Rainbows

I try not to get political on my blogs, but the events that have been happening the last couple of days in my state have inspired me to make an art quilt piece.  I am only in the design stage at this point. And because of the holidays I am not going to be able to do much more than that for a couple of weeks.

Hand dyed fabric

I had recently found this fabric in my pile of hand dyes from one of the dyeing parties. I remember thinking I should do something with it soon. As I was in the shower today (I get lots of ideas in the shower!) I thought of a design to use this fabric to mark the historic ruling on Friday.

Rough drawing of my design idea

I had a vision of the shape of the State of Utah cut from the rainbow fabric.  I also want to include the historic date of the court decision and the number 18 to commemorate where we stand nationally in granting civil marriage rights to all citizens of our state.  I am still not sure how the details will turn out,  but I am so inspired right now that it is difficult to pull myself away to do the things that are scheduled for today.

This is my Design Wall Monday post, check out what everyone else is up to at Judy's blog.  

I've got the Dyeing Blues!

Turquoise in a ziplock

Accordion folded in a ziplock

Crumpled in a ziplock

Accordion folded on the diagonal in a ziplock

Dye painted on with sponge brushes.

I did a second dyeing!  This time I was working with 4 shades of blue.  My favorite color! I dyed 3 yards of fabric.  4 half yards and then one big yard piece I painted the dyes on.  The photo of that one is not true to the color.  It is going to be a night sky scene. I had so much fun with this!  I always enjoyed the dye party that the guild in Salt Lake puts on almost every summer.  So I did have a pile of hand dyes that I had done the last couple of years.  But I hadn't washed them after the rinse and had an issue when I used a piece in a quilt.  I had washed the quilt to block it.  The hand dyed piece leached dye, but only into the back of the quilt.  After this dye session I decided to wash all of my hand dyes with synthrapol to be on the safe side. I found that I had a bunch of "scenes" that I had dyed at the parties that never got finished.

Mountains

I am not sure what I was trying to design with this

And each year I had made a tree.  A series of sorts I guess.  The bottom tree was the first one and the top was the second.  The middle one is my favorite right now.  But that could change.  So my goal for 2014 is to get some of these scenes quilted and embellished. I am also wanting to try some stuffed work on the trunks of the trees.  So a new technique to start the new year.

Two years ago my friend Anne and I did a collaboration. It was very inspiring for me.  I set the rules; we each pieced a top and then the other had to somehow expand it from within and then finish it off.  We decided to do another collaboration.  This time Anne set the rules.  We were to send the other person 2 fat quarters, or quarter yards.  One was to be hand dyed (by us).  The other could be dyed, but had to have some sort of surface design added. Stamping, painting, or whatever.  We then have to use a recognizable amount of each on the front and can add two more fabrics to the mix. We just exchanged our fabrics. We will be having a reveal of our quilts in the fall.

My dyed piece for Anne

Oops, forgot to take a photo after I had
rubbed a paint stick over a textured surface
the turquoise fabric

I thought I had taken a photograph of my surface design piece of fabric.  Can't find it.  But it is really cool!  I rubbed a Shiva paint stick over a texture plate.  I used a copper metallic stick.  

The fabrics that Anne sent to me.

I have an idea on what I want to do with these two fat quarters.  I am still in the mentally designing stage. And I won't be able to show you my progress, you will just have to check back in September!


This is my Off the Wall post for this week.  Check out Nina-Marie's blog to see what everyone else is up to!

Monday blues

 

 

  

About the only thing going on in the sewing room or the design wall is to make some more clothesline bowls. I have a holiday party for my quilt group on Wednesday and need a gift for the exchange.  I haven't decided which one to take to the party. I still need to trim the loose threads and then the rest of the bowls will go up into my Etsy shop this afternoon.  I keep 3 of these clothesline bowls in my sewing room.  The smaller ones are perfect for thread catchers!  The threads really stick to the bowl.  I have two smaller bowls next to each machine and a larger one at the cutting table. Last year I had brought a bowl for the gift exchange and the lady who ended up with it really liked it!


This is my Design Wall Monday post for this week.  Check out what everyone else is up to at Judy's blog.

My Adventure in Dyeing- First Dye!

A couple of weeks ago I blogged about starting my foray into fabric dyeing, this week continues the adventure! I spent some quality time with the unfinished basement. I was able to get a corner cleared out to set up a work station.

Old dining table

I have had this old table for over 30 years.  It has been stripped, but never refinished.  I put a vinyl tablecloth over it to protect it from the dyes.  I am also using another piece of plastic over that, just to be safe.

Fancy pants beer box shelves

I was able to tuck these boxes under the side of the table to store some of the supplies. I am trying to go cheaply, so the beer boxes are free and if any get damaged, I can get a replacement easily.

Baker's rack and computer desk

More space for storing supplies.  I figure that I can use the keyboard tray to hold the laptop if I need it while playing with the dyes and paints.  Yes, those are my LP's.  I don't have a turn table right now, but just can't quite get rid of my collection.  Too many memories.

Ready to mix!

All my stuff is lined up and ready to go!  

Soaking fabric in Soda Ash

I cut 4 fat quarters of my PFD bolt.  I also cut 3 yard cuts of some muslin to use for mopping up excess dyes.

Dyes!

I was trying for a Southwest look, so I mixed up orange, chocolate brown and terra cotta.

Plastic bag dyeing

I let the dyes set overnight.  I know that after an hour or two, they stop "cooking", but it worked out better time wise for me to rinse them out the next day.

Mop up "rag"

I was surprised how much dye was all over the plastic drop cloth.  I am looking forward to seeing what fun colors emerge the more this rag gets used!

Soaking out the excess dyes

I let it soak for quite a while and then rinsed them well.

All done!

Painted dye with a brush

Another brushed piece

Crumbled into the plastic bag

Accordion folded in the bag

I am pleased with the way the 4 fat quarters turned out!  Next up is turquoise blue!  I want to dye it just the blue and white and then do some paint stick rubbings over it with a copper color.

This is my Off the Wall post for this week!  Check out what everyone else is up to at Nina-Marie's blog!