Mixed Media Postcard Class

Something else I've been working on this month is making samples and kits for a class I taught last week--making Mixed Media Postcards--with an emphasis on sewing/quilting. We are using materials like cotton fabric, burlap, hand dyed silk, scrapbooking paper, painted papers, recycled papers, painted dryer sheets, painted batting, sheers, buttons, beads, painted paper towels, yarn, vintage ribbon....you name it! You should have seen the look on some of thier faces when I explained the painted dryer sheet and paper towel bit. It is so much fun to introduce people to new materials and a new way to view art materials. We had a blast in the class. Here are some of the cards I made as samples.

This one features a dyed paper towel leaf on decorator fabric and taffeta.


On my own silk hand dyed fabric.


Great focal fabric, on a gold and orange joss paper, and embellished with beads, ric-rac and vintage ribbon.


This flower and leaf were made from collaged paper fabric and other papers. Dragonfly brad.


Another fun focal fabric, with an African flare.


Dryer sheet leaves with beaded embellishments. I love the translucent effect of the leaves.

Dyeing in Jars

I can't believe its been a month since I've posted! We have had a crazy busy summer, with the new baby, visitors here, plus a trip to Denver to visit family. But, I have been able to get some fabric dyeing in. I like to dye outside on my picnic table (covered with plastic), while the kids play in the yard. I can keep an eye on them and chat, but still have some Mommy play time too.

I still need to take pictures of the fabrics, but I did snap a shot of my new dyeing system. My friend Jan has been swearing by canning jars instead of ziplock baggies for doing low water immersion dyeing. After some frustration with the bag thing, I invested in 24 pint size jars. It is so much easier to spoon the dye concentrate into an open mouthed jar! I think I like this system, though the jars take up more storage space then my baggies did.

Anyway, my 4 year old son really likes it when we go out back. The other day he was whining at me, and I couldn't understand what he was saying. Then he said very clearly and loudly, "Mommy, I just want you to die!" I thought, oh my gosh, what have I done to make him so mad at me, and then realized he meant "dye". Too funny!