Sunday, March 16, 2014

Road Trip and other fun things!

This week's highlight was a trip with my friend Sherrie Spangler down to Prescott, AZ.  As you may recall from my last post, Sherrie, who lives in Gig Harbor, WA, is visiting Sedona again this year for some sunshine and warmth with her husband Dave.  Anyway, last week, I drove down and picked her up and we headed for Prescott, about an hour southwest of Sedona.  I know a few fabric stores down there, and wanted to give her a tour.  She posted about the trip on her blog, and she is ever so much better at taking pictures than I am!  But I snatched this shot from her post, taken by Dave before we took off:
Notice the colors we are both wearing?  We did not coordinate our wardrobes before we met!  We just both LOVE color!
So off we went, stopping at Cloth Plus first... a favorite of mine, as they carry a wonderful selection of batik fabrics.  Sherrie scored big time, and I found a couple of pieces for a great price - bolt ends on sale.  Next, we stopped at Seams so Right ,  another favorite of mine... so much wonderful fabric!
After thoroughly  browsing the bolts there, it was time for a lunch break to refuel... so we stopped at a great little restaurant down the street  -  El Gato Azul:

We sat out in the patio, soaking up the warmth of the sun and enjoying a yummy repast.
I had to take a photo of this wonderful ceramic cat, posing at the bar of the restaurant... almost looks tie-dyed, doesn't it?!

Then on to one more shop, "Love It Again", which is a great little shop with remnants of fabric, yarns, thread, books... you name it!
All too soon, it was time to head back.  Sherrie and I are already planning next year's adventure, as we have decided this is a great annual event!
Meanwhile, I'm still dyeing rayon scarves... finished up a couple of great multicolored freeze-dyes the other day, looking like southwest sunsets:

I really love the intensity I get dyeing rayon...these just make my heart sing!  Much, much more to come...

Friday, March 7, 2014

New look at the ACF Gallery

I stopped by the ACF Gallery yesterday in Flagstaff with my friend Sherrie Spangler, who is visiting Northern Arizona this month with her husband, Dave  If you follow my blog, you know that Sherrie writes great tutorials and posts on her blog, and I learned from them how to make my Shabby Chic scarves as well as my coiled fabric bowls... the two items I have been making a lot this past 18 months.  Anyway, back to the gallery... they have done a total makeover, and I'm really thrilled with the new look!
They even bought a great rack to display my scarves, shown here on the left.  Anyway, if you happen to be in Flagstaff, do stop by and check it out: 111 E. Aspen St, just east of San Francisco St.  They are open Thurs-Mon, 11am - 4pm. 

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Spring projects

I'm really feeling Spring in the air now!  We had rain/snow yesterday, but today the sun is out, the snow is melting, and I'm really having fun with dyeing and bowl making!  I finished this bowl the other day:


What looks like pale green is really a blue/green, but the lights bled it out.  I love the circles as an alternate way to finish it... I tacked them on in several places to hold the shape.  I will be making more like this, I think.  And I just ordered another bowl book which should be here sometime next week... it shows how to make different shapes, and I'm anxious to dive into it!
Meanwhile, I have been ice cube dyeing.  I have a show coming up in April, and wanted to replenish my shirt inventory... here's a sample:

I'm trying to add different colors to the mix, including some that maybe would appeal to guys.  And I liked how these came out so well, I decided to try the fold on a rayon circular scarf:
I love how rayon takes the dyes!  You really don't get the full effect of the pattern when it's coiled like this, but I'm doing some shirts with the same color combo, so they should look more like the shirts above but really bright and vibrant!
By the way, I recently had the ice maker hooked up, which is really nice when I'm ice dyeing... but I used them all and had to go to the local mini-mart and buy some to finish today's dye project!  Guess I'll have to stock pile a little better for future sessions...