Category Archives: fabric dyeing

Trying Some Arashi Shibori

     This past week’s lesson in the  online shibori class was on pole wrapping or arashi shibori. I took an old piece of pvc pipe and wrapped my fabric around it. I methodically and slowly wrapped the pole in about 1/8 of inch increments and then dipped the pole in colorhue dye. Instant color.

For these four pieces of silk,  I used the color eggplant and rose which I really did not like. Maybe I will try overdyeing this.

That’s what I love about dyeing-you can always change your results-until you get mud….then you just start fresh with white again.

Let’s see what else I can sneak in this week while they are sleeping in.

Be creative, my friends!

The Softness of Silk Continued

     I am really happy it’s Friday. I am even happier that I am done with elementary school carnival volunteering. Tonight was the last for me. I will miss lots of things about elementary school but not the dreaded carnival…. a big sigh of relief …ahhh…my feet are up and I am relaxing.

     I really do love this silk. This week we are working on actual shibori- stitching and then dyeing.  I have a new respect for the amount of time it takes to stitch intricate patterns. I had trouble tugging on the thread too hard so hours of stitching were lost with a broken thread. But I did come up with a lovely piece of fabric despite that.

     I have two more small pieces in the works so hope to dip them tomorrow. The reveal when you undo it is just too much fun. One thing I know for certain is that I love to dye fabric of any kind. (I need to figure out how to post on the class site….)

    Also, snuck in another small piece. I am trying to not post until things are finished but just a little peek.
I made myself use orange. And I am liking orange.

    
     Whew, I am glad it’s Friday, aren’t you?

Be creative, my friends!

Just Doing

     That is what I am -just doing the work right now and thought I’d come up to share a few things with you. I was using my little internet surfing to try to read information  on silk dyeing. And I found this wonderful and comprehensive list on dyeing and mixed media. 15 pages worth of books and websites all compiled by a wonderful artist Lu Peters. Which is why you didn’t find me here yesterday. I am in the midst of research as I told my family.

     In between finishing up with winter sports and spring sports-the overlap- and drivers ed….I am persevering. Nice to have the time change and the snow melting. I am piecing and dyeing silk today. Striving for crisper edges with my itajame on silk. It dries so quickly that it makes it a really rewarding process. I need to try a heavier concentration of the Colorhues dyes.

    Be creative, my friends!

The End of the Week

    Plenty of things going on. Nice to look back and see all the places I have been this week.  And the fun I am having.

1. Shibori Class with Glennis.

 Silk -I loved the feel of it. I loved how easily and quickly it took the dye. Which has no to low odor and leaves no stains on your hands. Dyeing silk on the first day. I can only dream of what is to come. Loved it.

     Note to self: buy or find some better clamps to get crisp edges on the shapes. Use smaller pieces  of silk to try these experiments.

2. Working on filling in all those color charts.

I never can waste any kind of paint. This is Setacolor paints from the Color theory class. Note to self: find out the  right way to apply this to fabric. Just dilute with water? A medium? I have no idea. I was just using up what I had leftover for the lesson.

3. Just a little hand stitching. Facings.

I am trying to enjoy the process and not get think too much with- what will I do with all this information and  how will I use it? It’s on simmer right now. And that’s a good place to be.

Have a good weekend, my friends!

 

The Land of the Lost

     I have been transported to the land of the lost. The land of dyeing silk. I  may never return. I am very happy and relaxed here. They may call my name for meals and I may never come up for them.

    I don’t want to put any words to it yet. Except -happy.

    Lost in the land of silk dyeing.

Another New Thing

       My box of supplies came in the mail yesterday. My fabric has been rinsed.  I am ready to go and have been anxiously waiting for this one. Shibori Dyeing with Glennis Dolce. I know from cotton dyeing that there will be a huge learning curve. But this is the class I was most excited about of all the online classes -I just love fabric dyeing.  


    It has become the year of learning techniques for me. A perpetual learner…there is so much to learn,isn’t there?


    Be creative,my friends!


    

Loving Color #2: I Fooled You

     Don’t you just shake your head sometimes and wonder what I’m doing? I can imagine some of you saying -what in the world will she do with the screechingly (is that even a word?) awful pieces of fabric from the last post? A strange and loud tie dye creation?

     But I fooled you. It was just the first layer and I have overdyed the batch to see what happens. Well, I suspected what would happen. And I was right.

     The deep colors I wanted for the next project. I also overdyed some snowdyed fabric which just didn’t turn out bright enough.

     Much better. Also, finished up the rest of the floss.

     It is freezing in the garage which is where I do all the mixing and rinsing. I think I am good on dyeing for awhile. Just needed a fix of color in January.

     I need to get ahead writing my posts and taking pictures. I use to love to blog at 7:30 am but it’s still dark out here until about 8:15.  So here I am at dinnertime :).

     Be creative, my friends!

Fussing Over

    I am so a creature of habit  I didn’t even want to look at how the upload of pictures was changed on Blogger. Such a baby at the end of the week. I am just tired after all my fabric dyeing-labor intensive but I love doing it.

 Beautiful colors-stormy grey, mustard, lapis from ProChem. I decided  to not goof around with trying to mix my own. I really like the grey.

 Two little work of the weeks using Shiva Paintsticks. I have had these paintsticks in a drawer for over two years and why haven’t I tried them before? I enjoyed the leaf rubbing and even tried free motion quilting again on the leaf. That was fun rather than the fighting with free motion quilting I have done in the past.

 More Artprize from the other night.

Also, a nice series of artist lectures sponsored by Kendall College of Art and Design.

 Different interactive art exhibits.

The Scar project was an Artprize entry. It included 500 people stitching an example of their “scar” on a canvas and then journaling. It was really sad but overwhelming to see how eagerly people were willing to jump in and participate.
I am too tired to figure out/ question why I can’t align this so good night my friends. Next week is very busy with the quilt show so I’ll see how the time is for blogging.
Be creative, my friends. 

My Own Little Art Prize

       Artprize begins today at 6:00 pm . All around town for the past week, we have been hearing about it in the paper and on tv and seeing it come together as signage has been put in place. There was even an article about it in the Wall Street Journal magazine this weekend. Lots of publicity this year so it will be busy!

     I hoped to get a head start today by finding a venue to register at, so I stopped by the Meijer Gardens. The entryway is open to the public for the next two weeks and the tour buses were lined up already. Lots of people trying to catch an early peek. When I arrived, the Artprize computers were down-probably overloaded. But then I noticed that portions of the conservatory were closed and lights dimmed. The power was out following a really nasty storm last night.

  

 But I still took time to see some of the exhibits. This was one of my favorites-paint cans. Loved the colors. Each piece identifies the artist and name of the work as well as gives you a voting number for it. You either like it or don’t like it-it’s  a viewer’s choice show. You have to show id onsite to be able to vote. I was finally able to register and hope to go to the opening downtown tonight. Lots more pictures coming the next two weeks of my favorites.

     I came home and put my newly dyed fabrics on the line.

     All darks this time and definitely fall colors.

I was disappointed that more of my fabric didn’t arrive today as it’s really warm here. I need to do the mustard and butter yellows yet. I had my own little art prize party hanging them on the line!

   

Off  to enjoy some art, my friends!

Outside Dyeing Today

     My mom had some minor outpatient surgery yesterday. She is doing okay but all I can say is please wear your sunscreen. And today in the 80’s so am outside dyeing fabric. And yes, I have my sunscreen on! I need to take advantage of the great weather here. I hope to go to Artprize opening tomorrow so lots to share this week.

 Go and be creative,  my friends!