I've been in kind of a creative "blah" period lately... wanting to do something different, but everything I try seems to not inspire me to continue! Every felt that? I used to go into a creative "black hole" mostly by the end of the year, but it seems like I've been full steam ahead for the past few years. So maybe this is just a call for time-out to catch my breath, creatively speaking. Anyway, here are some pix of several works in progress - some may never go any further, others do have some promise... just a matter of deciding which appeals to me more.
Above, top left is a Spirit Doll that needs more, I'm just not sure what yet; top right is one in progress, but it will be a little different - I want to mount it on a flat surface, maybe a painted canvas... but haven't decided the size or shape of the canvas yet. And below is the start of a hand stitched piece with houses. I stopped because the first window I stitched down (lower left) is crooked, and I didn't feel like removing the stitches and doing it over, so put it aside for now.
In the picture above, I started playing with stitching swirls using a blanket stitch - the one on the dark blue background started with a blanket stitch, then I decided to make it more like a ladder stitch, if there even is such a thing! The concentric circle is a loop stitch. The one with the black background is more to my liking, but I have no plan for what to do next, so this is more of a stitch meditation/exercise than something with a plan in mind. And the piece on the right is based on an article I read in QA magazine from Dec/Jan 2020 by Julie Basseches Booth where she creates small talisman pouches using layers of sheer fabrics and covers with yarn and threads she couches onto the base, then adds beads and other items before stitching the pouch together. I've admired her work for a long time, and would love to use her techniques in my textile projects.
So other than these WIPS, what have I been up to? Mostly dyeing shirts and tunics! I did a few recently using a "multi swirl" pattern which were fun - here are a couple of them.
The tunic above was tie-dyed
The shirt above was "Ice dyed", meaning instead of using a liquid dye where the dye powder is dissolved in water, I apply dye powders directly onto the tied shirt, then cover with ice cubes. As the cubes slowly dissolve, they gradually dissolve the dye powders. Most dyes are made up of several different dye colors, so there is color separation as the item batches. I love how they come out, but they do take a lot longer to batch so I don't do them as much. But I love this latest batch, so may have to get some more going soon! I got a shipment of rayon tunic blanks yesterday which are selling well at Sedona Artists' Market, so maybe I can get a bunch done before I go down next month.
So that's what I've been doing lately... how about you? Happy Thanksgiving to you all, and I'll see you soon!
