Yes, We Made It

We all survived the five days at QSDS.  I had a talented group of printers, ones who put up with me and printed like crazy. Can't ask for better. 

The Frenzy

Tonight was vendor night at QSDS and my students, wonderful people that they are, stopped at my table and compliment me -- as well as purchase some of my yards of fabric. We had fun, was rewarded with ice cream, and made it home to rest up for tomorrow. 

 

The Start of the Day

It all looks so neat and tidy. Not at the end of the day. We've already gone through this much thickened dye and print paste. But it's all good and there's now more than 40 yards of great printed fabric ready to wash out. 
 

Half Baked

You've got to start somewhere, so I choose a recent graphic. I'll let this sit for a day or so, then add more. Sometimes it's best to let it simmer on the back burner. Meanwhile, I'm to find some different motifs to add and some to conflict. 
 

Delivery

I left this box a month ago on Whidby Island off the coast of Washington. It finally found it's way to home. Now I've got the works I printed ready there to decide -- finished and wash, or unfinished and print more. My favorite kind of decision.
 

Available Light

And they're off! We were intrepid, that's for sure. Starting with Dark, in the Dark, and working with what we had, we made a good day of it. Yes, the heat did come back, as well as the electric, but not till the end of our day. No matter, tomorrow we're ready!
 

Start With Dark

A detail of printed fabric shows how starting with dark print color allows the piece to have a light value. Because the motif is spaced, thin lined, and open there is a chance for the light background stay at the light end of the value scale. This is the class for Coupeville at PNWAS November 16 - 20.

Start With Dark in Coupeville

Mid November starts a class in Coupeville, Washington (on Whitby Island) at the Pacific Northwest Art School. It's "Start With Dark" and we explore and print with thickened dyes, starting, you guessed it, with dark. There will be no whimpey prints! We aim for great fabric with depth. Join us! https://pacificnorthwestartschool.org/product-category/fiber-arts-workshops/
 

That Gray Thing

 

I was asked to create a scarf in grays. Not my usual, as you know, but I do love a challenge. So, using my thickened MX dyes, I tried to print a range of dark to light with just black and paste to thin it down. I might end up liking this.

Getting Dotty

More experiments with a single screen. And I've stuck to the same palette here. But this would be a great big and fun quilt of the functional variety, no? I've more to do, but for now, I think I'll leave these on the design wall. 

Happy Wave in the Breeze

Today's yard in the yard is waving happy because I've now got a full house for my October virtual printing class. That means I'll have to add one in November.  Maybe November 9 - 13.  I'd love to have a class for those who've already taken a class. To take it up a notch. Go Big, Go Bold, or Start with Dark. 
 

Three Out of the Steamer

Here's a bundle unrolled from it's steam bath. I'm trying to keep the whites pure and set that dark as well. These three now go off to rinses and then washes. Then more bundles to steam. Next week is print week. Yipee!

Nature Abhors a Vacuum

Once I finish a piece, and it's in the queue for the longarm, well, there's a blank wall. As I sorted fabrics to take to Trumbull, Connecticut, I saw a few that might need to stay behind. So, here's a group I might have to work with.

Loading a Pallette

Time to get some stuff on the design wall. Can you see I need some color in my life? And if you care to print fabric with me this year, check my calendar page on www.patpauly.com .

How Many Can Be Mine

My christmas shopping ends up One For Me, One For You. So, now that the last batch is washed and getting ironed, I'm saving some for me. The rest will travel in a couple of weeks to Craft Napa for sale night (Friday?) but this one might stay home.

Fabric Printing

It's been a while since I dyed fabric. What I love most is printing. Making a repeated element run across the space, switching out color, changing the density of the color is part of the challenge. And the combination in one piece -- whole cloth designs -- well, that takes the cake.

Start With Dark

As the skies turned gray and snow fell, it was easy print in the studio. I was thinking about this summer when I'll be teaching in Washington State at the Pacific Northwest Art School a class "Start With Dark". Simple, dramatic, bold. No wimping out here -- start with dark!

Before the Shot from Yesterday

Here's a slice of the design wall. I've already cut and pieced a few things, as you can see from yesterday's post. Slow going, though. Not to mention today's weather was perfect for non-studio work. So, yes, a slog.

Meeting Up

Now, I know the second piece was a demo for some class. I was using a "fun foam" sheet that I got from Walmart. Great for monoprinting. Same thickened dye formula for both pieces. I love that there is white background in both half yard pieces.

Back on the Print Table

It's fun to try new graphics on the silk screen. This reminds me of a fish's spine. Maybe that's why I laid down a green and black pallet. Something fishy.