My Latest #SurfaceDesign Obsession...

Abstract designs on fabric SHOULD be easy to do...and these totally ARE!

 The first 2 photos are close-ups of the fabric pictured below. 

The technique is super-simple and totally unpredictable....

great exercise for a complex-cloth-control-freak like me to get out of the box.

The best part? It took about 5 MINUTES to get the design on the fabric!

When I get back from my mini-vacation, I'll share the process with you...

in the meantime, you'll just have to guess!

Sinfully Simple #Silk Scarves

Last year, I took a silk dyeing workshop with the talented and amazing Marlene Glickman. We used ColorHue Dyes, and I was instantly enamored with this instant dye process...no chemistry, no steam setting, a real spoiler! I just had to share the technique with my students, so I created a "Sinfully Simple Silk Scarves" workshop. 

We had so much fun, I forgot to take "in process" photos! 

But here are some of the results.

Beautiful, yes? And they got to wear them home that day! 

Thanks, Marlene, for the inspiration!

#Silk Painting Saturdays!

Five lovely ladies had a lot of fun in my Silk Painting worksop, learning the basics of silk painting using Dye-Na-Flow paints and water-based resist from Dharma Trading Company.

After some practice on small samples, 

they penciled their chosen designs on stretched China silk squares, 

then squeezed resist over the outlines. 

Choosing their own color palettes, they then began the fun part of filling in the colors.

So much creativity!

An added bonus was the salt technique, which produced texture and some great effects.

The ladies took their silks and setting instructions home, and they promised to send me photos of what their creations eventually would become (pillows? wall hangings? quilts?) Can't wait to see!

Scrabble Tiles Make Cute Charms!

I've had a lot of fun reviving my Etsy Store but I still have much to do to get it complete! 

My most recent addition is a collection of Scrabble Tile Necklaces:

These are fun to make and fun to wear! 

 I highly recommend Sun and Moon Craft Kits for supplies and information 

about this and other unique jewelry crafts.

Enjoy!

   

Be a Love Magnet

Well, okay, if you can't BE one, then maybe GIVE one! I'll be selling these cute little art quilt magnets and handmade gift boxes at Art & Antique Studio in EGAD, and also at Art & Soul Studio in Satellite Beach. Great inexpensive gift idea!

The "shabby chic" mini-quilt is handmade from repurposed fabrics, 

hand painted and lettered, top stitched with metallic threads. 

The box is also handmade, hand-stamped, filled with white paper shred 

and a tiny matching gift card, all tied up with a pretty ribbon. 

Look what's inside the box:

Ready to add the gift! Paper shred, gift card and ribbon all included!

The magnets are all a little different (that makes them one-of-a-kind!)

Come to the studios to see them all!

Turmoil and Tranquility

I chose this piece to illustrate the theme of the challenge presented by my fiber arts group this year. I find my Tranquility from the Turmoil in my life in the oasis of my swimming pool, where bubbles frantically rise to the surface in an effort to escape. But at the same time, the bubbles are calming, presenting a soft popping sound that is duplicated no where else. And I love to watch their little dances as they scurry around on their journey. 

This is a small art quilt that began with a batik I had made several years ago. It is a waxed design on rayon, painted with Procion dyes and textured with salt. I machine quilted the background, and also around each bubble, with metallic thread. I stuffed each bubble from the back of the quilt with fiberfil, backed it with repurposed rayon, then bound the quilt with white piping and hand-made dyed silk binding. Tiny beads are hand-sewn on, scattered throughout.

Love Repurposing!

A friend gave me some vintage fabric, and I used it to make some handy drink coasters. 

I also used some of my ice-dyed and tie-dyed fabrics to make two more sets. 

Handmade, reversible, washable....they make a nice little gift!