WIP - Hands

More hand prints.  It is sooooooo unbelievably hot and dry here, normally we have a humidity level around 50% or higher this time of year, which is causing problems with drying times.  Problems as in everything is drying within minutes, sometimes seconds, making it difficult to work the cloth.

Waiting

... on gesso to dry, after this layer has dried I'll apply a final layer of gesso. 

It Survived!

Untitled WIP - Hands - There was a small amount of ink washout but for the most part it survived!  The hand prints are barely noticable, which was the affect I was going after, an aged patina'd look.

Detail shot

I played around with the lighting, photographing the piece with just the light that was coming through the windows.

A future central panel???

Gearing Up for New Work

Bjorkboda hanging on the shelf on the far wall.

I compost dyed these about seven years or so ago, it's been so long now I don't remember when exactly.

 

Black gutta on compost dyed silk chiffon fabric.

Look familiar???  Yes I'm finally going to work with this piece, note it's in the header of this blog and one of the main photos in my books.

Liquidtex White Ink

I put it through a spray bottle but it's really chalky, am wondering if it's permanent on fabric or not???

I noticed it has the consistancy of gesso.

WIP - Bjorkboda

I'm almost ready for the hand stitching, I filled in a bit more of the piece with machine stitching to reinforce it's structure.

The forgotten dye note text now dealt with which resulted in more brown scraggly stitching being added to the piece in a random manner. 

Some verticles.

I've started thinking about the cottonwoods and how stoic they look when shrouded in the ice fog of deep winter. 

More Concrete Inspiration

Inspiration

A diamond shaped reflection on my driveway.

Mark Making with Nature eBook Combo Sale

Mark Making with Nature eBook combo Sale

This book combo includes all four books for one low price.

Now through Sunday August 19th!!!

WIP - Bjorkboda 081612

Now with some dark teal cotton thread.

I love the overlap of the cotton panels.

I forgot to remove the dye technique notes from the botton of the fabric panel, so now to figure out what to do with that little bit and then it's time for some hand stitching.

WIP's and Bjorkboda

I'm starting to like it more and more without the silk overlay.

I'm thinking of leaving the silk piece off now and using it on another piece of indigo dyed fabric.

Of course this piece of indigo dyed fabric also looks lovely with this silk piece.

So now I need to make a decision, and of course that decision might involve dyeing more cotton fabric with indigo!

WIP - Bjorkboda 081512

Now with a rust colored aurifil rayon thread for more surface definition.

Unintended Consequences

I had it leaning up against a shelf and it fell forward crushing half of the gilded walnuts, I have to say it helps the piece... sad I know but hey I'll take a happy accident anytime!

I'm thinking of drilling into the wood and adding some wire and bone bits in this half broken walnut half!

The encaustic surface wasn't damaged.

Corn Inspiration

Inspiration for some future stitched works!

Inspiration and Money

Lunch time, this herd of cows live across the road from the marsh which makes the trip to the marsh that much more enjoyable. 

I am writing that blog entry on money, it is way harder to put into words what I'm thinking, and feeling, when it comes to money.  The upside is it is making me view my studio business in an entirely different light.  No more am I thinking of money and my studio business as simply covering my costs/expenses.  Now I'm thinking about profit margins, retirement plans, and I'm starting to think I swallowed an accountant, like it wasn't bad enough that I swallowed a computer geek now I'm starting to sound like a CPA.  Apparently, according to John, this is NOT a bad thing!!!

What I really need to get hubs in here with me to bounce some ideas off of, and lets just say his view of money is way different than mine and he has NO guilt issues what-so-ever about charging certain price points so as to stay in business. Yes I will share his opinions.

End of Summer eBook Sale!!!

Celebrating the End of Summer and the beginning of Fall with an eBook Sale!

See my website for details!!!

Bjorkboda Marsh

Went out to the marsh this afternoon for a much needed infusion of inspiration!!!

Now to spend some time in the studio this evening working with a fresh mind!

WIP - Bjorkboda

On my sewing table so that the stitching will pop.

More Details

The puffy areas will be stitched down in other colors.

Stitching Details

More stitching coming later this afternoon, had to take a break from sewing.  In the mean time I'm thinking about  the direction of this particular piece, of rivers, cottonwood trees, marshes, and the difficulties early settlers faced in settling this wild wet often boggy land called Iowa.

WIP - Untitled 080612

A detail of the stitching, so far. I have a lot more stitching, layering, and then more stitching to do to t his piece before it's done.  If the fabric looks familiar it's because it's is the same fabric that is on the cover of my Rust and Clay Dyeing Book.

Where's the Money Article???

I'm still working on the money article, but since I have issues with money and admit it who doesn't, it's taking way longer than I thought possible!

WIP 080512

Making thread selections.

Aurifils cotton and rayon thread.

Aurifil wool thread.