Pursuit of Color

I mentioned that I was consciously trying to use more color in my art making.
I am your basic neutral color gal - white is a wonderful color- as is cream, gray and black.
And rust.
Love the color that rust gives up.

I talked about the colorful monoprints that I made in this post.

Here is another colorful  monoprint posting.

I love to see artists use bold color and I almost envy their command of it.
But I have never really used a lot in my own artwork.
So I have set out to do a few small pieces doing just that.

Here's the beginning of the first one.

lovely sheers atop handpainted cottons

vintage purple sheer (not a lace or a sheer but...an open fabric.
I guess.

thermofax print

running stitch over screen print with reverse applique

yummmmm

More color to come!

Summer Samples

I've been working on a Fall class sample for a class that I am going to teach in Charleston SC at "Fashion Fabrics".
It's a traditional reverse applique technique with a modern twist.
I have always been so inspired by Natalie Chanin's books and love the projects in them.
But I love making my own stuff up!
So I spend a lot of time creating my own stencil designs (that I turn in to thermofax screens when I'm happy with them).
That means a lot of "stitch-outs".
Many, many samples...
I decided to make them all the same size so that I can create a throw out of them later.
Or a book of samples.
But the throw sounds like more fun, doesn't it?

Here's the latest stitch out.
It took me a few tries to get the drawing just right for its purpose as a stencil.
You never realize how far apart the lines should be for a design to work as a stencil until you try the stitching technique on it.

Did I mention that I have lots of (failed) samples?

I like this one and will probably use it in the future.

Last week I went to a place called "KRB Fabrics" in Lyman SC (no website).
It's a huge warehouse type fabric/notions store (home dec, etc).
I was looking for mid - heavy weight cotton jersey fabric (since it is so difficult to find).
Jackpot!
The place had TONS of it...not to mentions tons of everything else.
I found a wonderful roll of mid-weight canvas that I love.
All at very, very good prices.

If you're close to me (or far away) and want to go, shoot me an email and we'll get together one day.
It's a great place to find treasures...did I mention the antique/junk store next door?

A Different Kind of Class

I love Charleston.
Especially before it gets all hot and horribly muggy (even though it's still beautiful to me then).
This past weekend, my husband and I went there (part business and part pleasure).

I taught a class at my friend Cathy Buck's shop "Fashion Fabrics" in Mt. Pleasant.

What a great class!

It was a class in embellishing an  infant onesie or a kids tee shirt.
It's an idea that I got after reading Natalie Chanin's first book.
Here's a sample of one of the class projects -

Or this one.
The model (my nieces son Caden) is so cute!

This is another cute model, Kennedy (another nieces baby). I love the way that her mom coordinated her accessories!

Here's a shot of  some of the class hard at work.

The class was three hours long and everyone did a great job.
We did some screen printing, painting on fabric and reverse applique.
We also recycled some tee shirts and talked about sustainable clothing.
It's a great way to learn a little hand stitching too.

I love the way that this class allows women to gather and spend time doing what women do...talking, sharing information & ideas, creating beautiful things for our loved ones and honoring our creativity.
We are doers, makers.

If you're in the Charleston area, stop by Cathy's shop.
It's called "Fashion Fabrics".
She carries Bernina's, quilt fabric, apparel fabric, notions, ribbons and all sorts of goodies.
She also offers a wide array of classes, a few clubs and sewing machine work as well.
I think it's about the only place in the Charleston area that you can find quality fabrics. Oh, you can find the cheaper fabric but not the good stuff.
The address is 320 W. Coleman Blvd, Mt. Pleasant SC 29464.
Shop number is (843)884-5266.

Tell her that I sent you.

Now get out there and Do Something.
Create.
Make.

Alabama Stitch Book

Have you ever heard of the Alabama Stitch Book? I found it at my local library last year and checked it out so many times that they ask me to purchase one...
well, not really (the purchase part) but I HAVE checked it out over and over and over...I just need to buy it I guess!
I love the book, I love Natalie Chanin's story and her awesome clothing designs.
I've done reverse applique in quilting before and love the textured look of it.
I love that you can take scraps of fabric, sew them together, cut out a few well placed holes and you get a totally new "look"...but I've never combined the quilting technique with regular cotton jersey (I always used cotton quilting fabric), button thread and a stencil pattern...
I'm always looking for projects that travel well...and I've found a new one!
I took one of the patterns (or I should say directions- I took the directions) from the book and gave it a run as a "travel project" and it worked wonderfully!
So, I am hooked on the technique now!
You should go out, get this awesome book, read Natalie Chanin's story and learn a few things about our friend cotton.
After that, you'll be as hooked as I am with the Alabama Chanin's approach to design and the Making of Clothing.
Here's what you're looking for - right here...
This is what I made - a reverse applique book cover.
I've added some random beading (see Mary Stori? I'm beginning to put them on Everything?!). Oh, and I'm not finished with the beading - I'm planning on adding the "fade beading" to every reverse applique opening on the front of the cover.
And here is the front cover-
And here is the back. My initial idea was to make a tee shirt but I decided to just do the book cover (journal cover actually!) instead. Wouldn't this color combination be a great Clemson Tiger fan gift?

OK- there you have it. My weekend fiber fix. That's what I did.

What about you?