Sneak preview

I'm really excited! I am going to be teaching a tie-dye Art Quilt class on joggles.com this fall! Here's a sneak peak of the Art Quilt I am making for the class:


It's not done yet... still need to assemble the quilt and do a little stitching and embellishing, but I think it will be a fun project for anyone who wants to learn tie-dye folds, basic dyeing techniques, and how to incorporate dyed fabrics into an Art Quilt. I'll post more here when I have a class date... hope you'll join me!

More Funky dyeing

So... after I did the shirts shown in my last post, I took things a step further. First I dyed some shirts in the same fashion, but then I overdyed in black to create a neon-looking affect. Here is one of the first shirts:

This is a scrunch on top of a scrunch, and I got the beginnings of the look I was trying for. But I was inspired to take it a step further. I scrunch dyed a poncho and a sarong, both fringed rayon... first scrunched with the bright colors I used before. Then, after washing and re-soda soaking, I created a little more of a folded look. On the Poncho, I did a loose swirl, and on the sarong, I did an irregular zigzag accordion fold. Then, after putting them into a plastic bin, I applied the black dye by pouring over them from a measuring cup. Here they are:

Needless to say, I'm hooked... got 4 more in the washer now, and can't wait to see them and start the process all over again! I need to order lots more black dye! It takes 4 times as much black dye powder as the average dye in order to get a deep shade. But I definitely think it's worth it! I've always admired Carter Smith's work, but wanted to be able to get the same kind of dramatic look on cotton that he gets on silk. And I have tried discharge dyeing, where you start with black, create a fold design, apply bleach then overdye with color. I haven't been satisfied with the colors, and I'm concerned about the fabric being damaged by the bleach bath, even if I use a neutralizer afterward. So my current method is the best one I have found so far to achieve that "Glow in the dark" effect. I'll post pix of the next batch soon.

Funky dyeing

I've been trying to get some dyeing done for my Open Studios show next month, but haven't been real inspired with any particular designs, so my output has been slow. Today, I decided to scrunch up several shirts in a couple of bins, and just pour several colors over to see how they would look. I've done this kind of freeform dyeing before, and sometimes it works, sometimes the shirts end up looking "butt-ugly", you should pardon the vulgarity. Well, I did 5 shirts, and 3 came out just fine without any further tweaking:

The other two weren't quite as good, but I scrunched them up and overdyed with a nice strong black, and I like how they look! I'll take pix of them and post them tomorrow. Now I'm hot to do some more like these... don't know if I'm just getting lazy, or if I don't want to be as structured right now as I would need be to do some of the more ornate folded pieces. Anyway, we'll see how these sell... I may be on to something! Funky scrunches!

One man's trash...

You know that saying "One man's trash is another man's treasure"? Well, I forgot to take pix of my "trash", but I'll show you my "treasure":



My friend Joyce and her hubby were cleaning out their garage, and decided they didn't need this shelving. I had this stuff crammed into a little shelving unit, under my desk, and on another shelf... now it's all neat & tidy and easy to get to!

They also had an old desk they didn't need anymore. The desk I was using is at least 11 years old, and it was a cheapy to start with. This one has a keyboard tray, 2 drawers (one I have a book on top of for my mouse!), and there is enough desk space for my external hard drive, postal scale, speakers and calculator with room to spare... woo-hoo!! I scored!

Oh, and did I mention the shelving she gave me for the garage? I had enough to store the bins where I keep my undyed clothing, and two more for odds and ends that I set up next to my work table. And there is another one waiting for me to collect for even more garage space! I think I owe Joyce lunch at the very least, don't you?

Seasonal visitors

This time of year, we get a number of different migratory birds passing through. I was fortunate enough this afternoon to get this shot:

I tried to get a closer shot earlier when they were at one of the feeding stations, but the screen got in the way. I'm not sure what they are called... I call them Yellow-headed black birds. They fly in flocks, and the yellow is brilliant... like daffodils, sunflowers... a welcome summer sight!

Spring Coat

Earlier this year, I began to notice that my cat Shrekkie was losing his long coat. I got a little concerned, but soon after his visit to the Vet to have him altered, I noticed the fur was growing back, so it appears he was shedding his old coat in order to grow a new one! Who knew that cats go through 'molting' season?! Anyway, here he is with his new Spring coat coming in:

His tail is still a little scraggly looking, but I'm sure it will fill in as time passes. I can't believe it was just about a year ago I started to befriend him! He was such a sad little guy, underfed and homeless. I am so glad I decided to take him in... he's a real sweetie!

Branching out!



If you've been following my blogs for any length of time, you might have formed the impression that I'm just a little hyper... no kidding!  Been that way for as long as I can remember!  As my hubby puts it, I have 2 speeds:  full speed ahead or dead stop.  And I never seem to run out of ideas for new projects and adventures.  So it might come as no surprise that I have found yet another direction to try:  writing books!  Actually, I have two book ideas in mind, and have started creating outlines for both.  The ideas came to me one right after another, and I will be working on both simultaneously.  The first idea I came up with is a dyer's 'how-to' book, focusing mostly on tie-dye, but branching out to cover some of the shibori-like patterns I have been using for the past several years, and touching on some alternative fabric techniques that I have been using on my clothing items.  I intend to take this book slowly and methodically to fruition, to be sure that the instructions are clear and easy to understand.  I might even consider adding a DVD to demo the process... haven't made up my mind on that yet.
The other book is one I will be collaborating on with a friend who has a successful craft business.  Our working title on this one is Biz Book for Crafters & Artisans.  Yes, it is another 'How To' book, but I think it is one we can produce that will be up to date and full of information that we have both tested ourselves, along with some information from other successful crafters we know that will be of benefit to anyone who is interested in selling their hand made products to a wide market, both retail and wholesale.  
Neither of us has published anything to date, but we are both pretty literate and will find a way to do this, whether through a publishing house, e-publishing or self-publishing hard copies.  So keep checking back!  Don't know yet when we will have this baby ready to show the world, as we are both very busy in our individual businesses, but we are also two peas in a pod... the more projects we have going, the happier we are!