Fall eco-printing!

This fall I had fun building on my eco-printing experience.  I purchased a 15 gallon homebrew pot so that I could use larger rods to bundle fabric.  The other upside of a large pot was that I could print larger pieces of paper!  I made silk scarves, silk/wool infinity scarves and I even made a top for myself!

Me and my new eco-printing pot!  Is it big enough?

Images left to right.  Bundles on rods (fabric) and between cookie sheets (paper) fresh from the pot.  Fabric with the leaves still in place.  Shirt from silk/wool jersey.  Close-up of the shirt.

So, how did I make it?

Well, I made it the old fashioned way!  Many hours of designing and then a huge number of hours hand embroidering and assembling the dress.  The technique used is not new, it is called reverse applique and is a traditional quilting technique.  What makes it current is the choice of materials and incorporating my own design aesthetic.

First I had to decide what color and style of dress I wanted to make.  Black was my choice because it would not conflict with any of the bridal party colors and every woman needs a little black dress and I didn't own one.  Next decision was type of pattern.  Anyone who knows me, knows that I always wear solid color clothing, so pattern is a real stretch for me. I wanted an all over pattern, so the scale needed to be appropriate to the size and design of the dress and the choice of two layers of black fabric and black thread solved my fear of pattern issue.  Once I finally settled on the image, I cut a stencil.  Using a white pencil, I traced the image onto my fabric (it was two layers basted together) and then using black thread, I stitched around the traced design and then cut out the center of the stitching.  This happened over and over again, while sitting in airports, on planes, during a power outage (wearing a headlamp so I could see what I was sewing), while watching the summer Olympics, and on and on.  The easy part was the final assembly of the dress!  That was a breeze after all of the hand embroidery.

2016 Mother of the Bride Dress

In September, I was the mother of the bride for a second time.  It was a beautiful day.  The wedding ceremony took place in the Reading Room of the library at Sweet Briar College and the book themed reception also took place in the new addition to the library.  Once again I made my dress, this time it was black and completely covered with stitching!

Mother of Bride dress finished

Two years ago today, I wore my mother of the bride dress.  The day was magical!  Everything and more that we could have hoped for.  Happy second anniversary to Melissa and Ben!

M.o.B. dress - Part 1

I have started working on my mother of the bride dress!  I finally found some cotton knit jersey in a color that I like.  I am using a total of 4 thermofax screens to print a pattern onto the fabric.  This is a huge stretch for me since I normally only wear solid colored clothing!

I printed with white paint and have cut all of the pattern pieces for the dress and bolero.  Now I am working on the hand sewing and this will take quite a while!  I am stitching around the interior of all of the shapes in the pattern.

thermofax screens

I bought a thermofax machine from my friend Martha several years ago and I hadn't used it lately so I decided to experiment with it.  I ordered some new screen material and designed these screens.  My weekly quilt has several screens layered in blue and green then the background color was added.  I also practiced printing on one of the shirts that I wear in the studio.  I am pretty pleased with the results.

Passion vs. Commitment

I have been thinking about this topic lately.  Earlier this month a fundraiser for Riverviews Artspace here in Lynchburg honored a remarkable woman, Rosel Schewel.  She is 85 years young and continues her philanthropic work.  She is clearly committed and passionate about women's issues, education and the arts.  I was very fortunate that a piece of my art was purchased and given as a gift to Rosel.

Watching the Olympics has been a part of my day this last week.  The commentators talk about how the athletes perform with such passion and they are clearly committed to their chosen sport.  This got me to thinking about passion and commitment, how they are different and how they are intertwined.

I looked up the definitions of passion and commitment and they didn't seem quite strong enough to me.

"Passion: a strong feeling of enthusiasm or excitement for something or about doing something."  I think of passion as more than enthusiasm but rather a willingness to make sacrifices for a belief or cause.  It seems to me that many people who succeed in the arts or sports or any field for that matter are willing to make sacrifices and seem to have a singular focus on their goal.

"Commitment: the attitude of someone who works very hard to do or support something."  I do think of commitment as hard work and dedication to their vision.

I was talking to my friend Terri about this topic.  Something that came up was the matter of balance in a person's life.  How do you pursue your goal and yet maintain healthy relationships, find time for recreation, exercise and gainful employment,  It seems to me that many successful artists don't maintain a balance in their lives.  They have a singular focus on their creative process and are willing to sacrifice other aspects of their lives.

I think of commitment as determination or head and passion as heart.  St. Francis of Assisi said "He who works with his hands is a laborer.  He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman.  He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist."

Truly for me it is all three: hands, head and heart, which also can be called commitment and passion.

 

he who works with his hands

Another week and 12x12 finished!

Finally finished my 12" x 12" piece for January.  I really need to start earlier in the month especially if I want to do hand stitching.  Of course my weekly quilts are always done on time.  This is my 14th year and only twice have I forgotten and finished the quilt on a Sunday.  My mantra seems to be "midnight is coming" on Saturday's when I don't have the weekly quilt completed.

work in progress

This is a piece that I am currently working on using a variety of eco-printed fabrics.  The final size will be 12" x 12".  I set a goal for myself (in addition to my weekly quilts) to make a 12 x 12 piece each month.  This is the one I started in January.  As you can tell by the date I am not finished yet.  Why oh why did I decide to hand stitch this piece?  Have to start on February's piece earlier in the month!

Week 4 of the new year!

I seem to be interested in bare trees.  Perhaps it is because the trees stand out beautifully against the clear blue skies.  This is the third printing plate of a tree that I have carved!

2014: Weeks 2 & 3

Hard to believe that we are already 3 weeks into the new year.  These are the printing plates that I used for weeks number 2 and 3.

Thinking about dresses

My daughter is getting married in April and last fall that got me to thinking about what I was going to wear as mother of the bride.  I decided I wanted to make my dress and I thought about some books that I had purchased about Natalie Chanin and her design line Alabama Chanin.  I heard her speak at a Surface Design Conference a few years ago and loved her design philosophy and business model.  All of her designs are hand sewn from 100% cotton jersey made in the USA and sewn by artisans in their own homes.  I hadn't made any clothes in many years but this fall and winter I have made two dresses, a bolero, two long skirts, one short skirt, two tank tops and one corset.  I have revamped my wardrobe and these were also practice for figuring out what style I want to make to wear to the wedding.  In the photo, you can see the red dress and bolero. 

I carved a new printing plate and used it in my weekly quilt.  A dress and I printed it in red, thinking about my latest handmade clothing.  You can also see two vintage/antique (?) baby dresses that I have been sealing to make into printing plates to continue my studio art quilts series based on children's clothing.

I don't usually think about my clothing but I certainly am enjoying sewing these items completely by hand.

Happy New Year

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Out with the old and in with the new.  2013 was the year of the fish for my weekly quilts.  I had to pick a new shape for 2013.  For several years I have been thinking about using a pentagon and now it seemed right.  I decided to do a house shaped pentagon instead of the pure geometric form.  You might notice that I used the same printing plate for the last quilt of 2013 and the first quilt of the new year.  Happy New Year!

More Yellowstone

Lots of colors in the rock formations, plants and of course the geysers and hot springs. 

New Website

I have been fortunate to have an intern this summer.  Shoshana Lin has been working on setting up a new website for me.  I hope you can stop by and check it out. 

Tale of Two Dogs

Since June of 2001, I have been making weekly quilts.  Each year the size and shape change and each week the surface design relates to something that happened that week or just playing around with color and design.  This year our sweet Maggie had liver and kidney failure and I had to make the dreaded call to end her suffering.  I made the quilt on the left the week she died.  I was going to try and live without a dog in my life because it would make things simpler.  I finally realized that I didn't just want another dog, I needed one.  On Saturday, I adopted Penny from the Amherst County Humane Society and I am so happy.  If you are looking for a furry friend, please consider contacting your local animal shelter or humane society.  If you have a dog or cat, please get them spayed or neutered, don't add to the problem.