Botanical Dye Printing

Autumn is here and there and everywhere and in my travels I have been collecting leaves and blossoms.  I've pressed these between book pages, phonebooks, and even made a leaf press using corrugated cardboard, duct tape and muslin strips as ties.

It's been lovely weather to take walks and gather leaves. I take off with my bag and come back with it full and then the chores begin.  Soaking walnuts to make dye, placing the leaves of walnut and eucalyptus and blossoms of salvia and roses between pages.

I left out several piles of botanicals to dye fabrics and for the last several days have done just that.  Of course the last photos are of fabric wrapped on copper, not a botanical but spritzed with vinegar and water the copper will leave a beautiful verdigris!

Tucson Bead Show 2014

I am part of the Tucson Bead Show again in February.  "The Tucson Bead Show is an annual showcasing of bead design –beautiful, artistic, handmade, original bead design, numerous, limited edition and one-of-a-kind products such as hand-printed textiles, vintage buttons, handsewn clothing, art couture, as well as jewelry supplies." 

The show is at the Windmill Inn at St. Stephens Plaza, a fabulous venue in a charming shopping area. 

Anna Johnson, the promotor of the Tucson Bead Show and To Bead True Blue (where Susan Lenart Kasmer and Ice Resin will be teaching and showing), also promotes other shows such as the Pasadena Bead and Design show.  She began adding the "design" part to include other artists that don't just bead. While most of the venues at Tucson Bead Show have vendors selling beads (duh?), bead supplies, jewelry, and anything to do with beading, I am an artist who offers classes and items that "aren't just beads". I hope this appeals to the attendees of the Bead show and that they come to visit me, see what I have to offer, and even take a class or two.

I will have my "wayward threads" upcycled, wearable garments and accessories along with hand dyed scarves and ribbon, nuno felted items, and much more!  

AND I am so happy and proud that Pamela Huntington has agreed to join me.  Her work is wonderfully romantic, chic, and whimsical.  

Check out my event page for more info and links.  

Home for a While

I arrived home from my trip to Missouri on Monday evening.  I have been slowly unpacking and reorganizing since I've been home.

Just listed some ribbon on my Etsy shop and will have more this weekend.  I'll also begin listing some of my upcycled clothing but have to take the photos and do the write ups so it could be a week or more before I get that done.  For now I'm home and have a lot of ideas for garments and projects I want to create.

My next big show will be in February at the Tucson Bead Show.  Pamela Huntington will be joining me for six days at the Windmill Inn where we will be teaching small classes and selling our work.  I have just sent the promoter all our info so when that gets posted I'll be back to list the information here on my blog and on my event page.  Some really fun and cool project classes I'm very excited about!  Here's a peek with more to follow in next post.