no one reminded me...

Actually, I lie... Vivien reminded me. But once is not enough for me apparently. I finally remembered on my own and yesterday "uncorked" my treasures. Back in November (!) I did a little nature dyeing experiment based on a book by India Flint. Luckily I was not greeted with any foul smells, just a slight whiff of vinegar. No mold was noticed anywhere. Here's what I saw:

my rubber bands puffed up to look like ramen noodles and lost all their elasticity

before the reveal

the orchids disappointed me...

definitely will need to add some more surface design

onion skins were a lot more exciting!

deep rich color!

here they are next to each other, I think the delicate details are growing on me...

 Now the directions say to let the fabric cure for as long as possible. No problem! How about the whole summer? I have them hanging on a line in my studio, where I am sure they will be easily forgotten as summer activities overtake my life. When I remember them in September, I'll add something else from my kitchen. This promises to be the longest nature dyeing experiment ever, but hey at least I'm trying it... Now will someone remind me again? Please?

wordless wednesday

swanky digs...

enticing?

I find postcards enticing. I love collecting them from artists I admire, I always stop by the museum shop for a few, take one at a gallery and exchange with other artists. I have an area on a wall in my studio where I tack them up and admire regularly. Whenever an artists postcard arrives in my mailbox, it's like a little celebration!

I wanted to thank my existing newsletter subscribers and thought I would see if I could entice my readers to become NEW subscribers in exchange for a postcard.  I just ordered postcards with six detail images of six of my latest artworks. My spring newsletter is going out to email boxes later today (yes I'm just squeaking by calling it the spring newsletter...).   

If you are already a subscriber, all you have to do when you receive the newsletter is click on the "update your preferences" link and add your snail mail address to your account. If you are not a subscriber yet, click the link on my sidebar and subscribe, when you do, make sure to add your snail mail address. 

detail of Vladimir Cathedral

detail of City Love Affair 2

detail of Piter's Rooftops 1

detail of St. Pete Lace 13

detail of St. Pete Lace 15

detail of St. Pete Window 26

Now I  think that I probably have some very choosy subscribers. If you are one of them, then please BE choosy and comment on this blog post and tell me which of the six postcards you would like and I will do my best to send you that exact one!

If you are reading this a few days late, no worries! Just subscribe and choose and I'll get you a postcard! Thanks for playing! Happy spring!

wordless wednesday

somebody found it yummy

a bit of stitching

I started on three new pieces last week, sometimes I like to work in a production line mode! These will be smallish, just 12"x12" when I am done. I am continuing with my cathedrals of St. Petersburg theme since I enjoyed doing my last cathedral piece so much. Here's a blog post about it as I haven't added it to my website yet.

three in progress

I dug into my scrap basket for materials and shredded the scraps even further as I added layers of texture. My collection of snipped threads made it in there too. Machine sketched outlines are done and now I have three pieces ready for some intense hand stitching. I am looking forward to spending my evenings with a needle and thread, it's been a while...

choosing thread

outlines in place

choices, choices, choices...

wordless wednesday

prehistoric green

friday vignette

is brought to you courtesy of NYC. Something has come over me the last few times I've been in the city...I cannot stop taking pictures. Why? Years, no, decades, of living and working here, certainly not a tourist, and now I am taking pictures? I have no answer...but I love it so.

 

wordless wednesday

green light means go!

totems!

This weekend we all got to see our totems hanging up as they were meant to be. In a spacious classroom at the Northern Star Quilt Guild exhibit. I really enjoyed how the totems spoke to the trees outside the window, I thought that was a nice unexpected bonus.

here's mine playing well with others and communing with trees

other side

full length!

Take a look at more pictures on our blog.

in progress

Everything is state of progress around here. I suppose it's better than a stalemate, right? 

pom poms to be

pom poms almost done

I've got pom poms being made for Russian dance costumes, they'll go on the headdresses. 

start of a new piece!

putting the pedal to the metal

keeping things in check

I've got three new 12"x12" pieces started, all based on cathedrals of St. Petersburg, Russia. I laid out the bits and pieces of fabrics, trapped them with netting and got them ready for some "pedal to the metal" free-hand machine stitching. What I am really looking forward to is hand stitching on all three of them. Not all at once......really. And if by some miracle I get one of them done before the end of the month, I'll have a donation for the annual SAQA auction. 

Meanwhile I have updated my website AND decided it was time for a re-design. The re-design will take a looong time, I am giving myself permission to take my time and not rush through any decision making and take the time to re-learn the software too. I just got an update, so things should be humming along. I'll let ya know how that goes....

I have also started prepping for my workshops at the Create Retreat in New Jersey in July. Looking forward to teaching new stuff and meeting new people!

BUT! This weekend, if you are in the NY tri-state area, please stop by the little town of Katonah in Westchester County and see the Northern Star Quilt Guild exhibit. My totem will be part of a special display by Fiber Arts North East. I cannot wait to see a room full of 18" by 8 foot! totems. Picture opportunity indeed!