Needs better lighting, but I had already turned part of the studio lights off when I took this pic. Silk Crepe de Chine, natural earth pigments.
Musings about what I do with my natural, compost, and rust dyed fabrics, ribbons, and fibers.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Cochineal Dyed Frame
I dye painted this picture frame with Cochineal. I placed the extract into Everclear and obtained this brillant red. I have a few more things to do the frame then clear coat it and I"m done. This was just a test to see what else I could do. Right now I'm doing some rusting onto a piece of plywood that will be the back of a page I made for a handmade garden book called Weeds and Seeds.
Saturday, February 25, 2006
I'm living in the wrong part of the country, once again. This is what I love to see and want to see on a daily basis, unfortuantely I live on a very busy intersection in town instead. The only thing that would make this scene any better would be buffalo, elk and other wild prairie animals roaming freely!
Whole Cloth Angst
To cut or not to cut? I'm leaning towards not cutting but am struggling with how to start into the piece. I guess I could just start stitching and see what happens? If I do stitch it it will be like my Blood River Canyon pieces, further down on the blog. There's that part of my brain that says it'll be alright and look great and the left side of my brain is fighting with that concept.
I have an idea that is perculating but there is also an intense fear that I will screw up the cloth, and this is a very good possibility I might add. While I have 10+ years of drawing, and painting,life sized people and animals, even taking a piece of fruit and freehand drawing it 10 times greater than life to exact detail and proportion, I have never done this on fabric before. And fabric does NOT behave like good quality drawing or print papers. My all time favorite paper is BFK Rives printing paper.
As for colors of quilting thread, the obvious choices would be those that fade into the background so that the background is the focal point. But there's just a very small hint of mauve to red here and there, if you know where to look. I'm thinking of playing this up a bit.
Meanwhile I'm trying to finish a piece, but it's not coming together, seems that I"m still missing an element. I believe I know what it is, I just need to go hiking in one of my favorite river beds.
The piece measures 42 x 36 inches, is cotton muslin, and was compost dyed under my favorite hackberry tree.
I have an idea that is perculating but there is also an intense fear that I will screw up the cloth, and this is a very good possibility I might add. While I have 10+ years of drawing, and painting,life sized people and animals, even taking a piece of fruit and freehand drawing it 10 times greater than life to exact detail and proportion, I have never done this on fabric before. And fabric does NOT behave like good quality drawing or print papers. My all time favorite paper is BFK Rives printing paper.
As for colors of quilting thread, the obvious choices would be those that fade into the background so that the background is the focal point. But there's just a very small hint of mauve to red here and there, if you know where to look. I'm thinking of playing this up a bit.
Meanwhile I'm trying to finish a piece, but it's not coming together, seems that I"m still missing an element. I believe I know what it is, I just need to go hiking in one of my favorite river beds.
The piece measures 42 x 36 inches, is cotton muslin, and was compost dyed under my favorite hackberry tree.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Callin in Sick
I'm out with the flu this week, I'm still getting caught up on orders and the like but I have to admit that all I want to do is sleep. Seems that about every hour or so I have to go lay down or my head will probably pop off of my shoulders. I've been spiking a fever for about three days and just now started coughing today. At least my back doesn't hurt anymore. This is probably the longest I've run a fever, except for that time I had menegitis.
The upside is I decided to try something new today, and it worked, the best part is it took all of four minutes! More about that later.
The upside is I decided to try something new today, and it worked, the best part is it took all of four minutes! More about that later.
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Blood River Canyon Series and Life
It's interesting that one can work on a series, a new body of work with great joy and passion only to wake up the next day and hate it! I can do better, I know I can and I have, but I'm so short on time that the things I want to do I don't have time to do.
The tyranny of the urgent beckons.
The white piece won't be hung with the burgandy or the caramel colored piece, I'm making a slate grey piece to hang with the white one. I'm planning to do some stitching, in a different color, along the borders of both pieces, to make them different, to make the edges more obvious, maybe even intrusive/obtrusive.
I have a raging head cold, I just got over one with a double ear infection, and now I have another head cold, not even a day between colds. I'm thinking I need to get the juicer out and juice some garlic! Anyway my command of the english language tonight had all but disappeared. Grunting and groaning seems to be the way to go right now. And my hands feel really weird, sticky like??? I'm not sure what's up with that, except that I may have been running a fever earlier today. I slept until four this afternoon, I never do that.
The tyranny of the urgent beckons.
The white piece won't be hung with the burgandy or the caramel colored piece, I'm making a slate grey piece to hang with the white one. I'm planning to do some stitching, in a different color, along the borders of both pieces, to make them different, to make the edges more obvious, maybe even intrusive/obtrusive.
I have a raging head cold, I just got over one with a double ear infection, and now I have another head cold, not even a day between colds. I'm thinking I need to get the juicer out and juice some garlic! Anyway my command of the english language tonight had all but disappeared. Grunting and groaning seems to be the way to go right now. And my hands feel really weird, sticky like??? I'm not sure what's up with that, except that I may have been running a fever earlier today. I slept until four this afternoon, I never do that.
Saturday, February 18, 2006
Finishing Edges
I'm at a loss as to how to finish the edges on these pieces, any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I hate doing bindings so we will just rule that one out from the get go! On two of the pieces the top fabric is larger than the back so I could fold it over the edge and hem onto the backing. The burgandy one is flush with the edges. I don't know that a zigzag edge is right for these pieces or not.
Friday, February 17, 2006
Blood River Canyon
Well all I have left to do is sew some sort of finish onto the edges, and I'm not sure what I'm going to do at the moment as my Janome 6500 is in bad repair. I'm not sure how I did it but I seem to have bent the shank on my machine, not good not good at all especially since I have about 5 more quilts begging to come out. I hope I can get my machine in tomorrow, but that means a trip to Des Moines, and that they ahve a machine I can borrow in the meantime, I can't be without a machine. I have a 5124 but it's not up to what I'm doing right now. This was why I bought the 6500 in the first place, not to mention that it's light years faster than the 5124.
Blood River Canyon Both pieces are silk dupoini that has been dyed with natural dyes. The silk crepe de chine in the center has been dye painted with natural dyes. The reddish area is dyed flax. The backing fabric is cotton that has been dyed with indigo, as it was too cold to go out and buy some black Kona cotton today, an the quilt batting is Hobbs Wool batting. The Hobbs Wool batting I carry on my webstore, see link in the sidebar to the right.
Everything was machine stitched, well that is until I broke my machine.
Blood River Canyon Both pieces are silk dupoini that has been dyed with natural dyes. The silk crepe de chine in the center has been dye painted with natural dyes. The reddish area is dyed flax. The backing fabric is cotton that has been dyed with indigo, as it was too cold to go out and buy some black Kona cotton today, an the quilt batting is Hobbs Wool batting. The Hobbs Wool batting I carry on my webstore, see link in the sidebar to the right.
Everything was machine stitched, well that is until I broke my machine.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Mark Making with Nature Online Class
Begins April 12th A six week intensive online class.
Complete with full video instruction.
Materials List: Materials List: Complete list will be emailed to student two weeks before class begins: (Student Provides)
PFD Silk, Cotton, Wool or Hemp Fabrics
Soda Ash for scouring.
Alum 16 oz, Tannin 4 oz, Iron (one ounce), Cream of Tartar, Citric Acid, Ammonia (for color shifts), Chalk (Calcium Carbonante)
Dye Pots, Stainless Steel or Enamel, enough to hold a minimum of 2 gallons of water. Heat source. Gloves, Respirator/Dust Mask for handling mordants and dye extracts.
Spring Time Blues Online Indigo Class
Class begins March 1st, 2006 and runs for approximately six weeks.
One lesson will be given each week on the History of Indigo, Starting a Vat, Maintaining a Vat, Indigo Dyed Textile Care, and much more.
We will use several types of indigo vats, with the fermentation vat being optional.
Materials included in fee are: Instructions. (More will be added to this list)
First Lesson March 1st, Second Lesson March 8th, Third Lesson March 15th, Fourth Lesson March 22nd, Fifth Lesson March 29th, and the Sixth Lesson April 5th
Discharging with Natural Dyes
Discharging with Natural Dyes.
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced. Begins April 20th - 27th.
(2 Very Intense Lessons)
We will focus on using natural dyes that are high in natural tannins to discharge fabrics that have been dyed with natural dyes.
Click on the title link for where you can sign up for the class.
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced. Begins April 20th - 27th.
(2 Very Intense Lessons)
We will focus on using natural dyes that are high in natural tannins to discharge fabrics that have been dyed with natural dyes.
Click on the title link for where you can sign up for the class.
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Rust and Clay Dyeing Book on CD
Available March 1st, taking orders now! My Rust and Clay Dyeing Book - on CD ROM. It's all about dyeing with rust, iron oxides, clays, ochers, pigments and much more.
Click on the title link this will take you to my webstore where you will find more information about the book.
Monday, February 06, 2006
Call for Articles & Artwork
Articles for a new magazine/e-zine. Must pertain to Natural Surfaces in some form or another and comprise 75% of the techniques used to derive said surface.
Natural Surface Techniques include the usage of natural materials on surfaces such as: Natural Dyes, Rust Dyeing, Clay Dyeing, Ochers/Oxides/Pigments. Natural Surfaces may be either flat or dimensional (2D/3D). Other Natural Surfaces include papermaking, felt making, leather work, the use of gut, etc.
Images of Artwork that fit this format are also wanted for the magazine Gallery.
Deadline for articles and artwork: April 1st, 2006
Kimberly
http://www.prairiefibers.com
http://www.kbaxterpackwood.com
http://www.naturalsurfaces.blogspot.com
Natural Surface Techniques include the usage of natural materials on surfaces such as: Natural Dyes, Rust Dyeing, Clay Dyeing, Ochers/Oxides/Pigments. Natural Surfaces may be either flat or dimensional (2D/3D). Other Natural Surfaces include papermaking, felt making, leather work, the use of gut, etc.
Images of Artwork that fit this format are also wanted for the magazine Gallery.
Deadline for articles and artwork: April 1st, 2006
Kimberly
http://www.prairiefibers.com
http://www.kbaxterpackwood.com
http://www.naturalsurfaces.blogspot.com
Natural Surfaces Challenge 1
Natural Surfaces Challenge 1
In order to participate in this challenge you MUST be a member of The Natural Surfaces Yahoo Group for the duration of the challenge.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Natural_Surfaces/
Final piece must:
Consist of more than five techniques: Natural Dyeing, Pigments, Clay/Ocher/Oxides, Stitching, Felting, Encaustic, Handmade Paper (which could include paper pulp, silk paper, wool/felt/pulp combination) etc. Yes you can use synthetic paints, and in some instances even synthetic dyes but over all natural techniques should comprise 75% of your final piece.
Size Minimum 18" wide Maxium 36" wide. Length minimum 72" long and the is maxium 108" long.
To make this fair you must be a member of this list and March 1 is the cut off date for joining this Challenge. Maybe I'll even come up with a better name for the challenge. This also gives me time to arrange an exhibition, in real time not just on the internet.
Due date: January 2nd, 2007
I plan to post this in the files section and on my blog:
http://www.naturalsurfaces.blgospot.com
I have expectations of creativity and from what I've seen of members work you guys are definately up to the challenge.
You can make more than one piece but I reserve the right to limit your final piece(s) depending on the number of participants. If there are only a few of us then you can enter more pieces.
Kimberly
http://www.prairiefibers.com
http://www.kbaxterpackwood.com
In order to participate in this challenge you MUST be a member of The Natural Surfaces Yahoo Group for the duration of the challenge.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Natural_Surfaces/
Final piece must:
Consist of more than five techniques: Natural Dyeing, Pigments, Clay/Ocher/Oxides, Stitching, Felting, Encaustic, Handmade Paper (which could include paper pulp, silk paper, wool/felt/pulp combination) etc. Yes you can use synthetic paints, and in some instances even synthetic dyes but over all natural techniques should comprise 75% of your final piece.
Size Minimum 18" wide Maxium 36" wide. Length minimum 72" long and the is maxium 108" long.
To make this fair you must be a member of this list and March 1 is the cut off date for joining this Challenge. Maybe I'll even come up with a better name for the challenge. This also gives me time to arrange an exhibition, in real time not just on the internet.
Due date: January 2nd, 2007
I plan to post this in the files section and on my blog:
http://www.naturalsurfaces.blgospot.com
I have expectations of creativity and from what I've seen of members work you guys are definately up to the challenge.
You can make more than one piece but I reserve the right to limit your final piece(s) depending on the number of participants. If there are only a few of us then you can enter more pieces.
Kimberly
http://www.prairiefibers.com
http://www.kbaxterpackwood.com
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Pressed Flowers
I'm discovering that I definately prefer working with certain colors over others. That's not to say I don't enjoy producing wild lucious colors, but I'd rather work with muted tones for my own personal art work, with the occasional jolt of vibrancy.
If your interested in purchasing the postcard click on the title link above. I'm hoping to have the second piece tomorrow night but feel I must stop for this evening, it's starting to get late and I still have dishes to do! Joy joy joy.
If your interested in purchasing the postcard click on the title link above. I'm hoping to have the second piece tomorrow night but feel I must stop for this evening, it's starting to get late and I still have dishes to do! Joy joy joy.
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