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!

Buttons, Buttons

Still having fun with the polymer clay buttons. I have been playing around with marbelizing, spirals, color gradations and making different canes.

Albuquerque Folk Art Festival

I almost forgot to post about this--did forget my camera, so had to have a friend send pics. Two weekends ago, my dye group--Dye Fusion--and I were invited to display our work in the Fine Arts building at the Albuquerque Folk Art Festival. The five of us were able to hang about 20 quilts and our 3-yard pieces of batik and dyed silk. I think the room looked great if I do say so myself!

We got to meet a lot of nice people, and talk to them about our work. I also met a very nice local business owner who is interested in having me teach dyeing classes at her shop, so when I work out the details I will let you know in case you are local and want to come play! Here is my friend Lynn, a member of the dye group, setting up our pieces, and a picture of a few of our quilts.

Splotchy Dyed Fabric

Been having some fun in the back yard in the hot hot New Mexico weather here--dyeing fabric, of course. These are some "Splotchy Dyeds" that I have recently made. I love the way the colors play next to eachother. It is always a bit of a surprize to see how the colors migrate and blend. I love these! Can't wait to cut them up and make something with them. These are two 1 yard pieces and a detail shot of each.

More Painted Canvas

Here are a few more pieces of painted canvas that I have been working on. I am hoping to cut into them tonight to get going on my book covers, purses, and maybe some collaged mini books that I need to make for an upcoming swap.

Painted Canvas

Inspired by the work of Alisa Burke, I have been playing around with painting on canvas. This appeals to me for several reasons:




--It is something that I can do while watching the baby. I can put a quick layer of paint on the canvas, and then I wait for it to dry for a couple of hours. Each layer takes maybe 5-15 minutes, so if he wakes up from his nap, I can stop what I'm doing and go get him right away--not like when I am immersed in dye!

--I can use up some of my old acrylic paint, some with a label on it from 1991--yikes! I have some old "dusty colors" that don't appeal to me anymore, but I am finding that if I mix it with another color, or use it in a layer in conjunction with other colors, it works just fine. I am trying to use up this old stuff to make way for some newer, vibrant colors.

--I can get my "art fix" without a big commitment of time or materials--both of which are running short.

--I enjoy working with the fabric after it has been painted. I am in the process of making some little art journals and notebook covers with this stash of canvas.

--It gives me an opportunity to play around with different color combinations, tools, and some of the stamps that I have made myself.

What do you think?