My how time flies......

I can't believe it's been a whole month since I've posted here. Busy, busy, busy.

I took a really fun class at the Textile Center. It was a yardage painting class, using Procion H dyes.

The class was taught by Marliss Jensen, a very talented fiber artist. It was a 3 day class, lots of information. Each participant hand painted two 3-yard pieces of fabric - a heavier layer of cotton - covered with a layer of silk. Using thickened dyes, we painted both layers at the same time. Resists were applied to the top layer, and this in turn worked as a resist on the under-layer. I used some stamps I had carved. Here's what the first layer looked like.

I decided to use only 4 basic colors - yellow, orange-yellow, crimson, and blue. The dyes are not opaque - so blue applied over yellow created green. The first day I painted the base layer and applied a resist. Very tutti-frutti. On the second day - the scariest - I painted over the entire piece with a blue/black. Wow - what a difference. After a little more painting/stamping - you just can't add too much - I let the piece dry.




We separated the layers - and believe me this was at least a two person job - and got a look at the bottom layer. The silk and the cotton absorbed colors differently, and it looked like I had done twice the work. Amazing.

On the third day, we steam-set the yardage. That was really cool. The steam closet at the Textile Center is huge. It can steam set up to 18 yards of 60" fabric at one time. Then it was rinse, rinse, rinse - and done.

Here it is, a month later - and I haven't made anything with the yardage yet - maybe today. Maybe not - I have to get ready to teach a ribbon yarn coiled basket class at Knitting Camp.

I also submitted 5 things to the Textile Center Holiday Sale (a juried event). I'm anxiously awaiting word if anything was accepted. Cross your fingers.

Gelatin Monoprints on Fabric

My friend Lynne (the other half of the brain) and I attempted gelatin monoprints on fabric. You basically make a batch of jello jigglers (using unflavored gelatin). Once the gelatin has set you can apply textile paints, lay on a piece of fabric, and create a one-of-a-kind print on fabric. It was kind of cool. My three-year-old grandaughter thought it was fun, too. Here are some pictures - the first is Lynne applying paint to a gelatin 'slab'.




The remainder are examples of prints. Look for something to be made from these real soon.

Here goes......

Well, I've finally done it! I have been meaning to start a blog for quite some time, but didn't because I thought it would be too involved. If that's what is stopping you - don't - it was so easy.

This first post won't win any Pulitzers, but forgive me, I'm new at this.

I will be posting pictures of quilts, knitting, fiber, beading.....hence the artistic ADD. I currently have an exhibit of 16 quilts in the lobby of The Playground Theater (a small black-box theater) in Duluth, Minnesota. My co-mother-in-law, her parents and I hung the quilts. Thanks to them for the assistance. This is a real scary proposition for me - I have a hard time getting my work out there for people to see. I will be having an artist's reception some time in August - I'll let you know the date when it is set up.

Here are some photos from the exhibit:

More to follow.........