Fiber Art in Motion

Hope all are well in this new year I have been ill since the new year started hoping for a better time soon. Toward the end of the 2011 I had the chance to have a wall piece critiqued by Sandra Sider. Fire and Wind (courtesy of Sandra) needed some tweaking – that done – I have put a picture up. It is not quilted yet but is soon to be.  It was done by freeform drawing – cutting the pieces – stitching and raw edge applique.

Fire and Wind                                                                                                      River Running

Gave snow dyeing another try.  The snow was frozen so had to take a hammer to it to get smaller pieces to put on the fabric.  I was not able  to put the container in a warm spot because of the lack of drainage in a warm area so the whole dyeing process took place in 30 degrees or less until the fabric came out of the snow and dye mixture.  I then put it in a small bucket and wrapped the fabric with plastic and put it on the hearth to warm for a while.   The two fabrics were done one on top of the other.   I used Ultra Violet and Yellow on cotten and a piece of tiny gathered silk.  The difference  in color is amazing.                           

                                                                                                                Picture below is 100% cotton

                                                                                           Picture above in the silk

Want to share the wonderful snow flakes from our deck –  we ended up with 12″ so will be sitting on top of our hill for a couple of days.. makes for days of sewing now that the power is back on.

Opened the lense on the camera and got the size of the flakes – then a bit of light appeared and showed across the canyon to the other county.

What fun it is to play in the world of fabric and fibers of other products.  I had painted Lutadur with acrycles then put it away, while looking for an interesting product to do this small piece with I came acrossed the Lutradur – deciding where to lay the 8″ opening I found the mountains, valley and sky – added needle felting and beading. Light batt and silk orgaanza for the back.   Had fun.

                                                                                                                             10″ x 10″

A wonderful time was had by the artists attending the reception on September. 18 at the winery and dinner after at the Volcano Union Pub and Inn.  Our show of art quilts and one of a kind gaarments “Textiles and Tastings 2010” was hung on September. 2 and will run until January 4, 2011.  It is a wonderful show in an exciting gallery.  The barrel room is perfect for the hanging of the pieces and the garments are showcased. 

If you are in the area of Plymouth, CA go to 12300 Steiner Rd. and enjoy.

Time to organize for a new year.  Studio is almost clean – jacket and coat almost done.  Cleaned out some of my quilting magazines and decided to drop 2 of them (the county Library was happy to have the free bin filled up with 2 good size boxes of magazines.  On to other things.

I have been making Shobori Pole Dyed silk, silk chiffon and wool-silk scarves – gave a number of them as Christmas gifts but love the process and the unexpected results.  Colors and patterns are always such a surprise.  The process is easy but does take time and in the cold winters I have to cure them upstairs in the diningroom – the dog loves checking out all the plastic garbage bags.

The scarf  on the left is done with rust dye and the fabric took grey and  red brown – 14″x70″.            The blue scarf was done with a basic blue and is 36:x36″.    Both were folded, stitched and wrapped on the pole then dye painted.        

I plan to spend more time in the studio this year and produce a couple of ideas that have been sitting around in my head. 

We had a great snow storm that put us on the top of our hill for 3 days before we could get out but on the day without power cleaned out closets and bag up for hospice so it was not a fully wasted 15 hours.  It stayed around 21 degrees which in California is cold.

Go forth and be creative and HAVE FUN.    Sandy

Life does have a way of getting into the middle of everything, but we are on the way back to a slower pace.  Houston was fun as always and I found many fun things and inspiration to enhance my art work. 

The show at Shenandoah Vineyards is up until December 1 and is beautiful .  The reception was attended by all the artists and we had a wonderful time at  dinner later.  We have been invited back in 2010.

I have been doing a lot of Shobori dyeing on silk with amazing results.  Will put some pictures up in a day or 2. 

An unknown skyline – in this picture the piece is not finished but the piece  as of this date is complete.  The angle of the camera made an interesting slant to the piece.

This is a picture of the Gown that Hilary (my daughter) made for her granddaughter.  It took a first place, best of division and best of show at the Amador County fair.  Am I proud of her you bet.  7-30-09