate these effects on fabrics. This is the closest I've ever come. I like how this cloth looks. More experiments to come...as time allows.

Sweet Dye

Cotton fabric at the top and silk scarves at the bottom....all done up with desconstructive screen printing. I think I'm going to make some scarves using the same method I used on the cotton. Now it's time to go to the store and get something for dinner...it's been a busy day.

Resurrect

Soooooo....take a piece of an old quilt that is so worn portions of the top fabrics have been eaten away by acid, many washings and time...overlay it with pieces of silk organza (trapping wooden buttons inside) and an ancient tablecloth then free motion stitch away. Once done, wash it in Synthrapol and then overdye with a luscious golden brown color. I plan to add some hand stitched accents, maybe some beads (but maybe not), maybe a bit of metallic paint. The texture in this incredible.

"And the seasons they go 'round and 'round

And the painted ponies go up and down

We're captive on the carousel of time

We can't return we can only look behind

From where we came

And go round and round and round

In the circle game"

Circle Game by Joni Mitchell

First I painted white cotton with inks, let it dry and then washed the fabric. Next I swirled soy wax on it and then overpainted it with black and maroon textile paint. Messing around with fabric dyes, paints, screen prints, soy wax, etc is kind of like doodling with pens - although quite a bit messier.

Yesterday I took a vintage damask tablecloth and stuck it in a blue-grey dye bath. I then took a piece of dyed and painted silk organza and laid it over a piece of the dyed tablecloth. After adding a bit of pink silk organza, some vintage lace, a few beads and some hand stitching this piece emerged.

I am at a crossroads in my life right now in regards to a business opportunity. The next week will probably be the deciding one in regards to a decision to move forward with the opportunity or not. A crystal ball would help right now, anyone out there have one for rent?

A small piece I made using scraps and bits of fabric that I gelatin printed, silk screened, shiva sticked, discharged, dyed and otherwise altered. Good weekend, everyone. I intend to savor every minute.

Lay of the Land

A small landscape I did last night while messing around with pieces of fabric that I either gelatin printed, discharged, painted, stamped, deconstructive screen printed and/or dyed. New supplies arrived from Dharma Trading yesterday and I can't wait to get into them. This is a busy time of year but I'm hoping for some art time this weekend.

I could of stayed up all night working on this. It was one of those times that I was living in the right side of my brain and time was something from another dimension....a very special, special feeling. The base is plain white fabric with overlaid dyed and discharged silk organza. The hearts are dyed, discharged and stamped cotton fabric.

Work Continues

I added some hand stitching over the weekend. At first I was going to load up this piece with stitching but I'm thinking maybe not....perhaps subtle is the way to go...but I'm going to let it sit for awhile before moving forward. I've often found that I need to step back from pieces about mid-stream and let ideas and thoughts come to me as they will.

Respite Saturday

What have I been up to this past week? Besides trying to maintain a semblance of sanity while at my day job? (and the jury's still out on how successful I was at that). I was messing around with silk and silk organza that I had dyed over the past weeks. I created this base and plan to enhance it (well...let's hope that's the result) with hand stitching. This is such a complete departure from my usual work that I'm very intriqued and excited. It's also a larger than typical piece, coming in at about 18x13". Change can be good.

A Small Universe

Hand dyed and painted cotton cloth, with overlaid hand dyed organza and hand stitching. Mounted on hand dyed silk and a painted gallery wrapped artist canvas. All at only 6x6"!

Burnt

I tore and burnt the edges of the multi-layered, mono-printed cloth I created the other day. I also dyed some silk organza that is now scrunched and peeking out of the portal crevice. I'm seeing more texture as a result of quilting and hand stitching, plus some other unobtrusive embellishments. I do like the back ground the hand dyed cloth provides for this piece.

It's been a tremendously busy week for me in my non-art life but I've been able to carve out some time to keep my hands in the creative pie. Even though I moan and groan about never having enough time, I am grateful for the opportunities I can grab and cherish them.

Gorgeous Colors

It was sunny and warm on Saturday so I dyed some cloth. I love the vibrancy of the colors in these four pieces. They look great folded and placed on top of one another. I'd like to inspire others to make use of this cloth too.....so....I posted some for sale in my Etsy shop.

The Wallkill River School art gallery wants to become a non-profit agency but this is an expensive endeavor in regards to setting up and filing all the necessary legal documents. Yesterday Shawn Dell Joyce http://www.shawndelljoyce.com/ who runs the school and Michelle Filer (who is the bestest shop gallery mgr ever and quite a talented artist herself) contacted me to talk about an auction fundraiser they are having for the school next week. I offered to donate 2 art pieces - one for a silent auction and one for a live auction.

The piece above might - or might not (we have to see how these things go) - grow into the silent auction piece...I see lots of beading and sequins on this one....

The work in progress below might be submitted for the live auction. Many more blocks need to be completed - in a week - and then quilted - in a week - but I'm going to try. This wallhanging will end up being about 21x31"....pretty large for me! It is comprised of all my own hand dyed and discharged fabrics.

Disintegration II

Last night I finished this dyed, painted, silk screened, foiled and embroidered cloth that ended up being 13x9" when completed. I am more pleased with it than not - although I am my own worse critic and not a great judge of my own work. I would love to be in a small supportive circle of fellow artists who are able to establish enough support & trust (important, that trust thing) among themselves to view each other's work and comment on what works, what doesn't, etc. Does anyone out there have experience with a group of this sort? How well does it work? Is it beneficial?

Hand Work

Worked on this last night while listening to television and waiting for Steve to come home from his Nuclear Physics (quake & shudder) class. It uses only my own hand dyed fabric and was done purely intuitively – no planning done on this little baby. I’m actually pleased with how it’s turning out. When finished this 4x6 postcard will be sent to Deb L,
http://morewgalo.blogspot.com/
who is owed a long overdue trade from me. Better late than never is a motto I live by way too often!