ArtFire

Just thought I would let you all know, I am moving all of my items from Etsy onto my ArtFire Shop. Feel free to stop by and take a look at the new store front. I really like the look and easy to use interface of their site. I will be making up imagination packs this week and adding them to the store and also have a lot more silk velvet quarters.

Playing with color

Quiet today, just soaking up the color. Some of my new dyes...

Old Man Sun

Old Man Sun has sat in a box for many a day now. I unearthed him while unpacking and he spoke to me. Time to spend some time with him again. I looked at the direction I was going before with him and decided it was not what I wanted. So I am changing him.


I started out with the piece I had woven before and set aside because nothing I did with it turned out right. I added a piece of lovely blue violet velvet I had dyed and another piece of a cotton blend I dyed also.

I cut these into strips and pieced them together

Then I started embroidering them, much after the style of Chris Grey, a wonderful artist friend of mine. I have long admired this method she uses and felt it worked well with this piece.

He seems much happier this way. I am having much fun with him!

Hope you are all having a great weekend!

Experiments in Shibori Velvet

The idea of doing shibori with velvet has been a bit of a worrisome thing for me. I have found little information about it and was so afraid I would set so many wrinkles into the fabric that it would be ruined. The nap of velvet can be so touchy. I wanted to try it so much though that I decided to throw cautioin to the wind and just try it. After all, what could happen? A half a yard of velvet and a bit of time wasted, thats it.


So I did it, and let me tell you, the results were splendid indeed. I did one piece with clamps and the other with several traditional methods of shibori tyeing. Both worked wonderfully with the only problem at all being a few very small holes at the points of a few of the paisleys. I think the string I used was a little too heavy for the work. I have heard ribbon dental floss is an excellent item to use for this so my next experiments I will be using it.


This is a very time consuming craft, but one with such beautiful results that I think it well may be worth it.

I have been busy with several other projects this week also. I will try to post some pics about them later. Have a great weekend!

Return to dyeing

So I am back at the dye table. I have done several pieces this week. I thought I had everything organized till I started working, and then I couldn't seem to find a thing! Everything is still very disorganized in my studio as I had to steal all the shelves that go in that room for other rooms. This place is sadly lacking for storage space ANYWHERE! I made shelves from cardboard boxes to store things in till we come up with another solution. Thankfully I was able to find everything I needed and get on to work eventually.


I am trying out several new things. I already posted photos of a shibori piece I have in the works (it is washing as I type) but I wanted to show you some pics today of something completely different I did this week. This is two sets of silks I dyed to match. A piece of silk charmeuse, one of silk gauze and a nice length of 2mm silk ribbon. Aren't they gorgeous? I am working on a few imagination packs and I think some of these might find their way in there ;)

I will try to post a pic of the shibori tomorrow. Until then you all take care and I hope you have a creative week!

Experiments in Shibori

Finished!

I finally finished it! I am so happy with how it turned out.

I had the idea for the dragonfly for a long time now but just wasn't sure how to do it. I had the perfect piece of pale blue iridescent material but knew it was too flimsy to hold up as wings by itself. Then I thought of the perfect solution. I fused a piece of silk gauze on the back. Its so light and airy but strong as can be. After the two were fused together I just took a nice piece of kreinik iridescent cord and couched it in a wing shape and then cut it out. It seems that it will hold up, I hope at least! I do love it though. I could not get a good pic of its sparklyness so you will just have to take my word on it ^_^

Now all I have to do is figure out what to do with it...make a pillow perhaps?

Paisley Belt

Thanks Everyone for your comments on the Paisley Disaster. I am so glad you like the new background and I certainly agree with you all, it does look much better on the dark velvet. I spent last evening finishing up the black outline and I'm working now on finishing up the last few paisleys on it. I cant believe I am almost done with it! I will post pictures as soon as it is finished.


In the meantime I wanted to post some pics of the finished parts of the pailey belt. All embroidery, beading and edging is finished on the main parts and now I need to design a piece for each end and deicede how I want it to fasten...I am having a hard time making up my mind on that one. I thought maybe two leaf shapes. Any inspiring ideas out there?

The Paisley Disaster (and how even disasters can come to good)

Here is a picture of My Paisley Project. This is my first piece using paisleys and when I finally started feeling comfortable with what I was doing. I have sunk many hours into this one piece and really loved it a lot. I recently pulled it back out from storage and was determined to finish it. After all, I was so close. I had time in the evenings to stitch and since we were moving most of my studio was packed. Then came the terrible day when I picked it up from my desk only to find a black streak across the front of it! We were labeling the boxes with black permanent marker and somehow it must have got on this piece. Fortunately the main parts of the streak were on the beige background so...I did something crazy...I cut it out! My heart was in my throat when I was cutting it and I was so afraid I would ruin it.


I mounted the cut out on a piece of my hand dyed velvet and then proceeded to cover the edges with a thin ribbon material that sunk into the velvet. I think in the end it looks even better! What do you think?

You can see here the last litle bit that hasnt been covered.
This ribbon worked like a charm!

Almost back to normal

It's been a hectic last few weeks, sorry I have been posting so little. The house is still not quite settled. The studio is in total disarray. Thursday we finally received the stove and washing machine. Then I had a marathon washing session trying to catch up on all the piled up laundry. I finally found the camera cord but all the pictures I took yesterday turned out terrible! I am almost done with fixing the paisley piece. I will take another batch of pics today or tomorrow depending on the light. In the meantime here are a few pics of this gorgeous place I have found myself in...

I have survived!

This is just a quick post to let you know I am here and whole. We are lucky enough to have a hotspot here also so I am not completely internetless. We have been without electricity, heat or hot water for a week but were finally able to get all yesterday. I havent been able to find my camera cord yet so pictures are still out but I have taken quite a few for when I do find it. I am still quite busy with unpacking as I held off doing much until I had hot water to clean this house with. It was quite filthy and there are no cabinets or closets to hold things so I am at a loss as to where to put anything.
On a positive note, the house is quite roomy and my studio is very bright as is the main room. The village is wonderfully quaint and Strasbourg is lovely. I cant wait to show you all pictures! For now though I must go. I have much cleaning, unpacking and organizing to do...and I must find that camera cord!

Hope you are all well and happy!