Back to the Studio

With a high of 45 and sun, the studio was nearly 80 degrees. I was not ready for that, but layered down. For those who've been in a printing class, this piece is a yard of my "fake" shibori. They are a wonderful way to use thickened dyes in a haphazard outcome. 
 

Using that Old Fabric

I can't remember how many years ago I met Tracey at "Quilting Around Chautauqua," a now has-been show, and she bought this great piece of shibori fabric. I don't make that much of shibori anymore, so it was my duty to get her to cut it up! You can see how her New Big Leaf will be a winner.

Toronto Kimonos

A day trip to Toronto yesterday was to see the exhibition by the Japanese artist Itchiku Kubota. Breathtakingly complex, they are hand dyed and painted kimonos, often in a series that presents a panoramic landscape. It will be in Utica this summer, and I'll return. If you can, visit.  See mwpai.org for more information.

Time for Shibori

These yards were painted with dye and water over a year ago (maybe two!) and left to dry unfixed. I finally got them out of the pile, twisted them on a pvc pipe, and put them in a dark purple dye bath. Now I've some to use, some to sell. For certain, I'll be at QBL vending this July. Check my web site for more.

From One, Many

It always surprises me that I can get so many variations in color from one yard of my shibori dyed fabric. I'll pack this up and take with me to my St. Albans, Vermont lecture and class this weekend. To sell, of course.

Underdye Underdogs

The "underdye" is my name for treating the fabric with dye using no soda ash or mordant. I'll roll these on pvc pipes, and then shibori dye them. This is garish color, but the results are luscious. You'll see.

Heap of Love

UPS dropped off my 150 meters of pfd today. With a high in the 70s, I cut off yards, prewashed it, and spent the afternoon underpainting some fabric for shibori dyeing tomorrow. Make hay while the sun shines.

Fall Color To Dye For

Give me a 71 degree day (with low wind) and I'll be hanging my underpainted fabric. And like a squirrel who stores nuts for later, I'll shibori in the winter. For now, I'm lovin' fall.

Reverse Shibori

I started with a nice piece of my hand-dyed fabric, wrapped it as I would a shibori piece, and used diluted bleach to discharge. I love the white lines. Kinda like reverse shibori? Might bring this along to the Brewerton Quilt Show to sell at my booth. Saturday, September 12 just outside of Syracuse.

How to Wrap Ten Yards

It takes a bit of hand strength to wrap the pvc pipe and squish down the fabric. The color is underdyed (but not fixed). These will go in two buckets of dye and get processed. They are for a class September 8 (Elmira), as well as a quilt show in Brewerton ( Syracuse) Twilight Stitchers on September 12, where I will be vending

Shibori of Many Colors

It always surprises me how a piece of shibori dyed fabric can have so many variables. This is one for a batch I am making for a class in Elmira next month at the Piecemakers Quilters of Elmira guild. The underdye is blue and red, and overdyed with an orange brown.

Make/Dye While the Sun Shines

I took advantage of the heat and still air to underpaint with dye on fabric. Later, when I need the cool basement, I'll pole wrap these yards for shibori.

Much Rather Be Outside

Working on underpainting fabric that will be wrapped and dyed later. How I wish I could dry this outside. But outside it is snowing, so for now, the wet studio will have to do. But, a bit messy!

From the Dye Pots

This looks like a mild disaster, but its not. It's the time to dump out the dye, unwrap the bound fabric from the pvc pipe, and rinse, rinse, rinse.

Skinny Line Leaf, Now with Lines

In piecing those skinny lines, I figure that I can use 1/2 yard of shibori, 1/2 yard of hand dye. Love the effect, and maybe I'll offer this for the GVQC Quilt Show early June when I teach "The Skinny Line Leaf." Now to connect the blocks, add the frame, and quilt.

How to Decide

Someone who will be in my Shibori Half-Square Triangle class this January at  Quilting at the Lake (Havasu, Arizona) wrote to ask me whether to use my shibori fabric for the class, or should she bring her own. I have a couple using each type, shibori or large scale prints. Still can't decide.

Twist and Tie Shibori

At the day's end, when the energy to create is gone, I like to do processes like wrapping poles for shibori dyeing. Here is my pvc pipe, cloth wrapped and then twisted, and shoved down. I am halfway through. Then I will rubber band the top. Rubber gloves give me grip.

Homework

Thought I would make another Shibori Half-Square Triangle quilt before the workshop in Poughkeepsie this week. Thursday is the class, and I have stacks of shibori to use. Crash the lecture? It's Wednesday with the First Dutchess Quilters.

Ready to Dye

My "underpainted" fabric is now rolled on a pvc pipe and scrunched down and held in place with rubber bands, waiting for the dye bath. I am making these yards for a class that will use the shibori dyed fabric. Perfect chore (in the basement) for storm avoidance.

Half-Square Shibori Draft

Anita Soloman Grossman taught me (along with a whole room full of folks) how to get two different "squares" from striped fabric. I figured that my shibori was striped enough to work. Consider these two sets of squares pinned to my design board.