This part of my morning went right....these are snips and pieces from what I thought was the last of my raw materials..the kind of odd scraps that wind up being the heart and soul of a completed work. Later in the day our friend Tony came by with a bag of damask and huck napkins and small table cloths. I didn't even inspect them but just dumped them into the sauce to poach. Later I'll hang them to dry and take them with me to what's become an annual event..a dye day with Elizabeth Barton.
We get together to use up each other's spring born dyestock, take a look at what ever we have been up to, have lunch and generally enjoy the day. Another annual event is that I get lost driving home from her place..always an adventure on the backroads of Georgia in October.
On the "do-over" side of the slate, I have to reshoot all the entry photos I sweated over yesterday. Why did no one smack me in the head with a cod when I hung a white backdrop to shoot pieces that are 90% white themselves??? I went to bed wracking my brain over where I'd find something appropriately dark and neutral and awoke with the answer. We have a set of sheets that are dark grey..the top sheet almost never used. It's in the dryer right now getting it's wrinkles removed. Back to the mines....
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Sunday, September 09, 2012
September on the burning dyedeck
I got the sleeve stitched on to "Jazz Takes Over" and even found a hanging slat in the closet that was exactly the right size. Two completed and nothing left to do for the third but cut and fit another sleeve.
Spectacular weather today (although it could have used a few more degrees for dyeing) anything left in the direct sun heated up nicely. I've been commissioned to colorize a set of damask napkins and two tablecloths and hope the grape I cobbled up stays true after the wash and dry.
More color bound pieces were laid out and all the mason jars stuffed with shreds, sauce and blood of the rainbow. Even the new table padding had fun. I should have used a piece of cloth or even paper with a brayer while this spot was still chemically hot but it's been since hosed away.
A good weekend mostly in the can. The Braves swept the Mets in NY while I spent an hour in the pool, Chef James is making chili and I have the Sunday NY Times to spend the rest of the afternoon with. I want a cup of coffee.
Saturday, September 08, 2012
an eye comes to light
it's been there all along, just a sketch but I finally decided on a way to bring it around to real.
I stitched until the callous on my right middle finger broke down after one too many jabs...and then found my brass thimble and really got down to business. I'll fit the sleeve on this one tomorrow while I wait for the temperature outside to hit the promised 80s and get in a little more outdoor dyeing this year.
I stitched until the callous on my right middle finger broke down after one too many jabs...and then found my brass thimble and really got down to business. I'll fit the sleeve on this one tomorrow while I wait for the temperature outside to hit the promised 80s and get in a little more outdoor dyeing this year.
getting it done
Tuned up big J, new needle and all and just popped in disc one narrated by Will Patton. See you at 4 when the Braves meet the Mets.
Thursday, September 06, 2012
backsides continued
See what I mean?
I have moved her from one quadrant to the next as I work. All the cats have been upset over something lately. Sweetie is within arms length of me where ever I am and will shadow Jimmy if I'm not around. Voodoo has been destructive to get extra attention and Juice is spending more and more time in the kitchen instead of out in the weeds. Earthquake? Tornadoes?
Oh, that title? "Jazz Takes Over"
I have moved her from one quadrant to the next as I work. All the cats have been upset over something lately. Sweetie is within arms length of me where ever I am and will shadow Jimmy if I'm not around. Voodoo has been destructive to get extra attention and Juice is spending more and more time in the kitchen instead of out in the weeds. Earthquake? Tornadoes?
Oh, that title? "Jazz Takes Over"
Wednesday, September 05, 2012
curing back trouble
Turns out that damask is a perfect, if exotic, answer for backing large pieces that have irregular edges.
It has enough give to wrap graciously around the edges and curves but, across the expanse of the piece, there was a limit to how far it would stretch. The edges of both of these pieces curled back after being "hatched" so I had to cut the backing in a cross to relieve the tension and will be hand appliqueing over these cuts .
As it was, I had to piece damask scraps for an expanse large enough for the one on the right and will be using dyed pieces to applique over the openings. The back is getting very interesting .
Still debating the title...it's very rare that I have no title this far into a project. I will dwell on it during the drive over to the gallery this morning - it's take down day - and report back later if a winner comes to mind.
It has enough give to wrap graciously around the edges and curves but, across the expanse of the piece, there was a limit to how far it would stretch. The edges of both of these pieces curled back after being "hatched" so I had to cut the backing in a cross to relieve the tension and will be hand appliqueing over these cuts .
As it was, I had to piece damask scraps for an expanse large enough for the one on the right and will be using dyed pieces to applique over the openings. The back is getting very interesting .
Still debating the title...it's very rare that I have no title this far into a project. I will dwell on it during the drive over to the gallery this morning - it's take down day - and report back later if a winner comes to mind.
Tuesday, September 04, 2012
summer scrambles
I actually got out of the house for a little while today and stopped at the top of the hill to put the numbers back on the mailbox.
I planted these seeds in the middle of summer once the other flowering thing had given up. It's taken over the place and probably scares the mailman.
Some tougher cousin of the morning glory I think.
Monday, September 03, 2012
my kind of labor day
Colin is back from DragonCon and we are relieved that his car wasn't towed, booted or ticketed. I'm also happy my Canon Elph made it home with him. I love my Big Canons, but for quick and dirty shots in the studio, this little bugger is my go-to tool.
I spent most of yesterday and all of this morning convincing "Consolation" (stitch by endless stitch) that it would be in it's best interest to lay flat, have no pooches and generally act like art.
That mission accomplished, I took a deep breath and machine pillow-faced it with a damask backing trusting that the soft cloth would wrap nicely around the tattered linen edges of this piece. At first I was worried that it would lose it's "wildness", but now that it's done I can see that those hairy edges were a messy distraction and the facing was a good choice.
There's a sleeve pinned in place that I'll nail that down after dinner. And Medlen just pitched an entire game for the Braves, beating the Rockies 6-1!
Sunday, September 02, 2012
Labor Day Sale
And now a word of crass commercialism from our sponsor..Random Acts of Dyeness..buy two get one free!! (this is Helios...the more I look at it the less likely it is you'll be able to buy it :)
Saturday, September 01, 2012
treading water
I've been MIA here for a few days and
with not a whole lot to show for it. We had almost a week of crappy,
rainy weather and I feel like I've lost the best part of the swimming
season - a big deal for me because it is the only physical exercise
that I get and for me, time spent in the water is as much
restorative for the soul as it is for the body. I did get in the pool
today and got ahead of the falling leaves with the net..the water is
still warm and clean and the sun was strong enough to chase the chill
of the breeze. Feeling much better now and can face another Shift of
Fools (I have to work the day job this weekend).
Oh...the prizes are in the mail, Dazzle is on a camel bound for Australia (two weeks the PO told me!) and there is a basket of beautiful cloth under the work table that has been whispering to me "come, sit down and play. leave off with that deadline crap. who cares anyway"
I think I've solved a knotty
presentation problem with a piece I'm preparing to enter in Quilt
National. The piece is large with several layers of cloth and
completely hand stitched – a recipe for a Bitch to Hang -which would
be a provocative name for anything else that I undertake with this
same combination of materials and methods. You read it here
first...”A Bitch to Hang”. Another six or eight hours of
stitching and fiddling on a sleeve and it will be ready to
photograph.
My show at Phoenix & Dragon comes
down next week and I plan on taking these giant bad boys with me.
While Colin is taking down the show, I will put these up on the
spacious wall and hopefully get some quality shots. Three birds with
one trip across the metro Atlanta top end..otherwise known as the
race track from Ben Hur. Now all I have to do is get them completed.
Oh...the prizes are in the mail, Dazzle is on a camel bound for Australia (two weeks the PO told me!) and there is a basket of beautiful cloth under the work table that has been whispering to me "come, sit down and play. leave off with that deadline crap. who cares anyway"
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