Alcohol Ink Adventures

 
I have put the crochet hook down!


All it took was for my Dharma Trading order to come today...actually Jeff had to pick it up for me at the post office - could not believe that Mr. Postman didn't leave it yesterday (maybe he's on vacation).  In the order was my yardage of black silk chiffon for Wednesday's nuno-felting class, and...one small bottle of Pinata Alcohol Inks.

I have most of the Adirondack Inks, but never found a nice mixing blue, so I thought I would try one of the Jacquard Pinata Colors.  This paper started out as a page from last year's boring kitchen calendar - and the process begins!

1 - Citra-solv cleaner spritzed on the page
2 - Alcohol ink and copper metallic mixative (adirondack) dripped onto my special pad (make your own from a small plastic container, cover it with a little piece of hook and loop tape - the hook side - sticky back type, then place a square of cotton batting on it, remove when icky, save it because you never know...and replace as needed)
 
3 - Swirled the drops onto the page
4 - Sprayed rubbing alcohol onto the page
5 - Held my nose and blew the colors around - this was weird, but the effects
are nice.

Plans are to alter some Nat Geo pages in the same way, seal them, back them with muslin and do some quilting.  I'll let you know how it all works out...

The other fun adventure was to take this vintage gift bag that held a birthday gift and carefully take it apart. Check out that incredible texture and all the gold leafing!  It is very heavy paper and was made in India.  After a little research on the internet, I'm thinking it might be made from banana paper and maybe a little silk.  It smells of my MIL's basement and when it was disassembled, it became a 16x25 inch piece of wonder...


 
Karen Davis, aka Seamless Skincommented on Facebook that I should scan it to save the design for collage work - what a wonderful idea!

Classes, Classes, Classes

Okay then.  My Nuno-Felting on Silk class is now filled for next Wednesday at Unique Yarns Inc.
so we've added another offering in April.  I told Becky, the owner of the yarn shop, that my brain was filling with possible other classes that I would love to teach there!  She has the perfect classroom, and the fact that there is a utility room with a large sink in it right by the classroom is perfect.

The class offerings at the Rockford Art Museum are coming up next month and will run throughout the spring semester...and...I had to send in my proposals for the summer semester last week.  They have this wonderful program for children called "Whiz Kids" that's been around for 25 years now, and they were looking for week-long classes for the summer.  Wasn't too painful to do that since I've been working with the children at Emmanuel for 10 years, and the curricula that we use there is a rotation (multi-intelligences) program.  Last year we hosted two "Five Buck Art Clubs" for when the children were on breaks from schools...

One of the week-long class proposals I came up with was a kids' quilting week that is mostly put together with fabric adhesive (i know, it's a little scary).  I will do the final quilting and sewing of the final piece and then we'll donate the quilt to a childrens' organization. I'm excited about this, since it will force me into that mode of which I have been away from for awhile... 

Nuno Felting 2011

What a fun class this was on December 1st! The ladies quietly knitting at the table at Unique Yarns Inc. were wondering if there was some sort of high impact fiber exercises going on in the classroom...

No, just learning and laughter, and maybe a little tightening of the upper arms (we can only hope, right?) during the rolling process. Who knows, this could be an added benefit from creating what I call "Of Wool and Silk Bondage"...

I just heard yesterday that my upcoming class on January 19th is now filled, and since there are two more opportunities for nuno-felting coming up through Rock Valley College's Spring Semester 2011Community Ed springce-2011.pdf (application/pdf Object) , I'm hoping that others can come and experience this wonderful process.

Speaking of laughter, my fabulous friend, Bobbie, treated me to a birthday lunch yesterday at a great little place downtown Rockford...Bamboo is the place for the best spring rolls.  Should've taken a photo of the artful plate before I started digging into the feast.

Healthy OCD?

Light is on. I am definately home. And...these are fun on a hook!

The rhythmic movement of crocheting is healthy, just like almost all other handwork. I am determined to keep my hands from looking (and ouch, feeling) like so many of my female relatives. There's so much rheumatoid and osteoarthritis is my family, and I'm hoping that by this creative form of regular hand and finger exercises, I won't suffer that pain, stiffness and loss of motion. Please don't tell me that it could possibly bring it on and/or make it worse...

When I found out earlier last year that both my knees are "bone on bone," the orthopedic surgeon told me to continue walking and to take up water activities (I hate pools, so you'd be surprised what I can accomplish in the tub). He's right - whenever I've missed a few days of walking, the knees are worse.

I found the link for the pattern from the Ravelry site: Crocheted Heart Pattern « Hinzpired

Oh, and there's always relaxation and clear thinking involved, especially after you have a pattern memorized.

On the New Year

"Reality runs up your spine, and the pieces finally fit."

Those words woke me up some months ago, and I've been trying to figure out what it means. The words are actually from an Elton John song called "The One" that I've always loved listening to. So it's in my soul somewhere. I hadn't listened to it for a long time because I had lost the CD that it was on. It's probably buried in a stack of Jason's music somewhere.

Challenges in the workplace...Jason's engagement to Ashley...end stage arthritis of both knees...gallery representation in Chicago...full time messes in the studio (too many projects started, never finished), going back to teaching art classes for Rock Valley College...learning how to crochet and having it take over my creative life (why? because it's easy, color filled and I can sit on my butt and watch "Mad Men" on demand)...frustrations over enabling others with volunteer projects and doing the work myself just so it gets done and makes for a satisfying outcome (why? because I was always taught to be nice to others, even if it's makes you miserable)...I haven't quilted anything in many months (a year maybe).

One thing I am sure about is that I need to develop and define my artwork and be disciplined with the business of marketing myself at a more professional level. I have the perfect photographer, but need to get it all arranged. I need to get away from checking e-mail and Facebook 3 or 4 times a day when it's mostly junk. I am such a night owl and would be perfectly happy creating all night, and sleeping till noon every day, but the rest of the world doesn't work that way.

I could've written this in my journal, but wanted to post it here on my blog in the hopes of being more committed to it. What comes along with this is reading others' blogs that I haven't checked in a long time.

The photo is of my quilt "Together" - it was my very first piece that was published - The Houston Quilt Festival catalog in 2003.

Rag and Retro

Years ago, I was part of a women's group that met about once a month and we called ourselves "The Rag Group"...sounds kind of silly now, but it all started because most of us seemed to have our periods at the same time. Okay, so if you've ever heard the expression, "on the rag," you know where that one came from.

I've taken what I've spun on the drop spindle and have knitted about 1 1/2 balls into this wild piece. I used size 35 needles (Jason's comment: God Mom, can they get any bigger? Why yes, son, wait until you see me working with the bright red size 50 ones), and it knitted up very fast. I'm now thinking about making purses out of these pieces, since I'm getting ready for Emmanuel's upcoming "Bohemian Holiday Bazaar" and in the past, my funky bags have been popular...

Yesterday, I was at the store looking for fabrics to make pillowcases out of, and I found this wonderful retro print. The memories came in a flood! Not sure what to make, but you know, I had to get a couple of yards before it's gone. Since I work at the store, I know that some fabrics are not replenishable from the warehouse. The second photo is of a coordinate...
Remember a couple of years ago when I made those 3 piece fleece socks? Well I finally bought the pattern (Green Pepper) so I can make them for children and men. Next week's creative adventures will include power sewing multiple pairs...

Art Yarns

I recently treated myself to a beautiful drop spindle from Golding Fiber Tools . This came after purchasing the new book "Get Spun" by Symeon North. I hadn't read enough of the book to know that the author only used a spinning wheel to create her art yarns, so I thought that I was out of luck and could only refer to the luscious pages as eye candy and would not be able to create anything with this seemingly simple drop spindle that could only be used to spin roving into boring solid color yarn.

I had e-mailed the company, and the owner responded to my questions of what to order. Tom Golding recommended the perfect weight, size and type of spindle for what I wanted to do...not 100's of yards of thin yarn, but a few yards at a time of wild, wooly, silky, polyestery (?) and whatever else I could get my hands on in the studio to ply together. I either dreamed that someone told me that these were the best, or I read it somewhere. Anyway, I am so pleased with my beautiful top whorl drop spindle...

It's taken me 3 weeks, and 3 episodes of "Mad Men" and "Project Runway" to spin 3 balls of my version of art yarn...I've started the fourth ball even though the season's over for my favorite shows. I have no idea of what I'm going to do with it afterwards. I always think that I will end up some day with a sweater or vest, something more substantial than a scarf (I have many).

Coming up soon on the horizon is a holiday art show at Rockford's Womanspace and the "Bohemian Holiday Bazaar" at Emmanuel that our art group is hosting. I'll also be teaching a nuno-felted scarf class at Unique Yarns Inc.
on December 1st. Thanks to Becky Maselli, the owner, for the opportunity...
I so look forward to teaching and being a part of creative events...
Wishing I could do my art full time.

Post Greenwich

Well, another Greenwich Art Fair is history! This year's artful weekend proved to be my best one yet...as usual, I was going crazy the last few days finishing some pieces (read: no shower, same clothes for 2 of those days).

I created my first nuno-felted wrap that was modeled by Nickee, Emmanuel's beautiful model. Concerned that she couldn't wear high heels because of a sore baby toe, she still came and was my live mannequin, aka Vogue Madonna. On Sunday, a lovely woman from Minnesota purchased the wrap for herself - I was thrilled!

I also received a healthy purchase award - love a ribbon on the tent because it looks so nice AND draws attention. Sunday also involved a little bartering...a potter, Earl, who was across from me had purchased one of my scarves, so when he wanted another, I suggested trading...he had these fabulous plates and crocks...so, now I have some wonderful pottery...just need to figure out what yummy food to put into it. Oh, wait! Artscene is coming up this weekend and I'm bringing a savory something - good, now I can show off my new plate and crock.

Of Wool and Silk Bondage

Oh blog, oh blog, I have sorely neglected you. Okay, so now onto what's new...I'm am in the last 2 weeks of getting ready for the annual Greenwich Art Fair! In addition to creating lots of new pieces for the fair, I'm also planning my set up and hitting the resale shops in search of perfect stuff for my display.

I absolutely hate the sidewalls on my canopy, so I bought 10plus yards of wide white muslin to make some simple curtains to hang inside - going for a boutique look I'm hoping.

I have not given up on quilting, but I did get sidetracked again: I have been learning all about nuno felting and have created some beautiful scarves and wraps. Other small pieces include felted cuffs that I've cut from the "Mom, what happened to my sweater when I washed it?" wool and a few funky purses. The images are of merino roving that I've dyed, a scarf that I laid the roving on top, then placed a pre-knitted piece on top before felting it, and of a felted necklace (or belt). I felt that "Of Wool and Silk Bondage" was a perfect name for my collection - a little edgy, maybe...that could be me, the name, or the art!

What I've learned: acid dyeing is the way to go for silks and wool, quite easy and yes, I am cooking something after all - some wool roving still has a lot of lanolin in it, so the owner of the yarn shop said to add a little alum to the water when dyeing those fibers - that was Becky at Unique Yarns here in Rockford who also gave me two huge pots for dyeing - the process of nuno felting involves NO stitching and can be very relaxing when you have plenty of time and are listening to appropriate music - the smell of vinegar doesn't bother me as I thought it would - there's something wrong with my camera, having issues getting clear, sharp images - I had always hoped that I could once again create some wearables (remember the ruanas?) -

My Son's Decision

Susan Lenz has brought his decision to one of her wonderful portraits...
Art In Stitches

The Doors and Jason's graduation

On Memorial Day, I decided it was the perfect day to photograph the doors of the churches that will be included in my "Doors of Rockford" piece. For a couple of them, I had to stand in the middle of the street, so I did get some looks from children riding their bikes, and from one police officer in a squad car...There will be 5 doors and I'm just including my favorite one in this post: Emmanuel Lutheran Church, of course.

Yesterday, our son, Jason, graduated from high school! I had forgotten how large public high school ceremonies were, since they're held at the local entertainment/sports arena. Downtown Rockford was a zoo! It took me about 45 minutes to pick up my mother-in-law and to get to the parking complex across from the arena. She has to walk with a little 3 wheeled walker/chair, so I let her out on the 2nd floor by a catwalk and I continued upwards to the roof to find a spot. Jeff was there, but we didn't meet up with him, because he was coming from his knee class (he's having replacement surgery in 2 weeks). That was a little frustrating because we kept looking for each other. Anyway, we finished the evening with a nice dinner out...here's a photo of him and his lady love, Ashley.

The Doors of Rockford 3

I'm moving along nicely on my piece for "The Doors of Rockford" submission. It was good to read the other day that there are 42 artists participating, so since they choose 25, that's pretty good odds, if you'd like to think about it that way...

Of course, the deadline is coming up the same week as my husband's total knee replacement surgery, meetings, work and a recognition dinner for the Sunday School teachers. So you know what that means, right? It must be finished before that week even starts on June 13th.

I've painted a 36x45 inch piece of drill cloth (similiar to canvas, but lighter weight) for the backing, and also painted strips of cheesecloth that will end up being between the backing and the fabric paper pieces. Not sure how I will attach the cheesecloth to the backing. I'm hand stitching the cheesecloth strips together with perle cotton, and just may end up tacking them to the drill cloth in the same way. Here's a couple of photos of how the pieces will be laid out on the backing and what the cheesecloth looks like in all it's painted glory. I ended up using different types of acrylics for the paint: golden fluids, a little lumiere, and some craft acrylics...

The Doors of Rockford 2

Like the first time making fabric paper, I'm finding it difficult to stop. The possibilities if I do one more piece and adding more to the pieces that I don't like, well, they seem to get me every time...

The finished size for the artwork cannot exceed 36x48 inches, so if each of my papers are approximately 8x10 inches and I have 13 that I'm satisfied with, do I have enough? Yes...

Here are the ones I've worked on today. I experimented with giving one of them a wash of diluted Lumiere paint. I've included a detail shot of one that has oil paper with pine needles on it.

Materials used: printed and hand dyed cottons, white muslin, tissue papers, hand made papers, painted lutradur and tear-a-way stabilizer, vintage gift wrap papers, decorated greeting card envelopes, onion skin paper, polyester sheers, painted cheesecloth, caran d'ache neocolor II artists' crayons, tee juice markers, setacolor paints, lumiere metallic paint, diluted white glue.

The Doors of Rockford

The church where I am a member and work with the children is in an urban neighborhood in Rockford. Since this area was home to many Swedish immigrants back in the late 1800's and early 1900's, there are quite a few Lutheran churches. All of these churches have come together to form a community called the "Midtown Lutheran Parishes."

Zion Lutheran, just down the street from Emmanuel is home to Zion Development, an organization that has been renovating and creating housing for families in the neighborhood for 25 years now. I remember when Jason was in confirmation, he went to help in the early stages of a large renovation project, involving the creation of some loft condos above a store front just east of Emmanuel.

Every year for the past 8 years, Zion Development has sponsored "The Doors of Rockford," a fundraiser that involves an auction of fine art. They choose 25 pieces to be in the auction and each piece is sponsored by a local business or individual, so the artist is guaranteed a nice percentage of the selling price. Every year, I say that I'm going to submit something, and every year, I back away (life, you know). Well, this year I finally did it! I've started by making 31 pieces of fabric paper - fast, lots of color, no thought involved. The theme for this year's auction is "Through These Doors" - my plans are to photograph each of the churches' doors for inspiration and we'll see what comes next...I found an old book with beautiful biblical artwork from the middle ages in it and I may do something with those also.

The process of blogging about this challenge also starts the journey for me...I know you understand.

New Purse - Triangle Bag

Since Jo-Ann's discontinued a ton of home dec samples, there are plenty of little 18x18 inch pieces of fabric candy to choose from. I fell in love with this faux emu skin, so decided to make myself a new purse. The top border is a printed linen that I discharged a little, and the straps are an animal print ribbon that I first folded over and sewed, then filled with a narrow piping cord.

I had made one from a pattern a couple of years ago and liked the shape and the unique way of closing it. It's basically 3-24 inch straps/cords attached to the purse at the center point of each of 3 pieces that are sewn together. The straps are then pulled through a large bead (mine was macrame) and attached at the end to a square of fabric. There are, of course, many different ways to finish the straps.

One of the gals at work found a similiar pattern in a Simplicity book. Mine was from Square Rose - Designs that liberate the CREATIVE SPIRIT .
I'm very pleased at how it turned out!

Oh, and I bought 8 other samples too...