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Archive for February, 2010

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My Diploma

Sunday, February 28th, 2010

Just thought I would post this extra large diploma, worthy of framing, that I received today after my four years of study. We had a lovely time reflecting on the four years of study. The mentor described me as being a quiet presence. I laughed because I think that may be the first time any one has said that about me. She said it was because Mr C had so much to say. He is, after all, the official theologian of this family. I just tag along for the fun of it.

She also remarked about my doodles and wondered if I was designing quilts. I was and also drawing portraits of her. I think I will find all of them and give them to her as a gift.

Everyone seemed to love their bookmarks. I was happy about that.

Don’t forget – Twelve X Twelve reveal is tomorrow.

Posted in 12X12 challenge, Spiritual Life | 4 Comments »

A Busy Week-end

Sunday, February 28th, 2010

Today is the final time together with a class that Mr C and I have been taking for the last 3 years. We did our first year of the class when we lived in North Carolina. It is an Episcopal program called Education for Ministry (EFM). It is an intensive theology/church history program.

We are each bringing something personal for the other members of the class. I decided to make these book marks. And, of course, I waited until yesterday to get them done!! Here is how I made them.

I wanted to create a soothing landscape for the theme. I took a piece of batting and fused fabrics down to create a beach scene with a setting sun. Then I quilted the whole piece.

I then cut each bookmark and zigzagged the edges. I printed a riff on a line from Psalme 46 — Be still and know that I am God — on to organza. These were fused into the sand. I could have made the printing larger, but I still like the sentiment.

I also have to do a synopsis of year 3 for the class so I have been working on that. This morning, I am having a vertigo attack from clogged sinuses so I stayed home from church so that I can be healthy for this afternoon.

I am so looking forward to getting back to the big piece that is waiting for me down in the studio. Once I cut into my fabric, I was really having fun.

I hope you are all having a great week-end. Check in tomorrow for the Blue/White and a bit of Black challenge for Twelve X Twelve.

Posted in Uncategorized | 6 Comments »

Improvisational Fabric Design

Friday, February 26th, 2010

I have always eschewed taking dyeing classes that require measurement and tabulating results. I love the serendipity of just throwing in some random dye on some random fabric to see what will happen. This piece was a wimpy blue and green yesterday. I threw it in a dye bath of chocolate brown. I love it. Here is a detail.

It is so complex now with warm and cool colors showing up. It works perfectly with the big piece I am working on. This was an afterthought because I had left over dye.

The tray dyeing with 3 different greens and splashed of black was not so successful and will be over-dyed at some point. The water was too cold. I didn’t use enough dye and didn’t mix it very well.

I got most of the fabric fused today and finally became brave enough to cut into it. I stopped when I realized that I wanted some warm yellow. I took this wimpy beige fabric:

and painted it yellow with some copper accents.

Gaaa! I love it. I love how paint can transform a piece of fabric.

Posted in Dyeing, painting fabric | 7 Comments »

Surface Design Day

Thursday, February 25th, 2010

The washing machine finally gave up spinning last night and I was able to iron my discharged fabric and love the results. The three hand-dyed fabrics are just fabulous.  All the photos are clickable to be seen larger.

I love the piece on the right.

The fabric on the left and the right (in the upper photo) were over-dyed via the microwave. I squirted black and brown dye on each one and processed in the microwave for two minutes. Here is the result. I am thrilled with this. Very complex and mysterious.

The second piece in was over-painted with diluted brown paint. I love this, too.

Here are fabrics that I was auditioning for the big piece. Today, I over-painted them with diluted black and brown paint.

These two may need an additional over-painting job. I want them to look dirty and distressed!

I having some fabric batching overnight. One has 3 greens with some black splashes.

I had some brown dye left over so I used an ugly green/blue hand-dyed cotton. It will be fun to see what happens to it.

I am whooped from a day of dyeing and painting. I am taking the night off to watch ice skating. Tomorrow, I hope to start fusing and cutting and designing my BIG quilt.

Posted in Discharging fabric, Dyeing, painting fabric | 4 Comments »

Discharging Dye

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

Today, I decided to add some marks to some of my hand-dyed fabric by removing some color with thiox discharge paste. I am posting before and afters before I threw them in the washing machine. My washer is not spinning tonight so you will have to wait to see the final product tomorrow. I am going to over dye some of these.

It is always exciting to see what color will emerge from the black hand-dyed fabrics. I used bubble wrap, corrugated cardboard, a sponge and some large stamps with random dots and lines to make the marks. And I was dressed for safety:

By the way, I chose the lime green accented postcard. I thought that would be an easy guess for everyone!!

Posted in Discharging fabric | 7 Comments »

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