Prelude, Bubba and yet another new project!

August 3 was the Opening Reception for this year's Prelude exhibit at Arts Connection Gallery:

Shown here:  Dolores Ziegler, who works in acrylic paint and collage; Cinde Dalhover, our
host for the upcoming Flagstaff Open Studios Tour; me, and Louise Waller, who works in a multitude of 2D and 3D mediums.  We are 4 of the 7 artists who will be at Studio 11, located at Cinde's home.
Here are the 2 pieces I submitted as examples of my work:

The jacket has since sold, and been replaced with another.  

For those in the Flagstaff area at the end of August, we will be at 9815 E. Townsend Winona Rd Saturday and Sunday, 8/24-25, open from 10 am to 5 pm.  Come see us!

On the Bubba front, I will say that he has fully recovered from the issues he was suffering a couple of months ago.  He still occasionally has slight digestive issues, but nothing compared to what he went through.  Thank goodness! 

Meanwhile, back at the studio, I have started to take my first tentative steps into learning Eco Printing... using leaves and foliage from the yard to make impressions on paper and fabric.  I did a lot of lurking on facebook groups, poring over posts in pinterest and google searches for information on the process before taking the plunge.  I first learned how to tie-dye almost 22 years ago, and there was a lot more straightforward info on process for tie-dye!  With eco-printing, it seems like no two artists use exactly the same processes or methods, and it makes learning a bit of a challenge.  I am convinced that if I keep at this for 22 years, I might have it figured out, but it will take continuing to study and experiment.  But I am encouraged by my first efforts!  I started (thanks to my friend Beth in Maine!) by trying a batch of watercolor papers cut to a size I could use in cards:

I was truly amazed and thrilled when I unwrapped this first batch, and it hooked me!  I know that I will be doing many more of these, and have submitted two to the gallery to be juried in, since this is a totally different medium from my usual work.

Next, I decided to try 2 scarves - a chiffon, and a habotai silk.  The initial results were very pale, almost not noticeable, so I steeped them in leaf "tea":

I also used some strips of muslin, dipped in an iron solution that were part of the bundle I steamed.  I didn't get pictures of them at that point, but decided to experiment a little after with steeping the muslin in a "tea" I  brewed from the leaves used in the printing process.  And I made a batch of black tea, so I could compare the two.  Here is a shot showing one of the muslin strips as it came out of the steaming bundle, one that was steeped in black tea and one steeped in leaf tea:

Now I know the leaf tea has more color, but that could be totally different next time!

Now I have to start saving and drying leaves, to carry me through the winter!  I love that I have a large variety to harvest right in our yard, but also plan to go on leaf gathering trips around town to scoop up some that don't grow in our yard... leaf lady is coming!  Stay tuned for further developments, and news about this year's Open Studios tour!

Creating, nursing and recovering

I have been very busy in the studio this month, continuing with my fabric note cards and working on the items I will be displaying in the Prelude Art Exhibit in August, which precedes our annual Flagstaff Open Studios tour the last weekend in August.
Here are some of the new card designs I worked on:

It took quite awhile to get this just right, but then I was able to make 3 more of a similar pattern.  I'm learning how to design, then create the process for replicating once I have the design the way I want it.  Then it's much faster to make more.

The one above was inspired by an abstract I saw on Pinterest, my go-to place for inspiration and ideas.  Again, I finished one, then used it as my basis for the remaining 3.

I have been wanting to do more with autumn leaves, and this one came together fairly quickly because I already had the leaves made for a previous project... these were left over.

I love Sunflowers, and this one is the first of several I have made... mostly with hand dyed fabric, although the center of the flower is a batik.  This design taught me it's not always best to fuse everything before stitching.  Any future ones, I will probably do the stitching before I fuse the center of the flower and the leaf.  Then I will go back in and stitch them and the outer edges.  It's all a learning process!

On the "nursing front", our 15 year old cat Bubba has had issues with bad teeth, which I took him in to have checked a few months ago.  However, the vet discovered he has a heart murmur, and was concerned he might not be able to survive going under anesthesia.  So I have been working to find foods he doesn't have to chew.  I thought I had found the solution with a kibble that was smaller, but he continued to have digestive issues, culminating in a loss of appetite, weight loss and weakness.  I made an appointment to take him to the vets, fully expecting that it would be the last time... but over the weekend, his appetite began to return.  I had bought a new wet food that is much softer, so he can lick it up, and I was encouraged.  Monday, we went to the vet, and Bubba got really stressed by the trip, having his temperature taken thru his bum, and being poked and prodded... he was panting for air, and I was very concerned.  They gave him a couple of shots, some anti nausea meds, hydrated him.  I took him home, let him rest, and started encouraging him to eat and drink water.  Within a couple of days, his appetite came back... with a vengeance!  He loves his new food, is eating like a champ... his hind legs are still weak, and the vet did recommend a joint supplement which I will be starting him on tonight.  We'll see how things go, but I don't think he's used up all 9 lives just yet!

Lastly, I have been working on the 2 items I will be showing at Arts Connection Gallery in August.  They are representative of my wearable art and coiled fabric bowls:

This is one of my rayon jackets.  It's hard to see all the colors on the mannequin, so I hung it on a cafe rod in my bathroom where I normally hang an art quilt.  this is the back side.

This is one of my bowls with a lid.  You can't see the button I used for a knob... I painted it to match the fabric, which is turquoise with gold enhancements.  I'm glad to have them done so I can keep working on my fabric cards... my new obsession!