I've Been Working - Zentangles/photo to fabric

"Inspired by the Zentangle® method of pattern drawing."

This morning was our local artsy quilt gathering.  The group is called "Itching to Stitch."  We get together once a month to catch up with the news, show your art/projects and then do a hands-on project.  I often share some surface design technique.  I decided at last minute to introduce zentangles, something I've only begun researching.  I love to get on google and spend hours on different topics.  So I showed examples, handed out paper and pens and encouraged the drawing.  I think a good time was had by all.  I had stitched up an example as well just to show that one could draw using the sewing machine.  Drawing zentangles is something I'll continue.  Maybe I'll get into the meditative state users have testified about.  Maybe, just maybe I'll stitch one up on a regular basis.  No promises though.

"Inspired by the Zentangle® method of pattern drawing."

The Zentangle® art form and method was created by Rick Roberts and Maria Thomas and is copyrighted. Zentangle® is a registered trademark of Zentangle, Inc. Learn more at zentangle.com

The next piece is one that did not work out so well.  I've spent more time in Photoshop Elements to work on a better value change - more changes.  So I'm just about ready to stitch up another one.  This one I'll practice adding stitching.

I'll be putting up another photo to fabric piece of my son's 2 VW's - a bus, which he's since sold and his original bug, which he still has.  This one is for the new exhibit at the Island Art Association titled "Traveled Roads."  I figured that these two vehicles have traveling many, many roads in their lifetime.

Soy Wax results and latest Pelican

The wax is out, the colors stayed in.  I'm really pleased with this experiment.  I've created more interfacing screens that have been painted with acrylic.  I have to dunk them into really hot water to removed the wax, then I'll screen print them.

"Flying Pelican" is completed.



Happy St. Patrick's Day

When I started this blog, I never intented to put the "personal" up, but..... I couldn't resist an image of my grandson.  May you always walk in sunshine.

Playdate with a Friend - Soy Wax Batik

Nancy and I played for hours with soy wax batik.  I've had the supplies for years and never made the time to experiment.  Nancy is a wonderful artist to experiment with.  She's an inspiration.  Here are some images:  Nancy and our setup and a bunch of fabrics - the wax is still on them.  I will wash the wax out as soon as I'm done here. 

I waxed the same motifs down the whole cloth.  Then painted yellow.  Waxed again, once the paint was dried.  Then added red and blue paints.  When dried, I waxed again and then painted with black.  I used the same brayer throughout, not washing between colors.  I love it.   To wax, I used a potato masher, splattered dots with the tjanting, and chip brush.

The bottom left is the interfacing I first waxed, then painted 2 coats of orange acrylic.  Once thoroughly dried, I washed out the wax using hot water.  I attached the "stencil" to the back of a silk screen with masking tape and printed with fabric paints.  The stencil is suppose to last a long while.  Oh, I used the tjanting.

I used a shell, child's foam paint tool (looks like a flower), handmade rope stamp, a wood block that had nails hammered in.  The next image is a closeup of the shell.

The next one is stamped using 3 cookie cutters that I held together with tweezers.

The following print I used a corrugated cardboard rolled up and rubberbanded.

I was playing around with the tjanting tool.  There's a long learning curve with this.  I will practice, practice, practice.  I want to write with it.

The following was printed using a foam brush that I cut triangles out of the end.  I used the rolled up cardboard again.

I used the end of a small piece of wood and the dots from the tjanting.

This is addictive.  I had the most fun.  I will batik again and again and again.

Now, I will wash out the wax.  I hope the colors stay the same. 

Some more Dyeing of fabric

Last weekend I dyed some more fabric.  I have two applique pieces I needed fabric for.  Still working on getting the values changes I'm after.

The "burgundy" is my new favorite dye color.  I dyed an old tablecloth.  My dye contentrate was way too intense to get the value change I was after but I love the color.  Also I didn't manipulate the pieces enough for a better coverage.  I didn't want a solid color but wasn't going for that much white.  Practice, practice, practice.

The last image of onsies for my little Max. I'll do something more to them in time for the summer.

Max's Journal

I added some more pages to Max's journal after a wonderful week visiting that very cute grandbaby.  He sure has grown a lot in just 4 weeks.

Mystical Monster

Still a work in progress.  I printed this medium size octopus at last year's Nature Printing Society's Workshop in Oregon.  Jim, my husband, suggested I add some color as this is a very plain piece of work.  So, I think I'll add the Chinese character for "octopus."  I have to cut a stencil and then paint.  I used some of the poem I used in the earlier octopus piece.