Dyeing silk with Rit

I am working on a project right now, sorry I can't tell you about it, you'll have to wait until summer before I can talk, but anyways, I have been dying silk dupioni and rayon-silk velvet with Rit dye. Holy cow the color is amazing. The silk dupioni dyes beautifully. The velvet is insanely rich with gorgeous deep color and it picks up lots of lovely texture. I was told it is because of the rayon, it takes the dye really well. So, I just thought those of you who are not comfortable with fiber reactive dyes would want to know, so you can start dyeing those Dharma scarf blanks to coordinate with every thing in your wardrobe.

Still working through it...

Each day gets a little better and then I get hit with a wopper every now and then that sets me back. Today has been a hard day but mostly because I am feeling overwhelmed by my daughters on going health problems and the health insurance issues that go with it. I can handle an awful lot, but sometimes it is just too much.

I have made a bit more progress on this quilt, machine stitching the batting, putting two different threads through the needle together to get bolder lines. I have finished the majority of the machine quilting and have satin stitched a large image of the 3 of swords (tarot card) in black thread on top. I am going to work some more hand stitching into the open batting areas with embroidery floss using big bold stitches, before I block it and trim it to size. This is actually a vertical quilt, I have only photographed a portion of it, so when I get it finished I will post a full photo.

On the Easel: Cedar Waxwing

on the easel: Cedar Waxwing
7" x 5", oil on panel
$250, framed

Artomatic 2010 is approaching and I have decided that I am going to do a group of 5" x 7" oils of birds for the exhibit. It is really quite amazing how much I have learned about color and technique from doing these little paintings. As I get farther along I will ask you to help me come up with a title for my exhibit. I plan to have at least 20 framed oils and a set up like I did in 2009.

Along with that I am working on getting back to four or five unfinished New Mythology paintings hanging about. The setback I have had with my shoulders and neck has created great frustration, but I am so thankful to get back to the easel.

Caton-Merchant Opening

A fantastic time we had on Saturday night....."Myth and Mystery" opening at the Caton-Merchant Gallery.


with Kathleen Kendall


Linda, Claire, Emily and Jim




George and Benjamin


Mike and Chris




with Linz





Alix and Shelly


Dave and Katie



Post show shenanigans with Chris, Mike, Phil, Linz and Elisa.....

Thanks to Thia for these much more artistic shots:

Yipee! Take These Broken Wings has won!

My quilt Take these Broken Wings won grand prize in the Lark Books "Quilt it" contest! You can see its construction here.

The UnValentine Party

Last night a group of friends came over for an artist play date that of course also had a menu of yummy food and drink, because we need to feed our tummies as well as our souls.

The majority of us belong to the broken hearts club right now, but our newbie Sara who I met through my online class and happens to live about a mile away from me, is our beacon of hope, being that she is the only one of us in a loving relationship right now.

 For our project of the evening, we made healing hearts a la Alisa Burke.

I happened to have some red painted fabric that I had screen printed an anatomical heart onto a year ago, that seemed perfect to make my heart from. I wrote words of loss and grief on the front that I machine and hand stitched then on the back I wrote words of healing and renewal.

Nina made a couple fabric hearts too.

We decided on a Cuban theme for our menu this time, Trish made fantastic empanadas.

 

I made Cuban style black beans

  

and pork marinated overnight in fruit juices, garlic and olive oil and simmered all day in a slow cooker.

  

Yumm....

  

Sara made cream filled chocolate cookies, that were like the worlds best Oreos on steroids and a tray of red velvet cupcakes. She definitely has an open invitation to join us anytime!

  

We had lots of sharing, ranting and laughing. It was good for the soul, I am blessed to have such wonderful supportive friends in my life; at home, abroad and online, I honor you all for lifting me up, making me laugh and being there.

  

Happy Valentines Day!

Slow Cloth

There is a wonderful article by Elaine Lipson explaining Slow Cloth on the Hand/Eye magazine website. Check it out!

Painting Pain....

Still having a seeming unending struggle with my shoulders and neck, I have been really limited in doing any painting or working on the computer. Though really frustrating and at moments discouraging, I have taken this week to do a lot of thinking (since I am most comfortable flat out.) I may have worked myself beyond muscle soreness to strain and now possibly something worse. I am hoping a very long massage will help on Sunday along with some rehab at home. I am ready to get back at it as that enormous stag painting stares back at me every time I wander into the studio along with several in process canvases.

We had quite the blizzard here along with several smaller snow storms over the last month, but all is on for the opening of "Myth and Mystery" Saturday night. If you are in the area, ride over to the gallery and join us for food, wine and art. There is a brand new parking garage right next to the gallery, lots of great places to have a nice dinner and the ice skating plaza will be open.

Dallas

I had a great time in Dallas this last weekend, sorry it has taken me a while to get to writing a blog post about it, but the last several days have been pretty hard.

I have felt so scattered lately, I was really happy I managed to remember to bring everything I needed to for my lecture and workshops, but I managed to forget to grab my camera as I went out the door for my first workshop teaching Fiesta Ornaments. I am so thankful to the very talented Carol Morrissey for sharing her pictures with me.

Carol had just come back from teaching in Austin to take my class. There were so many beautiful ornaments.

Judy Krein (above) picked me up at my hotel each morning and on saturday I got to meet Sasha, what an expression, huh? she looks perpetually surprised.

What a fun class!

Day 2 Mixed Media Painted Fabric

Always a pleasure to see Deborah's smiling face. She and I had a fun adventure when we got stuck in traffic for 3 hours after a chemical spill closed the freeway down friday afternoon, but we had a great chat and I enjoyed every minute! Really Deborah, I had a good time :-)

It was fun seeing my friend Tonya Littmann again, she also wrote a blog post about the class.

I love it when people take the basic concept and make it their own.

 I finished my weekend spending the day with my good friends Julie Upshaw, Vickie Hallmark and Frances Alford. It was so good for me to have the opportunity to spend time with some of my closest friends when things have been so hard. I am really grateful for all the kind words and support from everyone, I really appreciate it.

Myth and Mystery Installation Photos