To the left here is one of the pieces in progress that I've been working on while contemplating that big piece. This photo shows the piece before additional dye work was done on it.

It's shibori-dyed cotton gauze layered over dyed linen, with some distressing done to the fabric here and there.

The top has a lot of small hand stitches. The other tucks were machine sewn. 

There is a lot of subtlety in it...but I didn't want it to be so very monochromatic, and wanted to play up the colors that show through
the piece from the linen behind it.

Here is where the piece is right now after dye painting it, and distressing more areas.

Then I stretched it over canvas, then a little colored pencil here and there, and then I coated it with a UV protective varnish. 

I really like where it is right now, but might still add some small touches.

What do you think? Feel free to comment and give any ideas/feedback.

While I'm deciding on that, I'm working on other pieces for this group, which are not as far along as this piece.
Below here are those photos.

The left is the full shot, and the middle shows a detail of that one. The third photo on the right is another piece in this grouping. 

They are all from the same fabric as the piece shown above.

This is where that five-panel piece was recently. 

The first couple of dye baths have been completed on it, and I've been contemplating it on what the next steps should be....

This photo shows a little detail from one of the sections.

There is a lot of hand stitching on this piece, done in a fine weight silk thread.

It catches the light well, and adds another layer to the depth of texture in the piece.




However, I want more depth to the colors, so I have to keep going.....

Here is where it is for the next step.  Each separate panel is stitched, readying them for the next dye bath.

Similar to a traditional painting really, the first dye layers are basically going to end up being like an underpainting. 


Those underneath colors will effect the next colors on top...perhaps peeking through in places....or maybe just being obscured, but adding itself to the whole (hopefully!)


This stage is a challenge because I fight with some worries that the resulting effect might not be what I was hoping for.

But like with all art, or with life I guess, you just have to go into it with an open mind and your hopes/positive thoughts first. Then adjust accordingly if it isn't what you were hoping for....At least with fiber art, I feel like it's pretty forgiving. 

It finally happened. The day I have to retire my old friend.

Over twenty years ago, I bought this enamel bucket to boil wax out of fabric or for heating water for color remover. I found it at Rice's Flea Market in Solebury, PA. and it was a steal!

It started to show some wear in the enamel at the bottom a couple years ago. Then it got worse when I made the mistake of putting a pot outside to cool the water quicker.  

I didn't anticipate the shock that the hot temperatures going into the colder outdoor temperatures would cause.  That mistake caused the bottom to become warped slightly, and the pot no longer sat perfectly flat on the floor.  Then the enamel began to wear even quicker. 

I like that the rust spot sort of (if you use your imagination) looks like a heart. It makes me think it's reflecting all the love I pour into my artwork, and expressing back a thank you of sorts from my old friend and partner in dye-crime.

It's tempting to drill holes in the bottom and plant flowers in it for spring -- if it would ever get here!
Last week it warmed up a lot, snow was melting, people were in shorts and driving with the car tops down...but this morning it's only 10 degrees again, so spring is taking it's time it seems.

Happy Retirement Old Friend!

Coincidently this past month, I also had to get rid of my dye gloves that I had for maybe 12 years.  

Did not take a photo of them. It's hard not to be mad at a pair of gloves that all of a sudden aren't doing their job. I had a dark blue-grey on my fingers when they seemed to spring several leaks all at once. What a mess!

Anyway, here's a shot of the brand-spanking new ones waiting to go into their first dye bath. 

Here's hoping they live just as long, and help me make lots of beautiful new work!