Snow Dyeing & The Blizzard of 2010

Snow Dyed Fabric

After pouring the dye over the fabrics

As you know, we got blasted with the Blizzard of 2010 as they are calling it here in the DC area. I spent a lot of time just watching it snow, watching movies and snow dyeing (not to mention shoveling). I have posted some pictures of some of my fabrics. It was so much fun! The neighbors probably think I'm crazy, for sure...running out on the deck and scooping up snow in buckets. Here is how I did it: I soaked fabric in soda ash water (about 20 minutes) and then squeezed the liquid out as much as possible. I placed them in little white tubs, packed snow on top and poured the dye over the top. I just guessed on dye amounts...usually 1-2 teaspoons per cup of water. Then I placed a clear garbage bag on top (so I could watch it) and set them aside until the next day...about 24 hours. Then, I rinsed, washed, dried and ironed. No salt involved in the dye because I didn't want to use up the dye the first day so I could make another batch the next day. It was fun and if I want to try it again, I think the snow will be here for a while.

Emma looking out the garage and wondering how she can go out in that. This is after shoveling 3 times that day!

Vern shoveling snow below and a view of our street during the blizzard.

New work finished

Landscape #4

I've been fortunate enough to spend some time in the studio lately. This little landscape started with a small handful of fabric scraps given to each of us in my art group. The challenge was to create something using all the fabrics. We were allowed to add 1 or 2 fabrics. I had some of the blue which I used for the border, so that was one and then I added the dark blue water strip. It was tons of fun to create this. There was even a bit of blue lace which I added to the top of the mountains. A bit of green silk is in the foreground. This is just a quick snapshot of it while I propped it up on my fireplace mantle. I like it on the mantle, so it will probably stay there.

Landscape #4 (8" x 10")

Now, I'm thinking this would be such a fun idea to make sandwich baggie size bits of scraps to save for trips or those times when the creative muse is still sleeping.

I quilted the tops and bottom of the blue fabric with curving lines to emulate a feeling of a breeze. This piece is mounted on painted stretched canvas.

I so appreciate your comments!

Beach Landscape #2

#2 in the series

While landscape #1 is brewing on the design wall after being quilted, I am starting to think how I want to quilt landscape #2. At this point, I think I will quilt all three first and then add the shading by painting or extra applique. These three maintain the same value in color so I think it will be easier that way. My creative muse is reeling in my brain with new ideas but I must finish these before moving to the next quilt idea. I had a little setback in finishing these...sick family members consumed a lot of my time. But I'm so glad at least a couple of them are feeling better. I think the nurturing part of me takes over when someone is sick and my creative muse keeps peaking out to see if she can come out, yet. I keep pushing her back and saying, "not yet". I'm also behind in updating my SAQA Visioning project, so I will also try to work on that update today. I am keeping up with my Artbizcoach.com class with Alyson Stanfield. It is a fantastic class called "Blastoff". It gives you the necessary kick to get your art business off to a good start. Thanks for reading! Thank you for the comments!

The Process...Part II

Part II

A view of my Design Wall

This is part II of how I create my art quilts. As you read in yesterday's post, I now have it pinned to the wall. Since my iron is close to my design wall, I can gently fuse any of the fusible pieces while it is still on the design wall. (My design wall is insulation foam covered with cotton batting.) I only "touch lightly" with the iron as I don't know if it will melt or not. I pin the rest of the pieces. I don't want it fused too much as I am still tweaking as I go.

pinned and ready to begin quilting

tracing paper over sketch

The next part is the fun part...quilting it! I begin thinking of how I want to quilt it. One of the tools I use is tracing paper. Since it's a small quilt, I can easily place it over the pattern and sketch desired quilting lines. I never mark the quilt, so this is only giving me a sense of how I want to quilt it when I sit at the machine. (There are many ways to find the perfect quilting lines and I hope to blog about that soon. )

The thread I chose for this particular series of quilts is Mettler No. 60 and Sulky invisible polyester. Both are thin and blend easily into the fabric. I use a combination of free motion and regular machine stitching.

I also have wonderful light in my studio both from the windows and the energy efficient bulbs in my lamps. (I will have to blog about these daylight bulbs that are magnificent!) Then I quilt happily until I like it. As you can see below, the quilting is mostly finished. Now I will pin it back on the design wall and tweak it some more. If I don't like the quilting in a certain part I will remove it and quilt it again. I will probably add some shading, shadows and highlights using thread, paint and/or chalks. These will most likely be matted and framed. I would love to hear your comments about your creative process or a link to your tutorial.

My Process...Part I

Below is a description of how I usually create my art quilts. I will try to do this in two parts.

Original photo

I like to start with one of my own photos. This one is a bit dark, but for creating an art quilt, it will do just fine. I print it out on plain paper and pin it to my design wall. (See the photo in yesterday's blog post.) I then think about size. Since these quilts are relatively small, 12" x 16", I first dig through my fabric scraps. I like to use a mix of my hand dyed fabric and commercial fabric. I'm not trying to match the colors to the photos, but rather for me, a feeling of beach and ocean colors. This could mean brighter colors to some artists. This is where you have to go with the "wow, I like this color" feelings. I then pin the fabric pieces to my design wall. I add or throw out some of the pieces as I go. Sometimes they start to fall off the wall but at least they are in one pile.

Sketch

I cut the backing and batting larger than my finished art piece and layer them and pin to the design wall. Then, I make a sketch by just looking at the photo. When I like the general sketch, I trace over my pencil lines with a Sharpie pen. If I want to keep it this size, then I use this for a pattern. If I want to make it larger, I trace it to transparency film and use my overhead projector. I would then have to trace it to a larger size paper. Now that I have the pattern sheet to the size I want, I place it on a light box. At this point, some of my pieces will have Wonder-Under applied and some will not. I place the Wonder-Under (lite) over the pattern and trace. I then iron it to the fabric and cut it out. Then, I pin to the wall and keep tweaking until I have the "first draft" of my art piece. Everything is pinned in place.

First Draft pinned to design wall

At this point, I let it sit for a bit while I do other things (like laundry, ugh!). I keep taking a peek at it though and may tweak it more for composition. Tomorrow, I will describe the quilting and more of the tweaking process, so stay tuned!

Work in Progress...a new series

Happy New Year to all!! I have a new resolution to make more art and blog about it! Thanks to all of you who do read my blog. I recently joined the SAQA Visioning project which I think will be a great learning experience for me. It's time to quit procrastinating and make more art and enter more shows. The two works-in-progress above are beginnings from two sketches I did inspired by my photographs of the beach. It's a new series! I actually have a third one on the design wall which isn't in this picture. I'm still tweaking them before any quilting begins. As you can see, there are fabric "guts" stuck to the design wall waiting to be used or tossed. Tomorrow, I will post about my process. Just wanted to get started on the blog posting today.

At last...a finished piece

Hooray!  I am finally blogging again!  This is a landscape piece I started at QSDS but just couldn't seem to get anywhere with it.  I almost threw it away twice but grabbed it and tucked it inside a drawer.  Now I am really glad I saved it because I really like the end result.  Below is after quilting and before cropping.  After I cropped it, I realized that was what it needed all along.  It is made using my hand dyed fabrics. 

Before cropping and detail below

The hand dyed fabric reminded me of a stream running through a meadow, so I just went with it when I quilted it.  I had an old frame handy and decided I liked it framed.  It is 8"x10" inside an 11"x14" frame. 

New Work Revisited

This is a work-in-progress of the start of my buildings and ladder series.  I had started it before I left in June for QSDS and now that I re-visit it, I want to finish it!  It is an abstract of a ladder against a building.  I have done tons of sketches in my sketchbook recently of buildings and ladders.  So, hopefully, I can get this one done soon.  All the fabric is my hand dyed and then screen printed pieces.   

Knitting Insanity

I have been knitting a lot lately.  Maybe because I traveled a lot this summer and I like to take a small knitting project along with me.  Or maybe it all started when we suspected our cat had used the internet to order cat food.  (We had cat food waiting in our mailbox when we returned from our trip to OH)  You have to do something to maintain your insanity.  Just like quilting, I can't settle on one thing to make and always have several projects brewing.  The one above is going to be a throw using my yarn stash and sock yarn.  One strand of any kind of solid color held together with one strand of sock yarn using size 13 circular needles. (29").  I love how the sock yarn adds surprises of color.  It's a "scrap quilt" type of throw.  I will just keep adding colors and yarn until I like the size.  After it is done, I will crochet an edging to keep it from curling (it's done in stockinette).  I like these kind of projects when I am watching TV.  Funny thing is, I can knit in my sleep.  I wake up and see some good stitches and a few bad ones that I have to redo. 

This one is a scarf I started in a rib stitch using size 10 1/2 needles and chunky wool yarn.  I must be expecting a blizzard this winter because look at the hats I knit below!  I made two hats in two days.  I love to knit hats and find them easy peasy. 

This is my new tote bag to be knit from Noro Kuryeon yarn.  It is wool, so the above picture is after I felted it.  As you can see, I am using wool to knit I-cord for the handles.  I hope to line it and use it for toting my knitting when I travel.  (Or it will make a really warm hand warmer for winter on the metro).    The picture below is before it was felted and shrunk so much.

Here it is knit before felting in stockinette using circular needle.  It is called The Boogie Bag and the pattern is free on Ravelry.  Time for me to end this post, the cat is eyeing me...I think I see a tiny credit card in her paw. 

Machine Quilting designs and Other Important Stuff

I have been thinking of making a whole cloth quilt using some of my machine quilting motifs. I keep samples of machine quilting designs and stitches (each about 12" sq. or so) pinned together. When I can't decide what stitch to use, I quickly flip through them to find something I want to use on a particular quilt. Lots of times, I start to quilt and end up with a totally different design. The design above is done on muslin using yellow thread. My inspiration for designs usually come from nature. There are so many intricate lines and curves and swirls in leaves and flowers or even the bark on a tree. I must get back to work on my art this week.

When I was in California, I bought Emma a yellow rain slicker at an Old Navy store. She looks so cute in it and even got to wear it once. This is a picture of her dad taking her out in the rain. (He reluctantly did so because any dog dressed in clothes is embarrassing to him). LOL! But she wore it and never tried to pull it off. She loves to wear her sweaters in the winter, too.

And if you can't get enough Emma pics, here she is in our back yard at our other house in Columbus, OH. It's a huge back yard and has a fence. She loves to run and chase her ball. I do miss having a back yard here...at this house, there is no fence and it's very small. So, we call the house in Columbus our country house.

This Quilt's For Me!

My New Quilt

Quilted details

Quilted Details

Back of quilt

This is a lap size quilt that I made using Fresh Air by Chez Moi for Moda. I had bought a few packets of the 5" squares several years ago while visiting the Bernina shop across the way from Mary Jo's in North Carolina. I decided it would be my vegging out quilt...nothing but squares sewn together. I managed to piece it between art quilts and finally machine quilted it last month. The thread is variegated Star thread by Coats and Clark. I quilted it on my Bernina and loved the way the thread blended with the colors. The fabric design reminds me of the crazy 70's. I swear I had dresses that looked like this quilt. Of course those dresses were double knit or polyester. Maybe that's why I made it my own. It will be nice to snuggle in while watching TV and knitting. Hmmm...now if I could just find my pep squad pom poms...

What I did This Summer...

Traci & me (in California) 3 Leaves (quilted)

3 Leaves (detail)

I did have a very busy summer! In fact, it was a very productive summer with lots of new work. I am now back from my whirlwind trips with a new mindset to keep my blog updated. I have way too many new things to put in one post, but I will start with the finished "3 Leaves". (I see I have to yet again update my photo lighting. The overall pic seems a bit off in color. )

In August, I gave a lecture/trunk show at The Tavern Quilt Guild in Heathsville, VA. What a nice group of quilters! It's too bad they are so far away...they do so many fun things! I gave them my "Top Ten Machine Quilting Tips" and showed them some of my quilts.

I visited my daughter in California and had a wonderful time! We did so many things! We took an open air jeep tour of wineries in Santa Barbara. We stayed at the luxurious Canary Hotel and the jeep tour guide picked us up. We took an old stagecoach road through the mountains to 4 different wineries. Fun!! I will have to post pics on my flickr site because there are way too many to show here. Paradise Cove was fun, too! It's where the movie "Gidget" was filmed. We even encountered rattlesnakes on a hike in the Santa Monica mountains!!

We also too several trips to Ohio to work on our house there and visit our son. I feel like I've been gone all summer!

OK, I'm off to take more pics of the new work. I will post again tomorrow!

New Quilt and What I have been doing

New quilt in progress

Layout on my design wall, WIP

We are just a metro ride to the Capitol

Begonia at Botanical Gardens in DC (love the Polka dots)

Me at Botanical Gardens in DC

Vern at Botanical Gardens in DC

Westmoreland State park in VA where we went hiking

George Washington's birthplace (1732) formerly known as Pope's Creek Plantation

Birthplace of George Washington right on the Potomac river

Squirrel at GW birthplace (compare this skinny little squirrel to the one below)

Squirrel on the National Mall (who stopped to pose for me as squirrels always do that)

Emma, having fun