While in Chicago last week, I dyed and went to heaven!!! While I was teaching my usual beady subjects, Ann Johnston was teaching eager students how to paint fabrics with dye. One evening, two of her students invited me to join them and use some of their dyes ~ to give it a try. WELL! Heaven it was! I now want to take a workshop from Ann, want to buy dyes, want to paint and paint! If I could do these in about 3 hours, OMG, what could I do in 5 days?
I'm looking forward to using these fabrics ~ parts of them for Bead Journal Project pages, and parts for quilting. I wish there was enough to make a jacket ~ maybe if I piece the dyed fabrics with solids in the same colors? No time right now though...
I think if you click on these images, they will enlarge so you can better see the detail (especially the one below).
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Please forgive my long absense. June came and went before I could say boo... I was sick with a cold that would NOT go away for the entire month for one thing. Plus I had to prepare to teach 3 workshops and spend half of the month in the midwest. I know... excuses, excuses.
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Next week is the Puget Sound Bead Festival, my favorite bead event of the year. I'll be preparing kits, handouts, etc. for teaching there during the 4th of July week. I don't know if there is still space in any of my classes, but I'll post an update if I find out soon.
Posts
Robin,
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful, what fun. They all look like Summer Solstice to me, just those beautiful fire sunny colors. Have fun with them and welcome back.
Sunni
After I posted I remembered I was going to tell you that I just finished reading,"One Bead At a Time". I found it in a local bead store the other day. I have to say I loved it. I have always said beading is where I heal, so I really related to what you had to say. Thank you for butting it all into words.
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
Sunni
These are absolutely spectacular ! Really wonderful ! I see a new obsession in your future. A workshop with Ann Johnston has been on my most wanted wish list for a long time !
ReplyDeleteOh, those are beautiful! I once sort of dabbled with fabric painting in a class, but my results were nothing as intense and lush as these.
ReplyDeleteWish I could aford to get up to Puget Sound again... *sigh* It was one of the best beading events I've ever gone to when I went a couple years back. I always recommend it highly to people thinking of going.
Wowza!!! Those are absolutely gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteYou know, these are kinda psychedelic.. :D
ReplyDeleteYour fabrics are wonderful; Ann Johnston's books are very good. I no longer have her first book that is out of print, but I just checked my collection and I have 7 books on fabric painting/dyeing. My favorites are "Off-The-Shelf Fabric Painting" 30 Simple Recipes for Gourmet Results By Sue Beevers.
ReplyDeleteand "SkyDyes" A Visual Guide to Fabric Painting By Mickey Lawler. Both use fabric paint as opposed to fabric dye, I have found that septic systems don't like the commercial dye chemicals so I limit the amount of dye I run though our system and have found the paint fun to work with for limited amounts of fancy fabrics.
Awesome fabrics! Great color (I adore orange) and texture. I haven't taken and Ann Johnston class but follow her books when I get to dye (infrequently). She's excellent.
ReplyDeleteWow. These fabrics are beautiful. The only trouble I would have with them is using them. What if I used them and then found I had a better project which could have used them?? If they were mine I don't think they'd ever get cut for quilting or beaded; I know I would miss the fun of using them but... How do you get yourself past that or do you ever even find yourself afraid of using something wrongly?
ReplyDeleteOne of the things I love best about the PSBF is the cost of classes...those of us without large incomes can still afford to take a class without spending the rent money!
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful, beautiful fabrics!!
ReplyDeleteAh-ha Robin,
ReplyDeleteI've done this sort of thing and this has parts of whate Dale Z is doing too. Im glad you love it and want to do more. You'll have a great time.
I'm having a lot of trouble with my eyes. I go in again tomorrow and I'm not sure what I'll find out. Right now I'm using two diffeent pairs of glasses I have on hand. Seems I can't focus with my right eye and will have see what they say tomorrow before I know more. I'd hate to be the first one who has to drop out, but I can't see to bead!
Zowie! These are beeeeuuuutiful, Robin! (And it doesn't hurt that purples and oranges are one of my favorite color combinations). Must have been SO much fun!
ReplyDeleteWow, these quilts are incredible. Such beautiful color combination... Thanks for sharing these with us!
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