Discharge Dyeing Once Again

Had a lot of fun yesterday doing some discharge dyeing. I first tried doing ice discharge dyeing, but didn't get good results at all.  I was afraid to leave the Softscrub on too long and removed it too soon, which  resulted in very little dye being removed. By then I was out of ice, but not bleach.

Black shirt,  accordion folded, tied, then I poured 1/2 bleach/half water mix over it.

Triangular folded and dipped.  I like this one a lot.

Previously dyed, swirled and discharged.

Shibori wrapped around pole and immersed into 1/2 bleach/1/2 water mix.

Blooming Iris

Sorry I haven't posted anything in a couple of weeks. I broke my camera a week ago and have just   been  too busy with not a lot to show here.  Yesterday I noticed this lovely iris in full bloom in my garden.  Just before one of my close friends, Jana, passed away in 1999, when we moved into our present home, she gave me a lot of irises from her garden that she was thinning out. Every year for her February birthday and her October death at least one blooms. It never ceases to amaze me.  Jana was an amazing person and artist.  Just like the iris, she was unique and beautiful when you took the time to look inside.

Been working on more fabric manipulation techniques and my ice dyed quilt.  Should have picture updates on those soon.

Manipulated Fabric Samples

Since the free  guild workshop a couple of weekends ago, I've been intrigued with manipulating fabric. I checked out a book from our library entitled The Art of Manipulating Fabric, by Colette Wolff.

 Actually it's the second time I've checked it out.  It is an incredible collection of great techniques to create 3D folds, tucks and more.  I've also been re-reading Fantastic Fabric Folding by Rebecca Wat.

 I love her twisted rose blocks, but found another way to do them, since her way wasn't working for me.   I made them similar to how you make the chop key blocks, but put three folds on each  side rather than just one in the center.  Because of the extra folds, I started with a 5 inch block for the top and a  3 inch block for the muslin under it, to which you secure the folds. Below are some of my new blocks.

Mock pin tucks using a double needle.

Twisted  rose blocks above with a closeup below

Girls Just Want to Have Fun

I've been so busy with kids moving, end of the semester grades, etc., that this week just wanted to have some fun.  For me that meant going to a Phil and Dave Alvin concert midweek, which was fabulous and then the beach with a good friend yesterday.

Above is a picture of Phil and Dave Alvin, formerly of the Blasters, a great band from the 80's.  They were playing at Slo Brew and put on a great show.  Very versatile music from blues, to rock to old American tunes.  Wonderful voices and a very tight band.  Excellent female drummer, Lisa Pankratz.  She could really bet those drums!  Don't often see that in an all male band.

Sunny weather in Cayucus with great waves.  Had a lovely picnic with my friend Joyce.

Hope your week was good and you found time for fun and relaxation too.

Guild Workshop on Fabric Manipulation Techniques

Our Almond Country Quilt Guild sponsored a workshop on fabric manipulation techniques Saturday. I had a lot of fun and learned some new techniques as well.  Our teacher, Denise was excellent, friendly, enthusiastic and even made us very creative fun stuffed fabric face pins.

These are my all my samples with a couple other fabrics I'm auditioning with them.  Not sure how I will use them yet, but have lots of ideas.

This is a piece where we made tucks and folded them different way to create the design.

  Next time I think I'll use thread that matches the fabric. Adding beads to all the folded 

intersections will add a lot of interest.

The top row are Chop Keys, made from having a larger square sewn and folded to a smaller one to create the diamond in the center.  The bottom one is done in a similar way but with hexagon shaped fabrics. I still need to add a bead or small button to the center of the diamond shape.

How great that our guild offers these free workshops. It's also a great way 

to get to know other guild members.

Fabulous Quilt Exhbit

Unfortunately, I didn't get to any quilting this weekend, as I was helping one of my sons move, but I did get to do a virtual visit to a fabulous showing of art quilts.  From November 2nd through January 4th there was a show at the  Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center in Auburn, New York.  Here is a link so you can visit too:  http://www.schweinfurthartcenter.org/exhibits/QAQ.html

Be sure to check out their virtual tour of the show. 

I've never heard of this artist before, who had a beautiful piece there entitled, "Will-o'the wisp".  His work is very amazing, very painterly.  His name is Randall Cook.  This quilt of his was in the show along with many other unique art quilts.  Here's a link to his website to check out more randallcookstudios.com

Hope you enjoy his work and the others as much as I did.

Ice Dyed Fabric Quilt

Happy New Year to everyone!  Been laying low, still fighting this cold with three more days of antibiotics to take.  Hopefully by then it will be over. Had a busy weekend, helping one of our sons move out.

Found some time and energy to cut out and fuse my ice dyed fabrics, that I pieced together in November, to a black background.  Was a new way of working for me with making the cuts this way. I used clear film over the fabric to draw out exactly where I wanted the 'fractures'.  Next I  put tracing paper over the clear film to create the four pattern pieces.  Hadn't done any fusing in awhile and I find that stuff rather tricky to use, but pleased that it came out how I envisioned it.  Started to do a little stitching on it last night.  Back to work tomorrow and next weekend will be helping my other son move, so not sure when I"ll get back to it.