dyeing, round 2, and a bit of sparkly stitching

I was really tickled with how the thrift store scarf took the silk tie dyes. However, there were a few spots where the tie pieces shifted, and the transfer didn't cover quite like I wanted it. The drift of my eye was broken up by spots where no transfer had occurred at all, or it was very washed out which isn't a horrible thing really. Problem was, there was too much of the watercolory thing in a few spots.  So I went for round two.

Very happy with the results. The ties I used for the second transfer really took well to the scarf.  The coverage is much better, and the scarf overall has taken on a darker lavender. I had thought to put this one in the shop, but have since decided to keep it for myself.  I've become rather partial to scarves, and I've a nice collection started.

And of course there was Sunday morning stitching to be had. I am making progress on the first of the SnowAngelz Collection. It's a beautiful day, finally a break in the heat and jello-like humidity. I think I might have to wander out to the deck with coffee and string and work for awhile in some natural sunlight. The herbs are happy as it rained, and they're all smelling delightful after their long awaited bath.

thread painting

Happy Winter Solstice!

As I worked my way through my first pot of coffee this morning, I was running through Etsy looking at pretties and drooling over so many things that I wished I could experience with all of my senses instead of just my eyes. I was seeking some inspiration,  a nudge of sorts, a lightbulb moment.

 With the new year just around the corner, I am still finding a blurred creative direction, although I have narrowed it down to a needlework focus.  I have always been in awe of textile artists that dye and use their own fabrics and fibers, and it came to me. There it was. Really sort of obvious, when you think about it...

So I have allll of these Jaquard textile paints.  I have more white cotton 6-strand floss then I know what to do with. It may be string, but it is still cotton and could be treated the same way as a hunk of muslin that I had loved painting on before. 

So I played, and here are the results!

Once dry, I will heat set them just as I would fabric, and then see how they stitch up.  I had played around with Easter egg dyeing tablets before to color floss, but the colors were too pastel-y for me, and the colors did not set very well.  Maybe I will include a skein of this in future designs, or maybe I will just use it in the finished pieces that I plan on working through in upcoming months. Whatever I decide to do, I am just kind of tickled that I've found a way to stretch and explore while still holding closer to my creative direction.

Now off to wrap the rest of the presents and make another pot of coffee!

stitching and painting

It was a day of making sure that this was never empty...

My professor was gone today, so I was left with an unexpected day without classes. With homework looming (and a weekend to push it off on to) I decided to try and dig into some of the projects that I have been puttering with now for weeks.  

I played around with the paints again, working on some fabrics for an upcoming show and Etsy.

I have been trying to work on fabrics that will coordinate so that I can bundle them up instead of offering them individually.  After a show two weeks ago and people suggesting that I make this change, I thought I would give it a try. It does make more sense, seeing as the fabrics are one of a kind, it opens up options for what they can be used for if there are more pieces to work with. 

I am painting these on muslin remnants from the St. Peter Woolen Mill. I like the idea of using scraps. It holds true to my desire to reuse and recycle. 

The fabric below was one that I did before. The two images above are fabrics that once dry, should work with this piece. 

I also finished up the second of three snowman portraits, a new cross stitch design series quite logically called..."Portraits".  These snowman photo ops will come with three in a pack, and most likely have embellishments included. The usual found buttons, beads and ribbons. 

And now, with the coffee cup empty and evening upon me, I think it is time to open something else dark and wonderful. It's Guinness time.