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!