A New Series is Born!

A new series has presented itself and has demanded to be created! Last night I painted the first of the fabrics for my new "Fields" series. I live streamed the painting session, and also threw down a challenge if you're interested in participating.

The fabric this morning after it has dried. Color loss of 50% is not uncommon when working on fabric.

First set of six blocks, the fabric is still wet.

Am loving this new series already. I will live stream stitching these pieces next week!

The live stream, and challenge, is available in my community Almost Stitched. You will have to join my community and watch the live stream to get the challenge!

Almost Stitched Online Community

Did you know I have an online community? I do, and it's called Almost Stitched! It's a private group were we can encourage one another to step out of our comfort zones and push the edge of the textile envelope!

Do you love to paint, dye, rust, and otherwise color fabrics and papers? Then Almost Stitched is the place for you! Do you love to use textiles and paper to tell stories? Then Almost Stitched is the place for you!  Join me as we explore our unique voices through textile and paper art.

Just 10 Days!!!

Join me as we explore the Earth's natural beauty in Pretty Pigments!!!!  

Class begins September 6th!

 Register Today to receive the Getting Started Bonus Content!

Stitching Again

It feels good to be stitching once again, whilest awaiting layers of drying paint to cure.  This piece is about 8x10 inches in size, machine stitched with green Aurifil thread, wool batting; I also used my Black Birds in Tree Stencil with acrylic paint onto fabric painted cotton cloth.

I shall stitch a few of the birds next, to bring them forward, and add a few beads and then this piece will be done.

60 Day Crow Challenge

It was suggested that I should start a 60 day challenge since I couldn't find one that was theme specific (thank you Jody Lund) I will be drawing Crows and Ravens (Corvus sp.). 

How many of you would like to participate with me in a 60 day bird/crow challenge, this means one bird/crow a day for 60 days.

The birds/crows can be drawn, painted, stitched, sculpted (if you are so inclined), digitally manipulated OR you can write about birds/crows everyday for 60 days.  Interested?

If I get 10 or more peeps interested I will start a facebook group for the challenge.  I will be starting tomorrow as I am getting ready for an Open Studio Tour, October 4th, and want to have some fresh birds to offer up for the tour.

Black Birds in Trees

Working on some Crow Cards this afternoon using my Black Birds in Tree Stencil.

The orange mat is a non-slip artist map, unfortunately there is no label on the mat so I have no idea where it came from.

I started out with a piece of painted timtex that was painted by Seta Color Fabric Paints.  I will be adding some oil bar, ink, and other yummies next, and then it's time for some stitching.

Queen Anne's Crows No. 7 in Progress

I ditched the clock body altogether and am so much happier for having done so, now to create a panel (the one in the upper portion of the niche is a sample) for the upper section of the niche and this piece is good to go.  I'm off to stitch up a new panel for this piece!

A Crow Project

Crow Stencil  from StencilGirl Products outlined in Pitt Pen with Shiva Paintstiks in iridescent copper and white, on madder lac dyed silk organza layered over white silk dupioni fabric.  Timtex core with white cotton backing.  Machine and hand stitching.

The paintstiks don't show up well in this photo, will take a photo tomorrow using natural light.

Mending

A bundle of sleeves.

For some reason the first wife's mother kept the sleeves from several shirts, I unrolled the bundle today (What you think I'd throw away all of those textile treasures??? Bite your tongue!) mostly because this bit of madras type fabric was peaking out, looking all spring like.

Love the way she butted the torn edges together, adding some matching threads and stitched them together with the skill of a surgeon!

  Imagine my joy when I discovered that it had been mended, and in several places.

WIP - All Beaded Up

I started this piece about a year after mom passed away in 2005, it's cigarette papers layered atop digitally printed cotton fabric and interfacing.  Machine stitched, hand stitched, beaded.

I have a lovely greyish black glass bead that I'm using to outline her shirt and arm.

Bead detail.

Interestingly enough I didn't have any grey threads in my collection, and wanted some for working on this piece so ventured over to JoAnn's and found these lovely shades of grey, in both pearl cotton and cotton floss.

Irish Rose Sample

I haven't decided upon the orientation yet, I found this Irish Rose medallion in my stash and decided it needed to have it's story told sooner than later.  Off to add more stitching.

More Stitching

Adding more vine tendrils and bits.
Hand dyed french cotton threads, natural dyed flax, natural dyed painted silk chiffon, on white silk dupioni fabric. Machine and hand stitched.

Working with hand dyed french cotton thread, I'm using a single strand to create a background layer of delicate tendrils.

Working with a couple of colors of hand dyed french cotton thread.  Next I will add more vine bits (like the upper left hand corner) using the same thread only double stranded.

I'm using the ivy bits on my house as my inspiration.

I love how they crisscross defying the laws of design!

WIP ~ Sandman

WIP ~ Sandman

4x6 or so inches

Natural and rust dyed cotton scrim atop monoprinted muslin fabric.  Hand stitched with natural and commercial dyed cotton threads, wool batting.

I will be adding some machine stitching next and then will go back into the piece with more stab stitching, maybe layer some more cheesecloth onto the surface and then add french knots and some coils.

This is a small piece I started around 7pm this evening designed to get me back into the habit of stitching as I have a solo show to prep for that I'll be hanging in April, most of those pieces will be machine stitched and then waxed (encaustic).

Crow

It's calling my name, it wants to be stitched!

Natural Surface Academy Black Friday Membership!!!

The Natural Surface Academy



Wanted to join the Academy to learn about producing all of this yummy fabric, but was afraid to do so because of the price?  Today's your chance to join us in 2014 at HUGE discount!  49% off the regular price to be exact! ($599.00)

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Pale Horse
Compost and Natural Dyed Cotton Fabric.

As part of your membership you will have access to my DVD's, videos, eBooks, online classes (self-paced)  and workshops (scheduled), and most importantly to ME!!!  I will help you take your Natural Dyed Fabrics to the next level be it surface design techniques or stitching, I can help you obtain your goals.

 

Sandstone No 1. Detail
Compost, Rust, and Natural Dyed Silk Fabric, Yarns, and Threads. Machine Stitched.

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Inspiration

Inspiration for a future stitched piece!

It's Calling my Name!

It's saying stitch me!  An old studio/shop rag, that found it's way into the main laundry this past week.  Found it early this morning neatly folded up amongst the tee shirts, that would be a John thing.  It's oober soft and is whispering "stitch me".  I guess I'll have to give it what it wants!

Various types of natural dyes on cotton fabric.

French Pearl Cotton - Yummy!

Stopped by my favorite haunt today, JB Knacker in Gilbert, Iowa, and found five beautiful skeins of vintage french pearl cotton!

Some of the thread has some foxing but should come out with a gentle washing. 

WIP - Greg with More Beads

Greg is in a holding pattern now, I added some 13/0 delica's to her eyebrow section and then put her aside so I can work on a couple of other projects.  The last bit I want to work on, on this piece, is to take the trim out further, more fringe like. 

WIP - Greg with Hand Stitching

Now with some hand stitching.

Auditioning some supplies to see what will work for embellishments.