Nuno Collage Scarf and SAFF

Well, here it is September -- back to school and I am preparing to go back to do the SAFF show in Asheville in October (Southeastern Animal and Fiber Fair). I am very excited to go back again and see the friends I've made and meet some new people!

I have been asked to teach this year which will be fun. I am really enjoying composing using the hand held needle felters, then finishing by lightly wet felting. I find my students this summer have been enthusiastic as well.

The picture is of one of the products I am working on for the show. I call it a collage scarf because of all of the silk textures I've packaged together to put on top. I am working on about 4 other color combinations, so stay tuned. Lots to do!

Gratitude

I have lately been reminded of how much I have to be grateful for and how happiness is a decision we all make. Without dwelling on those things, here are some pictures of things I am grateful for.

I am grateful that I have the time to play with making new fabrics -- something I just love to do!

I am grateful for friends who encourage me to try new things and play. I need a picture of the group of fiber artists I am a part of -- coming soon!

I am grateful for others out there experimenting and learning. These beautiful locks are from Margo Duke -- she is selling them on ETSY. Here is the address for her ETSY shop: Her Majesty Margo.etsy.com

And perhaps most of all, I am grateful for those of you who come to class, who love to learn and teach me so much. Thanks so much!

Stillness

Goodness gracious, it is hot in Texas! When I get bothered by it, I go and look at a vacation picture I took a couple of weeks ago. My son and I went to Alaska. Great fun and a needed break! So here is my favorite glacier picture. Looking at it reminds me that cool weather will return and at a bit deeper level, the picture reminds me to be still when things are unclear. Patience is such a virtue! However, my prettiest fabrics seem to happen on the hottest days, so I try to appreciate the whole of things...

cheers you guys and stay cool!

Rust Dyeing

Just wanted to write a quick summary of what I learned this week! Rust dyeing! My 84 year old neighbor who gave me the old frying pan I used to make this beautiful fabric said "we always tried to figure out how to get the rust out of our fabric". Well, not today! It's a hot new way to make fabric in an environmentally friendly way.

So here's what you need: something rusty, some vinegar and your fabric. I used my neighbor's old cast iron skillet and scrunched the fabric inside the pan. I poured vinegar over it and let it sit in the sun for the afternoon and voila!

What to do with this?

I had fun yesterday playing with some beautiful colors. I made what I thought was going to be a book jacket (which you see pictured), but I'm not sure that's the thing to do. It is a rectangular piece that wraps around the book and I put the silk on in a border. It is amazing to me what a difference proportion makes in a piece. Is it a part of a purse, a book, a wall piece? What do you think? I have some more pink dupioni silk, I will ponder what to make. Any ideas? This will eventually become a project kit when I figure out what it is!

It looks like this piece I made a few weeks ago will turn into a purse. Thanks to Lu Peters (http://www.lupeters.com/) for the wonderful charm -- it just makes the piece. It is really wonderful to have these nuno felted fabrics -- they can be cut and shaped as you wish.

Almost Done...

Well, here I am this morning -- looking at pictures of the color kits. It's not always easy to get good pictures, so I would love some feedback! The first kit above is called "spring" -- the colors are very warm and inviting, kind of high energy...the kits contain 9 colors of silk, some gauze and some habotai. They will be matched with kits containing 3 pieces of prefelt and kits with 5 colors of roving. Fun to make a nuno purse, pillow, or enhance a scarf or shawl or your wall work. These are available in 4 color ways and they will be on my website soon! There will be a 20% discount for the first 25 kits sold, so email me and let me know you are interested!

I am also working on project packs, stay tuned!

Have a great day you guys!

Color Everywhere!

Another busy week -- this time I am working on my "color kits" -- a new product I am offering. These kits will have 9 colors of silk in a combination of habotai and gauze in a color theme. There is enough silk to make a nuno pillow or purse or embellish a wall piece. Of course I had to try a few. I started out with just habotai (the shiny silk), but found I liked composing with the contrast of the gauze and habotai -- the smooth and shiny look great together! So I am back to dyeing a bit more fabric. Stay tuned!

I am also playing with the journals and color themes. The piece above reminds me of a tide pool, so a journal adorned with this piece might be titled "A Summer to Remember"...

This piece looks sort of oriental -- that is primarily due to the colors. It has all sorts of texture in it.

Cheers! -- I am going to go finish dyeing that gauze so I can get those color kits out the door.