Stenciling Class

I also went to a two day stenciling workshop in Charlotte, NC. Janet Lasher taught the class and it was a great opportunity to learn some techniques for making stencils to use in dye painting fabric.

WARNING: The following has lots of details on dyeing. Skim if you're not interested and enjoy the pictures.

I was a again a bit lazy so I tore my fabric (a messed up piece that I had dyed, but forgot the soda ash I think). So I tore the fabric into four pieces and layered them on top of each other. I was just going to do the top piece and catch the dye that went through with the other layers.

Here is the first piece:

Then Janet saw what I was doing and suggested that I lay the stencil on the second one and make a pattern. (She didn't know that I was only making one piece.) So I followed her suggestion and got this piece:

You can see where the stencil from the first piece showed up on the second cloth and then I made the pattern.

Now the next two layers I'm not totally sure which order. I wasn't really planning on doing anymore, but Janet was there to recommend do the next one. I was getting tired, so the dye paint when one a lot quicker and much more freely.

I think I like this one the best. Again you can see the pattern that resembles the previous one that was on top and bled through to this layer.

And this final one just had the paint slapped on to cover it up. I was ready to finish up at this point. I think I could add some more layers to this one in the future. Right now I call it "Ode to Janet" because I think it's colors she would like.

I learned tons from this class! I love the stencil making techniques and I'll always layer my fabric so I get several companion pieces of fabric or varieties to use. The way it seeps through to the next layer and leaves a mark was great.

Photography Class

Along with quilting, dyeing, rusting, etc... I also signed up for a 6 week photography course that meet on Tuesday nights and concluded March 13th. This was a great opportunity for me to use my new camera and be a little more creative with picture taking. If you want to see the full portfolio email me and I'll send you an invitation to the Kodak Gallery album. Otherwise here are a few samples of what I did for the class.

All of these pictures focused on the use of color.

This one is an interrupted pattern. The rows form a pattern and the brown interrupts it. I had to buy a bag of candy to do this and then not eat it! Very difficult!

This is a daffodil that was blooming down here in North Carolina. I used a selective focus to purposely blur the background and therefore drawing attention to the flower. The yellow stands out.

This last picture was taken while I was waiting to meet someone for an interpreting assignment. I think it actually was taken with my older camera, a point and shoot that I carry with me all the time.

I just love the colors of a good sunset.

Surface Design Group

First of all, I'm sorry that it's been so long since I last posted something on this blog. I had a disclaimer paragraph for my first posting, if not seeing something new on this blog everyday is annoying then please reread that post and accept my aplogies for not updating this blog on a more regular basis. Ok, now that's over, here's what I've been up do.

I began attending a Surface Design Group in Charlotte. We meet once a month and I went for the first time in January. Everyone is so creative and are excellent sources for inspiration and information! I always take lots of notes when I'm there.

(WARNING: Skip to after the picture if you don't want to read details on how to make the scarf.)
Our meeting in February was about ways to make fabric have a rusted affect. Two ways were demonstrated. The first one involved painting objects with a metal type paint and after it dried we sprayed on an oxidizer. All of the supplies can be purchased at Michaels and the process was nice, but not sure when I'll use that technique. I'm sure I will though sometime. Then we did another method on a silk scarf. We used fine steel wool (purchased at Home Depot/Lowes). We pulled off strips and dipped them in White Vinegar (must be white, not apple cider). Then we layed those strips on the silk and folded in accordian fashion, putting another couple of strips on each layer. That was all. Then I left it sitting outside for a week. (It spits and spews rust particles and vinegar so therefore outside is best.) I loved this technique! I'm all for the short and simple methods. (Do I sound lazy?) After the week, I poured out off the vinegar, rinsed off the old rust particles and then washed it in the washing machine with synthropol. (Can add hair conditioner to soften up if needed.)


(Click the picture to enlarge.)
I'm going to try this again. Next time with dyeing the fabric first and then putting the rust on afterwards. Also may prefer a more random pattern so I'll try laying the steel wool on a little differently.