Crossroads

Detail from Red Chair

Now that I've given myself permission to take a different direction for the F.I.N.E. mapping show, I'm finding myself looking back at some techniques that I enjoyed and want to explore further.

I've decided to focus on two ideas.

One is the concept of Crossroads.This is hitting home particularly as I try to find my way to the next stage in my artwork. At the moment, I'm conceiving (great word!) of this as a series of square shapes with strips of fabric hand stitched to form cross shapes. The overall design will be made up of nine patches using these squares and there will be a large cross shape formed in the center.

I'm debating about make the squares or rows of squares into stuffed pockets that I can quilt as I go. This is similar in concept to how I worked on my small primitive dolls.

Small Primitive

I like the effect as it creates a sturdy piece, that's feels good in the hand.

The other idea is X Marks the Spot. This piece will be made from small folded squares sewn together to form units that have an X in the center. These will then be sewn together so that a larger X is formed.

I used this technique for a piece called Red Chair that I made ages ago. I've always wanted to come back to this technique. Now seems like a good time.

Both of these ideas are larger pieces generated from small parts.  Right now, I'm dyeing, painting and printing  lots of fabrics that can be cut into small units. These will be portable (until they are sewn into the larger pieces). I know that I'll be making some trips to Savannah to see my folks so having small portable units to work on will keep the ball rolling with these pieces.

Two artists got me thinking about working in small units that I could carry with me and work on anywhere. My friend, and fellow fiber artist Pam Sullivan suggested that working larger didn't have to mean a single large piece but perhaps instead many small units that become the larger piece. Maya Matthew recently had a post about a textile piece she carried around with her and worked on over a period of time. Click here to see the post.

So...I am beginning work on these two ideas and will see where they lead...

Day 22:: Pam's Gift

Well, it is December 22 and the world has not yet come to an end.

Last night, while preparing for my trip to New Jersey, I suddenly realized that I hadn't yet opened up the package from my wonderful friend and fellow fiber artist, Pam S.

Every year, Pam and I buy small cups or bowls for each other. My collection grows every year and I cherish every piece I receive from Pam. This year is no exception, as you can see!

I love this beautiful WHITE cup with the subtle red stripes!

I'll be picking names from the hat tomorrow for the Challenge fabric.

What If-ing Weeds

Experimenting with printing weeds

 Having been inspired by my Skype session with Pam and Jennifer, I decided to do a bit of what if-ing with the weeds in my garden.

My exhibiting group, F.I.N.E., has an exhibition planned for next year called, All Over the Map. I decided to focus on ways of mapping the weeds in my garden. So far, I have two finished hangings based on my drawings of Wood Sorrel. I've been trying to figure out some other ways of working with weeds.

The what if-ing began with gathering some weeds. My garden is overrun with a weed that is as sticky as Velcro! Another weed had large broad leaves.

I first decided to put the weeds under cotton fabric and roll over them (a brayer rubbing) with Opaque Pebeo Setacolor Fabric Paint.

I noticed that the weeds left a design on the paint on the foam brayer and if I rolled it out on another piece of fabric, I could get soft impressions of the designs.

I then tried some direct printing. I rolled opaque paint out on the glass palette and placed the weeds on the paint. I then applied more paint to the other side of the weed/leaf. I sandwiched the weeds between two pieces of cotton fabric and pressed down so the fabric paint would release onto both pieces of fabric.

This worked especially well with the large leaves.

In addition to working with the opaque fabric paint, I also did some techniques using diluted Transparent Pebeo Setacolor Fabric Paint. I'll show you the results of those experiments tomorrow.

Contemplation Time

This morning, I had a Skype session with Pam and Jennifer. They are nearing the end of their annual retreat. After we worked out some technological bugs (but not all), I got an amazing tour of their week of work, along with a tour of Pam's studio and the Annex where a lot of magic happened.

What was interesting to see was how sympatico the work is between these two artists. Earth and water. It would make for a beautiful, engaging show. You could see the satisfaction on both Pam's and Jennifer's faces, as decisions for new directions were made and even some pieces completed.

Although, I was thrilled for them, it did bring into fuller focus that I am in the midst of a direction change myself. This has been happening for at least a year...which is the last time I created a doll. As I struggle to think about completing another doll for Chautauqua, I am beginning to wonder if that phase of my artistic life is finished, or at least finished for the time being.

A new phase has yet to take complete form and that is always unsettling. I have been working on fabric resists for over a year and making the fabric is always exciting. Pam and Jennifer keep urging me to work larger, as I did for the Caos fabrics.

I have many ideas and many obligations. I am not the best at paring down. I love many aspects of what I am doing...teaching, designing new classes, experimenting with new techniques. My issue right now is the format for my work...what ultimate shape it will take, what it will be and try to say.

A long walk after our talk and I am realizing that some monoprints I did off of the wet paint on some resisted fabrics spoke more to me than the final fabrics.

I also had some thoughts about working with the weeds in the garden for the future F.I.N.E. exhibit. I may try exploring some of them tomorrow.

Gelatin Printing: Joining In

Wednesday night, I had to join in the gelatin experience. I started out by showing my students some basic techniques and before I knew it, I was caught up in playing and what iffing with the rest of the class!

After working the late shift at Potomac Fiber Arts Gallery yesterday, I came home to a surprise package from Pam.

Thanks Pam for including me in the retreat!

Catching Kansas Fabric Fever

Two Controlled Breach fabrics like two old friends

 Last night, I got the chance to talk to Pam and Jennifer. They just started their annual retreat together at Pam's house. We were arranging Skype time...more like a negotiation... as they are extremely early risers/early to bedders and are in an hour earlier time zone than I am.

We set the time for 10 AM this Saturday and Pam said, "Be sure to have your seatbelt on" as it will be a whirlwind tour of their time in the studio. Pam has already painted 16 yards of fabric and Jennifer has been working with her yards and yards of beautiful rusted fabrics. As I look at my cluttered work table, it is hard for me to conceive of 16 yards of fabric! Time to get my 8 foot table cleared off.

In the meantime, after my talk with them, I went down into the studio to whip up a couple of Controlled Breach fabrics (okay...okay...more like sample size). I wanted to share in a bit of all that excitement out in Kansas.

This morning, I got up (but NOT at 5:30 Central time...or even Eastern time!) and painted the second layer of fabric paint.

I'll be setting these later today and then removing the wheat flour resist.

They'll be shipped off to Kansas tomorrow along with a few other goodies...