l.a.s.fibers

More Beginnings

2012-02-13T08:17:00.000-08:00

I've been working on the piece I previously showed of how I start "upcycling" a garment. Here are pictures of where I'm currently at with this piece. The lace skirt tier and the under silk knit piece are sewn on. The vintage lace is only pinned but I like it so will add that. As you can see I hardly used any of the pieces I had originally draped on this shirt top piece when I had it on the dress form. That's how things change when I'm working. Something might look well together but doesn't necessarily work when I actually try to attach it. The fabric type might be wrong or it doesn't drape well or go together.

Next I looked through lace collar pieces and found this that I'll stitch on the garment.

At this point I'm not sure I like the buttons that are on the piece. They are plastic bone looking ones. I am thinking of replacing them with these metallic sheen ceramic ones. Are they too similar? Maybe I need something completely different or I'll decide I like the ones on it. So this piece will hang in sight until I decide.

Here are other pieces that are hung around my studio with items to perhaps redesign the garments with.

Praying to St. Anthony

2012-01-27T16:06:00.001-08:00

Just checking in to let you know I’ve been so very busy. I natural dyed some more ribbons and some crochet pieces that are being used for samples of a class I will be teaching at Art Is You Petaluma in September. Here’s a sneak peek.

I’ve also been creating a few more garments for Belle Armoire and for future vendor shows. I’m almost done with a piece I’m so happy with but for the finishing touch I wanted to add some little pearl beads. I have some but the sheen is too pink and the little white ones are not what I want either. For years I carried around a glass vial of white pearl beads, granted these were not real pearls but still pretty, with a cork stopper. I still see them in my mind but I cannot place them. I’ve looked in all the places they should have been and I rediscovered the Big Sur jade buttons, the abalone pieces, the vintage earrings that could be unstrung, the small hand pendant carved from bone and attached to a brass filagree setting, the large freshwater Tahitian pearls I buy in Kauai, the tiny crochet buttons, just about every little thing except those pearls. I am giving up and will settle for what I have or wait until tomorrow when I go to town and visit the bead store. Sigh.

How does this happen? You save something and save it and save it just knowing that it will be the thing you need someday but after a while you decide to let it go or it gets lost. I’m not sure which of these things happened but as I said I’ve given up.

I did pray to St. Anthony the patron St. of lost things, you know how that goes right? ……. more often than not that really does work for me but not this time.

Beginnings

2012-01-24T08:02:00.000-08:00

This is how I start to upcycle a garment. I've cut the skirt off the main top part, put it on the dress form, then I start pinning pieces to it and draping lace, collars, trims or whatever. I look at it from time to time. Here I've piled more fabrics and trims around the base. Yesterday I studied this as I was sewing other garments and today I'm ready to go into the studio and start making decisions of what I really want to use to redesign this top. Some of the natural or white pieces may get dyed. I am thinking of keeping everything in natural beige, ecru, linen colors. I will probably change the buttons but that comes last. First I have to get the body of the garment together then the embellishments. If you recreate garments how do you work?

Art Unraveled Registration

2012-01-21T14:19:00.001-08:00

Registration for Art Unraveled is open and because it's the 10th year anniversary an "early bird" appreciation discount is being offered. If your registration is received prior to March 15th and workshop fees total $250 or more you will receive a 10% discount from the total of your workshop fees! I know several people who have already registered so if you're considering taking some classes you should register early to get the class you want and the discount! I would hope to see you in one of the two classes I'll be teaching and you must come by to see me on Saturday at the vendor faire!!

Studio Time

2012-01-17T11:23:00.000-08:00

Fabric and vintage crochet has been dyed, piles have been sorted, sketches are made, and then I begin to recreate unloved and neglected shirts and garments into fun and fabulous new togs.

I've been absent from posting much on this blog because I have been very busy in the studio. I finally finished writing two brand new class proposals for Art Is You Petaluma that I'm very excited about!. One is a garment reconstruction class and the other is a project to use vintage crochet pieces, lace, trims, and remnants! I find coming up with a new class is harder than I expect. I get the ideas but recreating them into a class that works gets complicated so I went through a very long process of elimination of what would work, what wouldn't, how could this be done?? (ask my sister she had to put up with all my emails and phone calls while I tried to wrap my head around this!) But I did it and now have to wait until September for it to take place. It will be so fun! The class schedules and registration for Art Is You should be online in February so be on the lookout for it!

While finishing up the class proposals I received some very exciting news from Belle Armoire magazine. Actually Ricë Freeman-Zachery wrote me informing me she had been talking with the editor, Cynthia Levens, about featuring me in the summer 2012 issue. Then I received the invitation from Cynthia Levens asking if I would be the "Designer Collection" feature artist. I think I am still in a bit of shock that this is really happening. Many of the pieces they were interested in have sold so I'm busy creating some new pieces. I purchased the winter issue last week and it is fabulous! I encourage you to get your own copy and check out all the wonderful articles and images!

I'll not be posting any images of the pieces I'm working on so you can be surprised when the magazine comes out this summer! I know I will be and I can't tell you how thrilling this is.

Teaching Events 2012

2011-12-30T07:43:00.000-08:00

As the year is coming to an end I was reading my horoscope this morning (Capricorn) and this is what it said:

Quickie
Creative writing doesn't just apply to short stories. Add flair to texts and emails.

Overview
You need to reach out and connect with someone new today -- your social life is more important than ever. It's a good time to dip into your pool of friends of friends, as they are looking your way.

Really I asked? Then it donned on me, oh I guess it's time to write a blog post so here I am.

The first exciting news I have is to announce is that I will be teaching again at Art Unraveled. I do not plan to have any health issues deter me this year (crossing fingers really tightly)! If you recall last year I had to cancel because of my eye issue. That is thankfully behind me now, finally!

In some of my past posts you'll remember how enamored I became with the eco dye printing technique that India Flint wrote about in her book Eco Colour which started a worldwide frenzy. I have devised a 9 hour class where we will use this technique on silk scarves and a second 3 hour class where we will dye silk ribbons and fabric strips using coffee, tea, and onion skins. Art Unraveled registration is now open so go have a look at the wonderful roster of classes being offered. This is one of my favorite retreats and I am so happy to be part of it again and would love to see many of my friends attend.

Dye Print Samples:

In April I am having some dear friends come visit me to take a private garment construction class in my studio. I am so excited about this but also a little nervous because I'm not sure how I'll combine being focused on teaching when these are close friends and I'll also want to be showing them around and socializing. I'm sure I'll figure it all out but it will be interesting.

Come September I'll be teaching once again at Art Is You Petaluma. This will be only the second year for this event and I think the word of mouth is getting around about what an opportunity this is! Lots of very talented instructors, in the wine country of California (think Sept. crush parties), and you could be there. I'm working very hard on some prototypes for an upcycled garment construction class. This will be completely new but I have a fantastic plan and I can not wait to get these prototypes finished and photographed and complete the write up! Art is You plans to go online with classes and registration in Feb. 2012. You can go to the site now though and see who will be teaching and start making your list of classes so you'll be ready when the registration opens!

After teaching at Art is You I am contemplating traveling to Art & Soul in Portland to vend. However, I will not be teaching. It is so difficult to project so far ahead and plan ones life. Next year already seems so full for me. In March I'll be taking that trip with my husband to New Zealand, the one we canceled because of my eye. April is when my friends come for the workshop, July my hubby and I plan to go to New York, Aug. is Art Unraveled, Sept. is Art is You, so then do I want to commit to going to Portland in Oct.? Do I want to plan to do the St. Louis Weavers' Guild annual show which is also Oct.? I have tentatively agreed to do a workshop in Missouri the first part of Nov. so please someone come organize my schedule for me and tell me what will be best okay? I'm taking volunteers, the lines are open. As my horoscope said ...."It's a good time to dip into your pool of friends"....

The Business Side of Things

2011-12-17T14:37:00.000-08:00

As an artist, a designer, a maker of things it is the part where I flourish. The studio can be such a creative place where the world is shut away from me and I'm focused on designing and creating. But because what I make are things I want to sell and share with those who appreciate them there is the business side. It has taken several days to do a photo shoot, load the photos on the computer, size and format them, choose which ones to use and then decide I need some more close ups and have to shoot more photos and repeat the process.

On Saturday I was fortunate to have my photographer friend Wendy shoot (photos of course) two lovely young models. My sons girlfriend Jillian and her friend Sara showed up at the Trunk Show and the photo shoot was done. It makes such a difference to have garments shown on a person and I am grateful for these friends who rallied to be there for me.

After getting the photos ready comes the part of writing up what the piece is, taking the measurements, describing the color, etc. I finally got some of that done today and was able to post several new items in my Etsy shop. I hope you'll visit and see my new listings.

New Art by Amy Firestone Rosen

2011-12-07T07:48:00.000-08:00

I posted this on FB so if you read it there sorry for the repeat but want to share this with everyone. I don't often buy wall art as I live in an Adobe house with lots of windows and very little space to hang any pictures. So it's a big deal that I bought this large piece of art. Of course I didn't hang it in my house but it proudly hangs in my studio. I know this snapshot isn't the best but because of the lighting in my studio I couldn't get a better one in a short amount of time. Just shows how anxious I am to share this artists work!

When I was at the St. Louis Artists' Guild with the Weavers' Guild show there was a framed print on the wall from one of the STL members. Since I upcycle vintage slips it really caught my attention. You can see the print if you click on Amy's name, it's the first one on the left in gallery 3. This is a life size print as the artist, Amy Firestone Rosen, uses vintage corsets, slips, and other garments to run through a large printing press. She inks the actual garment and runs it right through. The framed piece on the wall was not something to easily ship because of it's size but Amy was in house so she showed me her work space and all the prints she had in store and I got to choose one I could bring home on a plane. I had it framed and it's hanging in my studio. I love her work!

Trunk Show Announcement!

2011-11-18T08:50:00.000-08:00

Donna Rohm has graciously agreed to host a trunk show of my wearable art garments and accessories in her home. She will be selling her CAbi samples too! If you have never viewed CAbi (Carol Anderson by design) clothing you have to come check us out!

"Pashmina"?

2011-11-16T08:28:00.000-08:00

I have been trying to find a source to buy some soft "pashmina" like scarves and stoles to dye. I find that most of these come from China and it's hard to know what they are made of because there is no quality control on fiber content. There are lots of sellers on eBay but none of them know what the item is made of. I know some countries sell these but call them "Pashima" and they are either wool, rayon, or a combination of. I bought some in Italy. I could not afford to purchase real pashmina wraps because they are very expensive.

This is what wikipedia has to say about "pashmina"

Pashmina refers to a type of fine cashmere wool and the textiles made from it. The name comes from Pashmineh (پشمینه), made from Persian pashm ("wool"). The wool comes from changthangi or pashmina goat, which is a special breed of goat indigenous to high altitudes of the Himalayas in Nepal, Pakistan and northern India. Pashmina shawls are hand spun, woven and embroidered in Kashmir, and made from fine cashmere fibre.

The fibre is also known as pashm or pashmina for its use in the handmade shawls of Himalayas. The woolen shawls made in Kashmir find written mention in Afghan texts between 3rd century BC and the 11th century AD. However, the founder of the cashmere wool industry is traditionally held to be the 15th century ruler of Kashmir, Zayn-ul-Abidin, who introduced weavers from Central Asia.

Cashmere shawls have been manufactured in Nepal and Kashmir for thousands of years. The test for a quality pashmina is warmth and feel. Pashmina and Cashmere are derived from mountain goats. One distinct difference between Pashmina and Cashmere is the fiber diameter. Pashmina fibers are finer and thinner than cashmere fiber, therefore, it is ideal for making light weight apparel like fine scarves. Today, however, the word PASHMINA has been used too liberally and many scarves made from natural or synthetic fiber are sold as Pashmina creating confusion in the market.

Pashmina from Nepal are the best in quality because of the conditions to which the mountain goats have adapted over centuries. The high Himalayas of Nepal has harsh, cold climate and in order to survive, the mountain goats have developed exceptionally warm and light fiber which may be slightly coarser and warmer than cashmere fibers obtained from lower region goats. To distinguish Nepalese Pashmina, the Nepal Pashmina Industries Association has registered a Trademark around the world, called "Changra Pashmina".

It has been difficult to get a natural fiber item that I would be able to dye. I received some that I was able to dye but they had some polyester in them so the dye wasn't real strong. You can tell if there is polyester in fabric by doing a burn test. Take a thread and burn it. If it turns to ashes it is a natural fiber, if it melts and becomes a hard plastic ball you know it is a man made fiber and will not take natural or fiber reactive dyes.

Here is how correspondence went with some of the dealers on eBay:
(M = Me T= Them)

M: "What do you consider to be "pashmina"? Please tell me what the fiber content of that is. Thanks!"

T: "70% pashmina & 30% silk"

M: "What is pashmina?"

T: "Man-made cashmere"

M: "What does that man-made fiber consist of?"

No answer

Next correspondence:

M: "Please tell me what the fiber content of "pashmina" is. thanks!"

T: "Hello friend,
the tag shows it's 100% Pashmina.
Happy shopping!
Daisy"

M: "What is pashmina?"

No response

Next query:

M: "Please tell me what "pashmina" is? what is the fiber content?"

T: My dear friend,

The factory told me it's pashmina. But I guess it's cotton.But it's really warm. I also wear it. And for this scarf, many customers purchase it and leave a good feedback.

Sarah"

I'm left frustrated and not sure how to pursue this. I know Thai Silks/Exotic Silks has a silk/wool scarf but it's not as soft as I am looking for. If anyone has a good source I would be so happy to get that information!

Where did October go?

2011-11-03T10:11:00.000-07:00

The end of September found me teaching and vending in Petaluma at Art Is You. Then I got to relax in beautiful Kauai while I experimented with some eco dyeing with local plants. The PDR you see in this pic was purchased at the thrift store so I had something to press flowers and leaves in. I also purchased a portable steamer at the same thrift store to use for eco print dyeing.

I came home for a week before I left again to visit Missouri. In that week I was gathering my wares to take to the St. Louis Weavers Guild show, helping buy my parents a computer that would be at their house when my husband and I arrived so we could get that set up for them, and packing. My studio suffered severely from the months of neglect while my eyes healed and then frantically trying to get things together for the shows and in between piles and piles and piles were created. That was waiting for me when I got home, a bit overwhelming.

The Missouri trees were just starting to change color and I got to be there to see that. Truly a beautiful sight. In the California Mountains the most color we get is from the brilliant red poison oak.

And I did some eco print dyeing while there. (Thank you to my new friend Pat Vivod for the pics)

I came home still on Central Time so I went to bed earlier than usual and have woken up at 4:30 - 5:30 in the morning. So if you see me on FB then it's because there isn't much else to do while one is waiting for the sun to come up.

I am now in the process of arduously cleaning and organizing my studio so I can get in there and work. I feel great creativity right now so I want my space together. It seems there is a constant cluttering up and then the task of decluttering. I've not learned how to work systematically so that things stay organized. sigh.

I sent this garment off in the mail yesterday to St. Louis. I was so disappointed in myself that I didn't get any pictures of Ricë or Leighanna wearing it around the vendor hall at Art Is You when it looked so fabulous on both of them! I hope to make similar shirt tops in the next few weeks and I will reopen my Etsy shop with them.

And then I'll be getting ready for Thanksgiving. We always have the feast at our house with traditional turkey and dressing and all the trimmings. I've been cutting out a lot of sugar in my diet these last months so I will be looking forward to PIE!!!!

From Art is You to Kauai

2011-10-03T09:18:00.000-07:00

It's already October? Where did the time go ......... well I prepared to teach at Art is You Petaluma, my sister came from Dallas to help me. This was my first event since my eye surgery back in April. I could not have done it without her! Seriously, for five months I had to do almost nothing and then to suddenly be on my game to vend and teach was a big jump! I was so happy to be there though and I feel it went mostly smooth. But again it's because Jan was there to help me from stitching up last minute garments to sell, sewing in labels, loading the car, setting up classrooms, fetching and lifting, hauling and packing. Whew! Here are some photos of my nuno felt scarf class. Alas we were so lame at taking photos. We both had our cameras but on vendor night we failed to snap one picture, in my ribbon dyeing class we did not get one darn photo so the last day of class we remembered and Jan did a wonderful job of documenting. See? I really did need her.

The day after class we drove back to my house in the Santa Cruz Mnts. and we unloaded the car. The next morning we were up very early to take Jan to the airport. I came home and finished unpacking, figured out my inventory and made my list for the St. Louis Weavers' Guild show the end of this month, paid my overdue (eek!) AZ taxes, and packed fabrics and dyeing items to bring to Kauai with me. 6:00 a.m. the next morning we were leaving for the airport for a direct flight on Alaska airlines to Lihue. No flying to Honolulu to take the WikiWiki to inter-island terminal and wait an hour and a half to fly over to Kauai. It was nice.

Now I'm on island and the weather has been fabulous.

I went to my friend Connie's yesterday to do some eco dyeing. We had both collected flowers and leaves to use. We took a walk down the road that fronts her house and onto a eucalyptus tree lined path. We collected the euca leaves and barks from 3 types of trees. Alas I do not know what kind they are. We bundled euca leaves, tulip tree flowers, different colored hibiscus, plumeria, gardenia, plumeria leaves, croton leaves, and flowers and leaves not yet identified and all sorts of rusty items. We hot bundled so we opened them fairly soon. We were wanting to know what would dye and what wouldn't before we did larger pieces to leave bundled for longer periods of time. I bought a two tiered large electric vegetable steamer at a thrift store for $4.00 and that made me very happy. Isn't it great that something that simple can make a person smile? I was so tired when I got home from Connies! Hubby and I went out to eat and came home and I swear I was asleep by 8:00.

Today I'll iron out the samples we did yesterday and take some photos to post later. The larger scarf bundles I won't unwrap until the coming Friday or Saturday before I head home on the 10th.

2011-09-10T07:14:00.000-07:00

Thursday I had another episode with my eye. I know I sound like a broken record, hey I feel like a broken record! So yesterday I spent most of it seeing doctors and having tests run. The good news is that my retinal tears have healed and it didn't appear I had any new ones. The bad news is my eye had hemorrhaged again and filled with blood. WHY? No one knows and that is the mystery. So ........ I can't keep harping about this here on my blog. It's frustrating and I hate having to go through the hoops but it's the only way I can hopefully get to the bottom of this whole issue.

I also wanted to thank everyone who left a comment about the webiste/blog questions. I have a lot of information to process and when I have time to formulate my decision I'll be back to post about it. Thanks again to all.

That said here are the items I forwarded to be juried for the Weavers' Guild of St. Louis annual show. I sent four items but unfortunately didn't take a picture of the shirt with a velvet flounce because I thought I had already taken pics of it. Obviously I didn't. I hope these new eco dye print pieces are accepted and if you live in the St. Louis area please come see the show. I plan to be there and always look forward to seeing the members I've become such good friend with and catching up but mostly to see all the wonderful items these very talented members create!

silk crepe tee top, eco dye printed

silk chiffon cape, eco dye printed and a dye printed habotai silk piece (cut from a print I bought from Arlee Barr) appliqued and stitched on the back.

silk noil eco dye print scarf with embroidery stitching and gemstones

Website and Blog question

2011-09-05T07:21:00.000-07:00

I have a website but it has not been updated for years. I keep the website because I feel it gives a visual of my work for people who want to see that BUT if I'm not updating because I have to pay someone to do that for me OR I would have to change it to another service and pay someone to do that too it doesn't get done. I do not have the time or inclination to learn how to do that myself. My question to you readers is this: Is it necessary for me to have both a website and a blog? Renewal for my website is coming up to keep my domaine name and I know it needs updating so I'm wondering if it's worth it to spring the money for. Would really appreciate your input on this subject. Is a blog enough? I could start uploading more images of my wares to my Flickr account and have a link to that from the blog. Would that be sufficient and make the website not necessary?

Today I'm packing up a few items to send to St. Louis to be juried for the Weavers' Guild annual sale and to be entered in the fashion show if they're accepted. I will post some pics of those later this afternoon or evening.

Hope you have a wonderful day!

September the month of Fall

2011-09-01T10:45:00.000-07:00

We have had an unusual summer in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Summer arrived late on the tails of cool and very rainy weather. My garden got planted late and seemed to be reluctant to grow to fruition. But finally the tomatoes are starting to ripen, the green beans are overproducing and the lemon cucumbers are the best! I've frozen the jalapenos and chilies that are waiting to get added to the salsa I hope I can make this weekend.

I am so happy to see that we have honey bees!

I've also been busy gathering leaves, flowers, and plants to experiment with more eco print dyeing. I'm totally hooked on this but there is so much to learn! Just a few pics of the small pieces I've been trying out.

update on eco dyeing and works in progress

2011-08-16T08:22:00.000-07:00

The short periods of time I am able to work in the studio I am. My eye doctor says I can do focus work for 30 minutes at a time then take at least an hour break. I can work up to 5 hours a day. You know how hard it is to be focused on creating something and have to stop at 30 minutes? Very hard. The creative juices get flowing and then I have to cut them short and it's very frustrating but I know it's important so I'm doing it.

Slowly, slowly I am getting things done ............. eco dye samples unbundled and colored, embellishing scarf lengths with embroidery and beads, class samples for applications to art retreats, and garments I'm upscaling.

ceanothus on silk

cotton shirt and eucalyptus

Yerba Santa on silk - The leaves gave nice prints but the purple flower not so much

manzanita bath yielded a soft pinkish tan color

eucalyptus on silk noil

ripe elderberry

green blackberry leaves on silk, wrapped on copper pipe. Funny how the leaves didn't leave any color at all but the copper tinged the outline of the leaves

sweet vintage glass buttons I considered adorning this scarf with but I couldn't bring myself to cut them off the card. Is that silly? I have these cards of buttons displayed in my studio and think they are little works of art in themselves.

Vendor Day at Art Unraveled

2011-07-29T11:42:00.000-07:00

I'm preparing my garments to ship to Julie who will be selling for me on vendor day, Sat. August 6, at Art Unraveled in Phoenix.

These are some pics I took of some of my new items. I know they look better on a body but I can't spend too much time focusing with my eyes so I took some quick shots.

Art Unraveled Class

2011-07-25T14:49:00.000-07:00

I was given the okay by my Dr. this morning to be on the computer for short periods of time. I feel like it's been a very long time lapse and I'm not sure how to catch up except I do want to encourage anyone interested in attending Art Unraveled and learn shibori dye techniques to do so. Even though I had to cancel I am so grateful that Glennis Dolce agreed to take over my class. If I could take a class from her I would be signing up! We both dye using shibori techniques but we do it differently and use different dyes and I'm always curious to learn other dyers processes. I know I'll meet Glennis in my future and spend time dyeing with her.

I am also grateful that Julie agreed to run my vendor booth, Lorie Garver is helping and several dear friends are prepared to assist if needed. Thank you Joanne, Fran, Martha, and Angie.

I felt so bad to cancel this event, especially after having to cancel the Create and event too. BUT I am going to be at Art Is You in Petaluma. I have my sister willing to assist me and other friends should I need that. It's a close drive for me and I just want to let everyone know who have signed up for my classes or are considering it that I will not have to cancel yet again. My eye is healing and I will be taking my doctor's advice seriously and going at the pace I need to so I will be prepared to teach and vend so don't be discouraged that I won't be there!

An update...

2011-07-10T12:11:00.000-07:00

Cindy here, writing for Lorri as she's recovering from yet another torn retina (ack!) She wanted me to let you know that she's taking it REAL easy this time, but that she won't be able to teach at Art Unraveled next month after all. She's very disappointed and is going to miss being there and seeing everyone, but she has no choice. The good news is that she has arranged for Glennis Dolce to teach in her place! Glennis is a fabulous instructor and Lorri highly recommends her, so you can rest assured that you'll be in good hands. There's still space in the class, A Day to Dye For, which includes not only dyeing techniques, but shibori as well. Glennis (aka Shibori Girl) would love to have you join her, so take a look! She's in Yosemite for the next few days, but will be posting specifics when she returns, so you can check out her blog for an update.

If you were hoping to purchase some of Lorri's fabulous creations at the event, no worries—Julie Haymaker-Thompson has graciously offered to sell Lorri's goods, so come to the vendor show and check out the goods! Lorri will be there in spirit, that's for sure.

Please send positive, healing prayers to her—she's unable to read right now, but her hubby is taking good care of her and will be sure the messages get to her. She'll check in here again when she can!

Art Is You Petaluma!

2011-07-03T18:19:00.000-07:00

I'm late getting this info posted because of my eye surgery and dealing with this issue BUT if you are reading this I want to let you know that if you sign up for classes for Art Is You Petaluma tomorrow, MONDAY, using the coupon code JULY4 you will get $50 off the full registration but it is only valid for one day – July 4.

As a reminder I'm teaching 3 classes at this event. One is silk scarf dyeing

one is collage nuno felting

a third is shibori and other ribbon dyeing techniques

I'd love to have you join me for one of these classes but do check out the other options of so many choices and wonderful instructors!!

Two Steps Back

2011-07-02T16:44:00.000-07:00

I was given a good report at my last eye appointment regarding the healing of the laser that sealed the holes in my retina. I thought I could be normal again but I found out the hard way I was wrong. I could only be semi-normal. I went out and pulled some weeds and did a little pruning and tore a small hole in my retina so I was back at the doctors on thursday for a little more laser. Very disconcerting and I was lectured about what I can and can't do and this will be in effect for at least six months. sigh.

I can do a little reading/computer but no lifting, bending over, excessive up and down, aerobics and then my doctor showed she had a sense of humor and told me no rollercoasters, bungee cord jumping, rifle range shooting, or sky diving. This is going to be very hard to not be active as I usually am but I have got to take this serious.

I have some pics of more eco dyeing that I'll work on loading in the next couple of days and I am listing a few more shibori dyed ribbons on my lasfibers Etsy shop.

More Eco and Natural Dyeing

2011-06-20T08:25:00.000-07:00

Here are some pics of more dyeing I've been busy with.

These pieces were dyed by using diluted ammonia and a piece of copper pipe. Look at the fabulous blue gray colors! The doily is cotton, the ribbon strip is silk noil and the little flowerette I made is silk organza.

Results from immersion dyeing in eucalyptus bath. A very pretty dusty pink.

Silk charmeuse and silk organza were wrapped around an iron pipe with string to get the shibori effect. Organza doesn't take dye as well and because it's stiff it doesn't conform to the pipe so I got a polka dot effect. I spritzed the pieces with vinegar which aids in helping the iron rust and the rust adheres to the fabric. It's just like magic!

Eco-Colour Dyeing

2011-06-16T15:08:00.000-07:00

I've been eco dyeing these last few days. Eco-Colour is a book by India Flint and I highly recommend it to anyone who is remotely interested in natural and sustainable dyeing! My studio smells of eucalyptus with hints of vinegar, tea, and sage. Actually very pleasant and calming.

My plan before my eye issues was to be in Missouri now visiting my folks and friends. I would be anticipating taking a four day workshop next week with India Flint. Since I can't be there I have taken it upon myself to attempt the eco-dyeing using her book as my guide. I realize I am not a good book learner. I get so much more from kinetic hands on learning, BUT I am encouraged by my first attempts which I am posting here.

This is a scarf length of silk noil in which I used 3 kinds of eucalyptus leaves and sprinkled with tea. I laid the leaves on half the length of cloth, sprinkled dry black tea on top and folded the fabric length in half on top. I sprayed with vinegar water and rolled into the sausage bundle India describes in her book and then I steamed it for the recommended amount of time. I then let it set in a plastic bag for a couple of days and unwrapped it today. I am in love with the soft and subtleness of the colors.

This was a sample I did with the steam setting "hot bundle" method of ceanothus using the leaves and flowers on the stem.

Some of the bundles I made need to cure for a couple of weeks and as anxious as I am to open them (just like a little kid with no patience) I am restraining myself.

I've cut lots of flora from my property to use in sample dyeing with this method:

Bay

Rattlesnake Grass

French Broom

Spanish Broom

Clover

Monkey Flower

Elderberry with flowers and berries just starting. Will gather more when the berries ripen and change color if I can beat the birds to them.

Ceanothus

What I know as Yerba Santa

The above photo is what I've known as Yerba Santa and what is depicted in the Western Garden Book. I see this as the same plant on some websites known as Yerba Santa but some websites say the photo of the below plant is Yerba Santa. Is is more sage like, it even smells like sage and the leaves are fuzzy like sage plants. Do you know what this plant is?

Here's a photo of the two next to each other:

For those who care to know, I had my eye exam today and got a good report. The doctor actually said I was perfect but then she wouldn't put that down in writing. lol! I still have months to heal back to normal but I'm on the right track and it's all good.

Also remember you have 10 days to pre-order Altered Couture's Autumn issue in which I have a feature article for the $2.00 off and free shipping! Go here to order your copy.

Altered Couture Autumn Issue

2011-06-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

If you recall a while back I posted about taking the challenge Altered Couture magazine presented to take a wedding dress (or a bridesmaid dress) and alter and upscale it. I am so excited to say that the dress I entered will be featured in the Autumn issue which will come out August 1. If you pre-order a copy by June 25th here you will get free shipping. You can also see a sneak preview of the dress I transformed!

Hearts of Intention

2011-06-07T13:39:00.000-07:00

For five long weeks I had to recuperate from laser eye surgery for torn retinas. No reading, no computer, no close work, and no strenuous activity. For the last two weeks I am able to start being normal again. I can be back in the studio dyeing my fabrics, sewing, and creating. I still have to take many breaks and gaze out at the horizon to exercise my eyes and I realized at this point how thankful I am for my sight. Even though my left eye feels tight from scar tissue, even though I still have floaters and may always have them, I can see. Grace and gratefulness is what I hold.

I found myself back in the studio flitting from one project to the next. The many ideas that swirled around in my head those weeks wanting to come out all at once. I needed to focus on one piece but had a hard time with it. My heart went back to what I had been through and what it is that’s important. I thought about the little hearts I made in Nina Bagley’s class at An Artful Journey back in Feb. and I knew I needed to make more of these.

For the last few days I have gathered my remnants of hand dyed fabrics, laces, vintage pieces, and snippets of my hand faux written script silks and began to cut and stitch these little hearts which I am calling “hearts of intention”. There is a small pocket stitched on the back that holds a folded piece of handmade paper for you to write your intention on and secret it away. The heart can be held in your hand, as you would a worry stone, while you ponder your intention.

The hearts are completely hand stitched with my intention of gratitude sewn into each one of them. I am listing 8 of these on my Etsy shop and hope they find a good home and carry good intentions with them.

Back In The Studio ~ Busy and Grateful

2011-05-26T10:36:00.000-07:00

I am so grateful to be able to create in my studio again. My eyes are almost healed. I still have some floaters and will probably always have them but my vision is good and for that I can only be thankful.

I've been busy dyeing and upcycling clothing. I have piles of vintage laces, doilies, flounces, trims, and clothes strewn about and it is so freeing to be able to dive in and color these things!

I will let the photos I took speak for themselves of my environment, shibori dyed silk organza, vintage doilies and crochet bird trim in dusty blue gray, velvet, chiffon, and laces in the palest seafoam, and works in progress.

"The eyes are the gateway to the soul."
- Herman Melville

Workshops Canceled

2011-05-10T07:23:00.000-07:00

I was so disappointed that I had to cancel my teaching engagements for Create in Costa Mesa. I had most of my kits ready and now I stare at them, tied with little hand dyed ribbons, packed in clear carrying cases all ready to go. It's like being all dressed up and no where to go.

Not only was this canceled but also my trip to Missouri where I was planning to teach with my friend Sharon in her studio in Ashland, visiting my folks for a week in Poplar Bluff, then returning to St. Louis to take a four day workshop with India Flint. I was so excited about this but can not go. On the bright side I have been communicating with India about coming to stay at my house and possibly give a workshop in the area. If you click on "wish list" at her website you'll find that the West Coast in the USA is one of the places she wants to have a study retreat. My house in the mountains would be perfect for her! 26 acres of native trees and plants. If this happens it would be sometime in 2012, probably the Fall, so that means quite a wait for me.

I have my next eye doctor appointment on Thur. and I'll find out how I'm healing and how much of my normal life I can take on.

My friend Bob Runyon wrote and sent me this Haiku:

Vision is
Great and delightful
Tears are shed

Healing

2011-05-04T07:21:00.000-07:00

I trust my body's urge to heal. I don't have to make it get well. All I have to do is support it. I am becoming healthier every day.

After my last doctor appointment on Monday I was told I can start using the computer a little. One hour a day to either sew in my studio with a machine (no close hand work), use the computer or similar tasks. I can start adding an hour a day, as long as my eye doesn't get tired, up to six hours.

I was mistaken about cholesterol being the culprit of causing my retinal tears. Cholesterol DOES affect your eyesight and I have to get mine down for that reason but my doctor, Dr. Gloria Wu, insists that my tears happened from lifting heavy things. I am really puzzled by this. I don't lift heavy objects often and things I do lift seemed easy enough. She said that perhaps what I could lift at age 46 I can't lift at 56 but ............ ?????? I can bench press 50 pounds easy enough and often load my car with all the items I need to teach with. I usually have someone load and unload the two microwaves so I just can't believe I've lifted anything heavy enough to cause this. I guess I'll just have to be careful about that from now on, but how do I know what's too heavy? Confusing huh?

It's been weeks of resting my eyes which meant doing almost nothing. It's been a frustrating journey but I've had lots of time to philosophy about my life. I had to cancel teaching at Create in Costa Mesa, I had to cancel a show in Santa Cruz I was suppose to participate in this last weekend, and I have to cancel my trip to Missouri. Is this a wake up call for me to slow down? Can I do that? Do I want to? All these questions have come up for me to ponder I often wonder about the classes I teach and what it is that students really want to learn from me. There are deadlines for 2012 proposals that are approaching. I would love to hear from all of you who would be interested in taking a workshop from me, what class would you like to see me offer? I've been interested in teaching some natural dye workshops but that could not happen in a six hour hotel setting classroom. I would love to work with a small group to take a vintage or used garment and help them upcycle it by dyeing fabrics to create embellishments, tea dyeing, dyeing the garment itself, and/or dyeing vintage laces and trims. I could do small or individual workshops in my studio in the Santa Cruz Mountains. If any of this sounds interesting to you or you have ideas please let me know.

I'm getting off the computer now so I don't waste my two hours of time today doing this. I'm anxious to get back in the studio!!!

I'm on the mend and while it may take several more weeks before I'm back to normal I am grateful that my sight was spared, that the technology today is so amazing to repair eyes and to all those who have sent cards, called, sent positive energy my way and well wishes. I do so appreciate this. Thank you.

Putting My Life on Hold ~ Cancellations

2011-04-20T11:16:00.000-07:00

It's finally sinking in how serious my eye surgery was. I'v been told by my doctor I'll have at lest six more weeks of being still, quiet, and no focus work. I've had to cancel the May Day show in Santa Cruz. I've had to cancel going to Southern California for the the Create Retreat in May. I may have to cancel going to Missouri in June. It's very hard for me to lay around the house and do nothing, but I'm trying to stay positive and follow my doctor instruction so my eyes can heal properly.

I want to thank everyone who has sent me well wishes, I really appreciate it.

BTW my mom is not typing on the computer...It's still me Tony (her son) I hope I am scoring lots of brownie points for this..lol jkjk

Update on My Eyes

2011-04-15T07:41:00.000-07:00

My son Tony is posting this message for me.

At my doctor visit on monday she told me I was bad to have been on the computer. I'm taking that to heart now-no reading, computer, or close work.

I had a small retinal tear on my right eye also that she lasered.
i get another check up on the 18th and go week to week to see how I'm healing.

Now for the reason this happened to me.... high cholesterol! Did you know that effects your eyes? (click here for more info) I did not and no one ever told me. I've known my cholesterol was high for years. My LDL(bad) was high but my HDL(good) was equally high so the percentage ratio was normal. My triglycerides were good and my blood pressure good and low. No cost for alarm as my heart seemed healthy. But not one doctor told me that it would affect my eye sight. ACK! I feel like an idiot for not addressing the high cholesterol sooner.

Before my eye issues became apparent and serious i had already gone on a diet-no wheat( gluten), no dairy, no refined sugar, no red meat or pork, no eggs. I lost 8 lbs. in a month. I've been on the diet for two months and it's a good thing because that will help get my cholesterol down.

Everyone please get your eyes checked regularly. Vitreous floaters are one thing you learn to live with but if sudden cobweb like floaters appear go IMMEDIATELY to an eye(retinal) specialist and have them checked! The floaters at this stage are most likely to be blood because your eye has hemorrhaged!

I'm not using doctor in santa cruz anymore. I and my family have been misdiagnosed too many times. I'm going to the Los Gatos area in search of a new family doctor-I prefer a woman for myself-if anyone who reads this has a doctor they can recommend please let me know.

It's hard for me to be inactive but its the only way my eyes will heal. An online art friend, Judy, called me out of the blue and said to "focus on the fact that I'm laying here to heal". I am keeping that in my mind because it's a positive affirmation, I am healing.

Off Blog for a While

2011-04-06T16:19:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday I developed severe floaters in my left eye. I've had floaters for years but this was different. I went to see a doctor in the ophthalmology department at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation in Santa Cruz and was told I did NOT have a retinal tear, that I only had floaters and they would settle down within a week. I was told I could fly this week as I had plans to visit New Zealand with my husband for 3 weeks. By Monday my eye was not better and I felt it getting worse. I had told that doc this seemed different than floaters but he didn't seem concerned. So I went to see a retinal specialist who did extensive test on my eye and discovered several very large tear in my retina and did emergency laser on the eye. So now I'm pretty much bed ridden, no reading, no computer, only large screen tv and audio books. Sigh. I'll be getting weekly checkups to see how I'm healing and determine how long I have to rest my eye.

We had to cancel our trip to New Zealand, wah! But I am so grateful that Dr. Wu was able to address my eye and I didn't take that first doctor's advice. If I had gotten on a plane my retina would have detached and my eye would have bled. I could have lost my eyesight in that eye.

I do not know why the tears happened but am getting some further testing to see if we can determine that.

I won't be posting for a while again as I should be resting my eye. My son has been helping me with email messages and he may check back here for me for time to time.

Our eyesight is precious and do not take it for granted!!!

Yesterday's Dyeing

2011-03-28T14:01:00.000-07:00

I had a woman from Santa Cruz come to my studio yesterday to have a private workshop session. Suzanne was delightful and we discovered we have mutual friends. I am so disappointed that I did not take any photos of her work. She had the most beautiful color scheme, dreamy seafoam, golden wheat and brown.

After she left I got busy shibori dyeing silk ribbons at the request of super talented friend, Suza, to add to her spring linen jacket collection. It's hard to color match and it may be that none of the ribbons will work for her color scheme. A color name can be a wide variety of actual colors. Think if someone asked you to color something plum what would that mean to you? I bet everyone would have a range of purples but maybe not the "plum" the person who asked envisioned.

I've not said much about my back issues but it's been difficult for me. We trust doctors so much but often they can't help us and only offer opinions that we take for gospel. Sigh. I'll not go into the saga but next Friday I will get another round of epidural steroid shots and really, really, really, hope they give me some relief. I mean I'm leaving April 6th to go to New Zealand and I so want to not back pain!!

The sun is finally shining today so I'm going to go outside and enjoy it since it's predicted we'll only see a couple days of it and then more rain and gloom. I really am starting to feel like Eeyore.

Silk Crocheted Flowers ~ Nuno Felt Wayward Wrist Wraps Class

2011-03-13T09:26:00.000-07:00

I sent my friend Doris Arndt some silk yarns and asked her if she'd crochet some small flowers for me. I intend to put these in kits for the class I'm teaching at Create, "wayward wrist wraps". I can't imagine the students taking the class won't love them as I do. Of course I will use some of them myself to embellish the nuno felted wraps with.

If you click on the highlighted "Create" above it will take you to the website. Check out the classes being offered and if there is anyway you can attend the retreat you really should!

I'm also planning to travel to Missouri in June. My friend Sharon Kilfoyle and I are putting together a weekend retreat at her studio in Ashland June 11 & 12. We'll be doing shibori dyeing silk and silk ribbons, creating a wayward threads ribbon scarf and nuno felted projects. I will be posting more about that a little later so please stop back by my blog to check for more info.

On another note I have been affected by the tragedy that has hit Japan. There are many charitable organizations to contribute to that are setting up plans to help Japan. We have contributed to Save the Children but I urge you to contribute to the charity of your choice any funds you can.

Finished Garments

2011-03-09T18:21:00.000-08:00

I finished the piece I have been working diligently on for the Altered Couture Wedding Challenge. The due date is March 15th and I was able to finish the dress this morning and mail it off USPS Priority mail so it should arrive in time. Whew!! Now to wait patiently for them to go through all the entries and decide who gets accepted. I think it could take months and sometimes that's hard for people (like me) who get impatient and anxiously excited to know. I'm just like a little kid who wants to know what's in the wrapped box?! It's that same feeling.

I'm not going to reveal any of the dress since there is a possibility of getting published and I want it to be a surprise in the magazine. I mean that is the point. I guess it seems like I am contradicting myself since I both love surprises and at the same time can hardly stand to be patient to find things out.

I also finished this garment I've been working on for a while. Let me explain. I often start a piece by hanging it up and looking at it from time to time. I pin different fabrics, or vintage pieces, trims, and laces to decided where I want to go with it. I work as I go so sometimes it takes a while to get a piece completed. I work on more than one garment at a time so I've always got projects going in different stages.

The back of this garment has a velvet piece that was designed by Marian Clayden. I attended a tea in her honor in 2008 where remnants of her designed velvet pieces were for sale and I purchased a few of these along with some of her shibori fabrics. Marian is wheelchair bound by her illness now and I have not heard a word about her since I attended that tea which was fabulous! A whole exhibit of her lifetime works of art in the garment and fabric design world.

I always thought of her velvets as being "burn out or devore" but in fact she created the designs and the velvet was woven with them and not the reverse. With devore (in a nutshell), the velvet is woven and then the design is "burned" into the fabric by screening or painting a chemical onto the velvet fibers in the design you want and the chemical causes the rayon velvet to pull away from the silk backing.

This is the finished piece:

But it started this way:

My goal now is to clean up my space a bit, begin gathering materials to make kits for Create in May, and do what I can to create more garments, dyed ribbons, flower pins, etc. before I leave on April 6 for a trip to New Zealand! My hubby and I will be gone until April 28th visiting friends there and exploring a bit on our own. I've never been and am looking forward to this trip!

I'll be participating in a May Day show On April 30th and May 1st and sincerely hope I will not be jet lagged and spaced out for the show. I'll be posting more about that show in a week or two.

Wedding Dress Progress

2011-02-26T11:10:00.000-08:00

I realize that I am making this for a challenge for the magazine Alter Couture and they would not want me to publicize this. So this will be my last post of the progress. This is after I cut it and dyed. I am documenting it and after I deliver the dress to Stampington and hear back whether I'm accepted or not I'll decide when to publish my journey with the dress.

An Artful Journey Ends and Begins

2011-02-22T14:27:00.000-08:00

The world is a looking glass and gives back to every man the reflection of his own face.
~William M. Thackeray

I'm home from An Artful Journey where I stayed in a cabin that felt like a tree house. The little sunroom had a large paned picture window looking out at bare oaks and evergreens. We gathered here in the morning for tea and coffee and in the evening after class for a glass of wine.

I was pleased to learn several new techniques in three days of classes I took with Nina Bagley even though I chose not to attempt the wire wrapping and metal parts. I had the tools and I bought the wire but remembered my last attempts and thought "I don't think so". Nina was gracious enough to give me some clues on how I could work around not doing the wire wraps and I am very grateful.

Learning to crochet beads is something I know I will be getting hooked on (pun intended) and knotting silk cord and making these little stuffed hearts that are so precious. Everyone in class did such wonderful work!!!

I took a little valise full of dyed and vintage ribbons wrapped on cards and practically sold out. Now I will need to have some dye days to color more ribbons for Etsy.

My big project I'm starting though is for this challenge from Altered Couture magazine: Altered Wedding  For those of us who have bridesmaid’s dresses we don’t know what to do with, we challenge you to take the occasion out of the dress and make your wedding attire into something usable. Everyone in the wedding party can get involved. Consider revisiting a flower girl dress or bridal wear and accessories as well. There’s no better way to keep a memento from such a big day than to incorporate it into wear for any day. Or, if you are an ambitious bride and have recreated your dress out of another one, we’d love to see that too. Save the date and alter away!  Deadline: March 15, 2011.

Here are some pictures of the wedding dress I will be altering. It is dupioni silk with an organza top that has ripped a bit and a full nylon petticoat flounce. It is in the washing machine as I am writing this. When it's washed and dried I'm going to cut it up. I do have a plan but I'm not telling. The deadline isn't very far away so I have hopes of getting it finished but I'm not making any promises. I will post my progress if it happens.

An Artful Journey

2011-02-15T07:20:00.000-08:00

I have been gathering supplies for a class I will be taking at An Artful Journey retreat beginning on Thursday. I'm taking Nina Bagley's class and while I know I'll be challenged with the metal part I'm looking forward to working with the fabric bits and learning how to crochet beads and buttons on a chain.

Friday night at the retreat is vendor night for the instructors and on Saturday attendees can vend. I plan to have hand dyed ribbons, wayward blooms, scarves, stoles, and some garments for sale.

I haven't been as productive as I'd like to because my back has been so bad. I've tried not to whine and complain nor write about it here but dammit all, aging pretty much sucks and I'm not even that old. I've had a fractured vertebrae at sometime in my life in the thorax area so over the years two vertebrae have become wedged and the effect trickles down. It's a chronic ache and somedays I just can't stand over the dye pot, or sit at the sewing machine, or much of anything but lay on a heating pad. Last Thursday I had an epidural steroid injection and so far it hasn't improved and initially I felt worse. I'm told it could take 1 -2 weeks to feel any difference so I'm trying to be hopeful (trying is the operative word here) and not get depressed. Okay enough of that. (WAH!).

I'm going to work on some more flowers today and maybe finish a garment I've been working on if I can find the black piece of burnout velvet I want to use on it. I knew right where it was until I cleaned up my studio. sigh.

Tea Dye

2011-02-05T10:06:00.000-08:00

Tea dyeing is a simple way to get a tan/ecru color when dyeing fabrics, ribbons, and laces. Remember that only natural fibers will take the dye. Tea contains tannic acid which is what colors the fabric. I like the aged look that tea dyeing creates but I find while silks dye beautifully and a richer color cottons can be pale or show almost no color. I think in the future if I'm dyeing cottons I will use an alum mordant first to see if it produces a deeper shade.

Tea is a natural dye so is not good to use on items that will be washed a lot. The dye will fade with time and definitely be removed if using detergents with additives such as stain removers.

Dyeing with tea is simply steeping tea bags (5-6 per gallon of water) in boiling water. I found tea on sale at Ross so the expense was not great. I added the fabric pieces, ribbons, and lace and let them set over night. I did notice that the silks could have been taken out of the bath in a couple of hours and been just as deeply colored but the cotton laces soaked up a little more color by leaving over night.

The term tea staining is when you brush on the tea solution as opposed to immersing in it.

Here are my results from this batch. (click on picture to zoom)

Class Opportunities

2011-02-03T09:18:00.001-08:00

Registration opens on Feb. 8th for "Create". A new mixed media art venue from the Cloth, Paper, Scissors people to be held in Southern California. I am very excited to be teaching 4 classes in May. Three of them are new and of course my popular ribbon dyeing class is the 4th. I'll be teaching "wayward wrist wraps" which is a nuno felted and embellished bracelet wrap, "wayward blooms" is silk ribbon and fabric dyeing and creating those into wonderful flower adornments, "the perfect cord" a 3 hour class of dyeing silk yarns and ribbons and twisting them into unique and colorful cords, and ribbon dyeing. I hope you can join me.

Other opportunities to take a class from me are "Art Unraveled" in Phoenix, AZ in August

"Art is You" in September in Petaluma, CA

click on the buttons you'll find to the right of this blog to take you to the site pages and see more info about these wonderful retreats.

New Passel of Silk Ribbons

2011-02-01T15:00:00.000-08:00

This last weekend was rainy and dismal so I found myself in the studio and got inspired to dye ribbons. I solid dyed, dye painted for a watery, heathered look, and tea dyed silk of dupioni, charmeuse, chiffon, crepe, habotai, velvet, and silk cord. I dyed rosy pink, deep red, cobalt blue, mermaid green, ecru, chestnut, dusty teal, and burnt orange spice.

Yesterday I measured the ribbons, wound them onto cards, and printed the information on each. Next I had to photograph each card with different views. This all takes a bit of time and I have just now finished listing them in Etsy. Please take a look.

Art is You

2011-01-29T19:09:00.000-08:00

Exciting announcement from the Art Is You team! WIN BACK YOUR REGISTRATION! - Anyone who has already registered and anyone who registers from now until midnight on January 31st will go into a draw to win back their complete registration. Don't waste another minute - secure your place today.

http://www.art-is-you.com/mysitecaddy/site3/index.htm

Just Another Sunset

2011-01-26T18:49:00.001-08:00

The view overlooking the hills and out over the Pacific.

I have a lot to catch up with here but it will still be another day or two before I'm caught up enough. I had to sneak in though and share the sunset pictures with you. We have had absolutely fabulous, in the 70's, sunshiny weather. The sunsets are the best here in the winter.

Here I caught the sky reflecting in the windows of the doors.

Two Views of the Pacific Ocean

2011-01-21T19:33:00.000-08:00

This was the view from my home this evening as I set outside watching the sunset over the Pacific.

But for the last ten days I was looking at this same Ocean from the shores of Kauai.

Visiting the black swans and koi at the Hyatt.

Gazing at the view from the condo window.

Saying farewell until the next time.

Now I'm home and even though January is not yet over I am having to plan the rest of the year...... where I'll be teaching, vending, visiting friends and family, and when I get to stay home.

Two New Class Proposals~ Flowers and Felt Wrist Wraps

2011-01-06T10:49:00.000-08:00

Here is an update of what I've been working on. All those rainy days I was trying to create. It took me a little longer than usual but I have designed samples for two new classes I will be applying to teach. I have recently submitted these to a retreat in SoCal and should hear back from them within the month.

The new classes are titled "Wayward Blooms" and "Wayward Wrist Wraps". Keeping in mind that my line title is "Wayward Threads" I thought it appropriate to carry that title forward.

The blooms are hand dyed and hand sewn, no machine involved. The fabrics I dye and tea stain make these unique to other flowers you see. While they are sturdy and wearable they still have a wayward air to them. They are fun to create and there is no "proper" way they get sewn or created. This makes it much more fun! Create as you go and not confined to feeling like you have to have fine millinery skills to make these.

The Wayward Wrist Wraps are of the same mentality (wayward that is) because the end result can't be completely planned . The silk and laces are laid flat as a base with the wool on top. As the pieces are turned into felt and fulled, the shrinkage creates the gathering like magic. I like projects that give me an element of surprise. After making the felt wrap I embellish with vintage buttons, crochet lace bits, and use a hand dyed cord or ribbon to wrap as a closure.

I would love for you to leave a comment as to wether these classes appeal to you or not.

Thanks!

Winter Light

2011-01-03T08:33:00.000-08:00

My friend Nina sent me this lovely glass acorn ornament. She told me to hang it where it will reflect the winter light. I thought about that ........ the winter light. The shades of these winter days has been mute, rain and fog blur the landscape and I find myself becoming melancholy after days and days of no sunshine. This is what those days look like.

I take to heart what Nina said and I begin to look into the reflection of the light, shining off the raindrops in the trees and how the sky and trees reflect in the puddles.

Then this morning the sun is shining brightly and I feel my spirits lifting. An omen of a bright new year.

Art Unraveled 2011 - Dye Class

2010-12-23T08:04:00.001-08:00

I will be teaching a fabulous class at Art Unraveled in August of 2011. Registration is now open!

Go here to read all the information.

This will be my fourth year to teach at Art Unraveled and I look forward to it. It's not just about the teaching and selling my wares on vendor day, it's also about all the great friends I've made who come back year after year. It really it a community of people that I would miss were I not able to attend.

If you've ever wanted to learn dye techniques, have access to lots of different type fabrics and ribbons (primarily silks) to dye, perhaps color match to dye something a particular color, then you really should take the class. It's fun and truly magical to see white fabric transformed into a rainbow of colors, colors of your choice!

Check out the other classes being offered too!

Quiet During Rain and Foggy Mists

2010-12-20T17:27:00.000-08:00

It's been raining a lot. I guess it's in the news, especially the rain in SoCal, but here in Central California in the Mountains we've had our share. It's dreary and keeps me inside.

My driveway was strewn with tree debris today after the storm and now another front is on it's way to dump even more rain on us. We are grateful for the rain though filling up our water tanks.

I ventured to town expecting there might be some road issues, but the trees had been cut and cleared and the roads were fine. I made it to the fabric store and the grocery store but the shopping was mayhem. Irate, horn honking drivers who switched lanes without blinkers and sometimes without looking. The wait in lines was very long and I arrived back home exhausted several hours later than I expected.

During these storms I find it's a time to do quiet work. I've been busy with some new class proposals for upcoming retreats. Here is what my desk looks like so you get an idea of what the project is. I've also been doing some nuno felting in my studio and I will take pictures of those pieces in the next day or two.

I've got a pot of ham and beans on the stove and I need to make the spinach salad and cornbread soon to go with.

Hoping everyone has wonderful holidays!

East Coast Art Retreats comes West!

2010-12-08T10:53:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to be teaching here next year! I will post more information as it comes to me.

Art Is...Petaluma
September 22 - September 27, 2011

Sheraton Hotel Petaluma
745 Baywood Drive
Petaluma, California 94954

I'm still here

2010-12-07T16:13:00.000-08:00

I want to thank everyone who came to the craft faire this last weekend to see me and purchase scarves from me AND to support my husband and son in their new endeavor. The wood items were a big hit and I am so happy for them.

I am working on scarves and stoles using handwoven, silk brocade, and muslin fabric strips to make more wayward threads. I've listed a few more in my Etsy shop. I plan to leave them in the shop to see what sells but if they are still listed next week I will consider taking them to local galleries so if you have your eye on something then ........ I hate to say "get it now or it'll be gone" but just so you know my intentions.

I haven't gotten in the holiday decorating spirit yet but I hope it will hit me this weekend so we can get a tree cut and decorated. Deck the Halls and all. I'll be wearing one of these scarves I made (these 2 are listed in Etsy) and perhaps that will make me feel jolly? Yes, I think so.

Loma Prieta Christmas Faire

2010-11-24T08:51:00.000-08:00

The first weekend of December I will be joining my husband Michael and son Tony to sell our wares at the Loma Prieta Christmas Faire.

I used to help organize this show every year as the artist liaison and booth layout person. Nine years I did that when my boys were in school and I also had my own booth. It is a fundraiser for the school and I am happy to be back there. Of course this means working furiously in my studio to create enough items but it also gives me a goal to create for.

If you live in the area I hope you'll come by and see my work and say hello!!

Loma Prieta Christmas Faire ( at the Loma Prieta School/Community Center)
23800 Summit Rd., Los Gatos, CA. 95033

Saturday Dec. 4 from 10:00 - 5:00
Sunday Dec. 5 from 10:00 - 4:00

Other artist friends who will be showing:

Skyland Bay
Nancy and Larry Lopp
Bill & Jean Hackett

Big Sur

2010-11-20T09:04:00.000-08:00

Lovers' Point in Monterey (See the mountain peak across the bay? That's where I live.)

I drove to Big Sur (again, lucky me) on Wednesday. It was a beautiful sunshiny day, the water sparkled!

While driving through Watsonville and Moss Landing to Monterey I tried to snap pictures from my car of the fields where migrant farm workers were out in the strawberry fields. Several fields had recently been tilled, ready for planting and there were rows and rows of bushy artichoke plants.

This agricultural area supports farm workers, many from Mexico. How many are illegal? I don't know but it has become an issue in our state of many illegals from Mexico coming to work these fields. If we can't figure out how to make them citizens and instead send them home then who is left to toil in the fields? Do we have citizens willing, able, and prepared to do this work? Just a thought.

Here are some staggering statistics of the percentage of food produced in California:

Food Facts
California has been the number one food and agricultural producer in the United States for more than 50 consecutive years.

More than half the nation's fruit, nuts, and vegetables come from here.
California is the nation's number one dairy state.
California's leading commodity is milk and cream. Grapes are second.
California's leading export crop is almonds.
Nationally, products exclusively grown (99% or more) in California include almonds, artichokes, dates, figs, kiwifruit, olives, persimmons, pistachios, prunes, raisins, clovers, and walnuts.
From 70 to 80% of all ripe olives are grown in California.
California is the nation's leading producer of strawberries, averaging 1.4 billion pounds of strawberries or 83% of the country's total fresh and frozen strawberry production. Approximately 12% of the crop is exported to Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, Hong Kong and Japan primarily. The value of the California strawberry crop is approximately $700 million with related employment of more than 48,000 people.
California produces 25% of the nation's onions and 43% of the nation's green onions.
Gilroy, California, "Garlic Capitol of the World," has hosted 2 million at the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival.

I passed through Monterey, Carmel and after driving through Carmel Highlands I came around a bend and there is the beginning of the Big Sur coastline. See how the water sparkles?

I arrived at the Local Color gallery where I met with the owner Ondine and Francesca to leave more scarves for them and then drove to Nepenthe. Approaching I could see the fog bank rolling in and the temperature had dropped enough I put my jacket on. A definite line of sun and fog.

After leaving Nepenthe I started back home with a stop at Andrew Molera for a short walk but it had become breezy and the fog rolled in so I headed home.

It is a rugged and awe inspiring bit of coast everyone should experience if given the chance.

Etsy Shops

2010-11-12T10:02:00.001-08:00

I have reopened my "wayward threads" Etsy shop listing reborn vintage garments and some new scarves sewn from hand dyed silk ribbons and torn, stamped muslin strips. I'll be listing more ribbons on my lasfibers Etsy next week.

I want to encourage everyone to consider purchasing artists made items for upcoming holiday gifts from Etsy shops. I recently purchased a lovely "ornament" from Nina Bagley's shop. I purchased a sweet pottery bird vase for my mother on her birthday from Whitney Smith. You can find a variety of wonderful artist made items so I hope you keep Etsy in mind!

Thanks for looking.

”Art washes from the soul the dust of everyday life.” -- Picasso.

Two Days in the Studio and Four new Scarves

2010-11-07T20:44:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I dye painted silk ribbons to use in making some new wayward threads scarves. I also had lengths of torn muslin fabric strips that I purchased with stamped images that I added dye to with a paint brush to make them look aged. I like the look of tea dyed fabrics but tea doesn't always last through wearing and washing. I used dye to insure the color will last and randomly painted the dye so the fabrics look vintage. I was able to lay four scarves out, ready to be sewn.

This morning I woke to a blustery and rainy day that never let up. Cool, damp, and dreary, the perfect weather to be inside creating. I sewed the scarves today and painted some more ribbons.

I'm showing a few photographs here and in the next day or two plan to photo more ribbons and begin listing them in my Etsy shop. I'll be back to post when I do that.

New Dawn

2010-10-29T17:02:00.001-07:00

When I arose this morning and walked into the kitchen to start the coffee I looked out at this view, tiers of clouds in various pink tinged grays and pale blue sky over the Monterey Bay. I stepped outside and took in the view and thought "this is a new dawn". It is a new dawn for me. After traveling so much going here and there, teaching, and vending I realized I needed some down time. Time in my studio to create things I want to and not rushing into the next project to create for an upcoming show.

All day I slowly began reorganizing my studio. My husband and son Tony took my huge AVL loom apart. It was taking up quite a bit of room and since I have not woven anything on it for almost 3 years I decided to store it until I get the urge to weave again, if ever. I do have to consider that after 25 years of weaving and creating handwoven clothing I may be done, I may end up selling the loom in the near future. It's a difficult thing to consider giving up something that has been my livelihood for so many years, a part of who I am, but in essence I have already done that. It's coming to terms with the fact that my focus has changed but not knowing if that is a constant for the future. It's like holding a sentimental artifact dear to your heart, knowing that you've had it in a box for many years and forgotten it. Clearing it out of your life may open up room for something new. Does this make sense to you?

Now I have extra room in the studio which I desperately needed. It feels great to have more open space and room to have easy access to my wall of shelves where I store fabrics, ribbons, buttons, laces and threads. I am clearing the large work table and sorting through the stuff. My goal is to finish over the weekend and by next week I will start anew, just like the new dawn I experienced this very morning.

Friendships

2010-10-15T12:01:00.001-07:00

I've been thinking a lot about friendships in my life. How many dear friends I have, some of them lifelong, some living miles even states away, and how much I appreciate them. Sometimes I don't stay in touch very well but I want each of you to know that doesn't mean I don't care or remember how special you are to me (and you all know who you are!).

I'm leaving in the morning to go to Dallas, to be with my family, and when I return I will focus on reopening my Etsy shops and taking time in my studio to work on some projects that have long been brewing in my head.

The Miracle of Friendship
by Anonymous

There is a Miracle called Friendship
that dwells within the heart
and you don't know how it happens
or when it even starts.

But the happiness it brings you
always gives a special lift
and you realize that
Friendship
is God's most precious gift.

Art & Soul - The road to and from Portland

2010-10-13T12:59:00.000-07:00

I am home from Art & Soul. I am tired. I traveled to Phoenix, Paris, Portland (all cities that begin with P?). I am traveling to Dallas on Sat. to spend time with my sister. My parents will be there for the weekend and we will connect with my brother for a true family gathering. Something that hasn't happened for many years. I look forward to this.

I feel my traveling has been about the getting there and back as much as being there. I don't know that I'm cut out to go on so many trips all in a row. I was suppose to go to St. Louis for the Weavers' Guild show in Nov. and then onto Poplar Bluff but because of the trip to Dallas combined with all the other travels I had to cancel. I'll miss seeing all the folks I usually have such a good time with but there is next year.

I was awful at taking pictures this year. I have none of my classes or of vendor night or anything of Art and Soul. I know some students took pics and hopefully they will post on their blogs and/or send them on to me so I can post. I will say that classes went well. Wonderful things were created and several people came to show me their finished products. Shibori dyed and painted silk ribbons, wayward thread stoles, and lots of fun hand dyed fabric yoyo's! I regret not having photos. I need someone to remind me. I get so caught up in teaching and seeing what people are doing I literally forget to take any photos.

I did take pictures of my trip to and from Portland on the road. Traveling through Shasta is such a picturesque landscape it's hard not to want to photograph it. Mostly I snapped pictures from my car as I was meandering down the highway.

I had blue skies, sunshine, and perfect weather I as left to drive from my California home to Portland, Oregon.

When I left Portland it was pouring rain. I drove for hours with the windshield wipers steadily beating time and after 300 miles I had to stop. I was tired and needed rest. I slept in that motel for almost ten hours. That's a lot for me but know I needed it. When I awoke early the next day, dawn was just breaking but I knew it would be a nice sunny day to drive home.

As I approached Mount Shasta I was taken with the cloud that shrouded it so I stopped to take some pictures and as I neared it I snapped some more from my car.

Look how the streamline bank of clouds caused these two mountain tops to look doubled.

Fog

Blessed damp dense fog
Comforting compress for a
Soul seared by living

© 2009 Forrest Hainline

And when I arrived home that same evening, glad to plant my feet back on familiar soil and have my family around, I was greeted by this sliver of a moon (reminding me of this song) and the colors of a setting sun.

Art & Soul Portland Bound

2010-10-03T19:40:00.001-07:00

I'm still not packed. My car is mostly loaded but I still have to pack my garments to sell on vendor day, a few incidentals and I haven't packed my suitcase full of my clothes but I'm tired now so I'll finish in the morning before I take off down the highway.

Here are a few samples of "wayward threads" upscaled, new born garments I'm taking for vendor day.

I'll be back home in a week then I'll be off to Dallas.

Last Adventures in Paris

2010-09-28T08:16:00.000-07:00

I spent Sunday afternoon, Sept. 12th on the Isle de St. Louis with Sharon, Carlene, and Linda. We walked along the Seine listening to street musicians and stopped to have lunch at an outdoor cafe. I ordered a kir et riesling which is popular in Paris. I don't usually like sweet wines but found this very good. Lunch was onion pie and salad.

After lunch we bought macaroons at a pâtisserie and ice cream at Bertillion. Fabulous desserts. Carlene and Linda had to head back to their apartment to pack but Sharon and I walked around looking at shops and then we went to taste Foie Gras and wine. The day was sunny, warm and just plain perfect.

Monday I gave a presentation of my work at the Paris American Academy to students and faculty. I showed my pieces I had taken with me and presented a slide show. Everyone seemed to be genuinely interested. In fact one of the staff member who helps run the office bought one of my wayward threads scarves which thrilled me to know I have someone in Paris wearing my work with love.

I talked a bit with the director about teaching there and will be sending a proposal. However, my concern is that it may not be a situation of me being able to teach a 2 - 4 week class. It might entail longer periods of time in which I would not be prepared to do.

Tuesday Sharon and I went to the Louvre. The line was pretty long to get in but I was told that in the peak summer months the lines are even longer. Once we were in I felt it was too crowded. Trying to look at the art I was jostled by picture takers and people trying to shuffle through the crowd. It was a bit warm too. We saw a few wings then met up for lunch with some of Sharon's son's friends who were there on a honeymoon. After that we left and went over to the academy studio.

Around 9:30 that evening we got on the Metro to go see the Eiffel Tower and walk under it at night when the lights twinkle up and down the whole structure. We were taking pictures as we approached blocks away but then we came upon a barricade and were told the whole area was evacuated because of a bomb threat and would be closed all night. I never got to see the tower up close.

Wednesday was my last day there. We went over to Notre Dam and that evening was a party at the Academy for the Mexican students because it was the Mexican independence day - 200 years! All the Mexicans brought food, chicken mole, guacamole and quesadillas. We brought Coronas and limes. Here are some photos of the students before the tequila was passed around.

Darling American students!

Peter the Academy's director.

Sharon showing her Mexican Independence colors.

The Mexican students were so sweet and wonderful!

It was a fun party but Sharon and I left around 10:00 because I was leaving the next morning on my 11 hour flight home.

Upcoming workshops

2010-09-26T08:10:00.000-07:00

I will finish writing about my Paris trip next time but I wanted to remind you of my upcoming workshops. I am teaching 3 classes at Art & Soul in Portland on Oct. 7 & 8. My ribbon dyeing class is full but the other two have openings. I'd love for you to join me!

In November I'm traveling to St. Louis again to take part in the annual St. Louis Weavers' Guild Sale happening on the 5th & 6th. The following weekend I am giving a workshop at the Margaret Harwell Art Museum in Poplar Bluff, Mo. I hope more people sign up for this! It's my hometown so I'll see old friends and my folks too.

I know some people voiced concern about needing a sewing machine for the art museum class and I wanted to let you know we are rounding some up. If you are interested but have questions please email me!! lasfibers@yahoo.com

I hope more of you can join me at one of these classes and I look forward to seeing those who can.

What art offers is space - a certain breathing room for the spirit. ~John Updike

Paris Part Two

2010-09-25T07:07:00.000-07:00

When we traveled to Monmarte on Saturday, Sharon and I had some of the students with us from the Academy. We took them to the fabric store to help buy silk for their dress design projects. We got off the Metro and when we turned to the corner the street was full of marching people carrying signs. We found out if was about this: Tens of thousands of demonstrators protested in several cities on Saturday against Sarkozy's security crackdown, which has included the highly publicized rounding up and expulsion of illegal Roma migrants.

On Sunday after coffee and (of course) pastries we took of to the Marche du Puces. There are actually 4 flea markets within this and quite overwhelming. We were on a mission though to find certain shops that had been recommended to us and I was not disappointed!

We went to a lovely shop, LES PERLES D'ANTAN run by Flora Barlan. Such wonderful vintage trims, buttons, and beads. Flora's family ran a business that manufactured trims for Chanel so some of these trim pieces I purchased were from old stock after the business closed. Such finds!!

We also visited other little shops along St. Ouen and then headed back to the apartment to ready things for a dinner party we were having that evening. A friend of Sharon's was visiting from St. Louis and her friend from Seattle came along with some local friends and Alicia from Mexico. We bought rotisserie chicken which is very popular in Paris from a street vendor and the guests were all bringing dishes to go with it. Sharon had a reserve bottle of champagne we served first with French cheeses, like triple cream, for appetizers and then on into the night with red wines and ending with dessert wine and rice pudding Alicia had brought.

Monday we worked on nuno felting in the apartment and I made some bracelets cuffs. After I got home I added some embellishments and button closures to finish them.

Tuesday we were at the Academy with students. Wednesday we trekked out in the rain to visit the fashion houses on the Champs-Élysées. We went to Dolce & Gabbana first and while we liked some of the designs, the workmanship was not the quality I thought it should be. Would you pay $750.00 for a blouse that had threads hanging from the hem around the sleeves? (would you pay $750.00 for a blouse period?). We went into Chloe and liked many garments here and the workmanship was much better. I know that many of the garments we buy from department stores are manufactured in China, India, Korea, etc. but I was surprised to find most of these haute couture pieces are too. I did find some of the things from Chloe manufactured in Italy. Curious.

Most of the current fashions being shown were made of heavy, bulky woven, tweedlike fabrics. The 70's again. Sigh. Lots of fringe, bulky spun yarns. We got to Chanel wondering what would be shown and there in the window was the same bulky, fringy, 70's stuff. A skirt with fat, loose spun wool hanging from the waist. I have a suspicion the fringe would be easily caught in doors and snagged on chair corner when you sat in it. We took some pictures of the store windows and then went inside.

We were actually there doing industrial spying and while I hesitate to print this publicly I doubt Chanel is going to hunt me down. I'm not planning to manufacture their designs or compete with them. :) There was a beautiful coat we were admiring and a clerk (do you call them clerks at Chanel?) came and asked Sharon if she'd like to try it on. She was saying "No" as I exclaimed "Yes! try it on!". So the clerk takes this coat off the hanger and says to follow her to a dressing room. Alas there were none available at the time so she said we should wait. There were leather sofas and lounge chairs set around glass top tables where she said we could wait. "Did we want something to drink? Coffee, tea?" We asked for water which she returned with, two chilled glasses of water on a mirrored tray. We felt so elegant. While we waited we watched an Italian woman talk incessantly on the phone while her granddaughter tried on clothes. The young woman had someone helping her alter a dress, pinning the hem up, while the grandmother was waving her hand and and demanding (while she's on the phone) the hem should come down! Some things never change.

When a dressing room opened we were shown in for Sharon to try on the wool coat with a subtle herringbone pattern and leather trim. The zipper worked like butter, so smooth and easy. I got out my little sketch book and began taking notes and sketching the details. Oh my the details, such workmanship! The clerk knocked and we asked for a different size. I hid the sketchbook behind my back as she came in and left. I quickly started sketching again as Sharon was saying"Get this sleeve detail, did you get this pocket design?" Enter the clerk, hide the sketchbook. The coat fit like a dream but for $3500.00 Euro we had to pass. What fun though.

We went on to have a fine lunch of moules and Belgium beers and then home.

Thursday we were at the Academy with students. Friday we went exploring, shopping, looking for fabric finds and vintage notions. We visited Ultramod, Mokuba, and Fil 2000. Saturday we worked in the Academy studio again and that evening we joined some of the American students at a local jazz club.

Sunday we up early and off to the Marche aux Puces again but this time a different part of the flea market looking for the "Button Man" all the while humming "Have you seen the muffin button man, ……" we were being so silly! We found the button man, we bought, we went back home happy with our finds and then we went to the studio.

I just realized how long this post has gotten so I'm going to stop now and finish my Paris trip in part three.

If you made it this far I hope you will leave a comment, you deserve to!!

Paris Part One/Fashion

2010-09-23T07:04:00.000-07:00

(Peter is the director of the Academy so all tickets were in his name)

I arrived in Paris on Friday morning Sept. 3 after a flight of over more than 10 hours, direct from SFO to Paris. Sharon met me at the airport and we got on the Metro to ride back to where we were staying in the Latin Quarter or 5th arrondissement. It was my first ride on a subway. I know, you're probably sitting there with a shocked look on your face saying "what?" as most people do when I tell them this. No I had never ridden on a subway before. It was very crowded and we were juggling my luggage aboard but Sharon is a veteran subway rider and graciously helped me get the hang of it.

After I unpacked I took a three hour nap and then I was ready to go. I wasn't good at carrying my camera with me always, or taking photos of everything. I didn't keep a detailed journal, I just wanted the experience of being there and not having to document it all. When I went back to jot down my daily list of things I did I couldn't even remember what I did that first Friday I was there. Really, but I know we were on the go.

On Sat. we went to Monmarte and the fabric district.

On Sunday we went to the flea market which I'll write about in my next post.

On Mon. we were up early and off to Pret-a-Porter. The Paris American Academy sent all the students and faculty to this annual event where designers of ready-to-wear show the latest fashions for buyers to submit orders. It was huge! We (I am going to say "we" a lot because Sharon and I were together non stop) met many designers whose work we loved. The main floor had a section for "green" designers but it was called "so ethic" and I found several clothing collections from this section I liked. Cameras were not allowed so no pictures except the fashion show one below that we snuck with Sharon's phone camera.

Here are a few sites you can go look for yourself, but remember the collections I saw was for the 2011 lines that aren't being shown on websites yet.

PRIVATSACHEN
mara gibbucci
ELISA CAVALETTI

We were drawn into this designers shop and sat and watched his fashion show. We either loved the garments or hated them, his designs were extremely varied. Later in the week we went into the Didier Parakian fashion house when we went shopping on the Champs Elysees.

And I like these boots como no

We went to the concourse next door to view the "Who's Next" designers and see a fashion show. The show had a fabulous set with escalators on each side of the back of the stage and a large and steep staircase in the center. The first show was "Converse" and I really tried to see the theater in it but it was boring, long, and hard to tell what they were really selling. A model walked down the center stairs and sat down at a vanity onstage. A guy wearing a Converse tee shirt and shorts rode the escalator down one side holding a Converse gym bag in front of him and walked over to the model. He took our a hairbrush and began teasing her long hair up and then affixing sunglasses in the teased hair for 20 minutes! Then two guys dressed in the same outfits with their hair already teased and sunglasses sticking up out of the hair rode the escalators on each side down and stood on the side of the stage while for another 15 minutes while the guy finished the hairdo on the model. Now you tell me what it was about?

It was taking a very long time for the next designer's show to start and my back was aching a bit so we left to take the tram back to the Metro and home to the apartment where we were greeted by this view from the apartment window.

It was a long, exhausting day but very inspiring and our minds were whirling with ideas.

(p.s. A Francophile friend of mine wrote to tell me this about my previous post: "One small thing but gramatically important to the French: Bonjour MES amis (that's plural, for all your friends, mon is singular)" and I thank her for that!)

Paris

2010-09-18T15:37:00.000-07:00

Bonjour mon amis!

It was the time of my life, it really was. I have been home since Thursday but my circadian rhythm is off, night is day and day is night. I'm trying to get back on schedule but it's hard. I want to write so much about my trip but because of my messed up sleep habits I am not on track to write much, or create in my studio which I desperately need to be doing to get ready for Art and Soul in a couple of weeks, or feel anything but tired and a little disoriented.

I did so much while I was in Pairs, maybe not all the "normal" things tourists did but I will try to make a list and perhaps in a future post I can elaborate.

I got to go to Pret a porte and "who's next"

Visited the Louvre but I am allergic to huge crowds and didn't stay very long

Champs Elysées and the fashion houses ( I'll write later about visiting Chanel)

rode many miles on the metro

Ultramod millinery shop

Montmarte

Paris American Academy

Went to see the eiffel tower at night but after getting near the whole area was blockaded and evacuated because of a bomb threat.

Marche du Puces

Isle de St. Louis/Along the Seine

Notre Dame

This song kept playing in my head while I was in Paris.

merci beaucoup for stopping by
Au Revoir for now.

The City of Lights

2010-09-01T08:09:00.000-07:00

Paris is called the "City of Light' because it is the most- lit city in the world and there are so many lights. In 1828, Paris began lighting the Champs De Elysées with gas lamps. It was the first city in Europe to do so, and so earned the nickname "La Ville-Lumière" or The City of Light.

You may remember a while back I wrote here about a trip to Paris? That journey begins tomorrow. My flight will leave SFO at 3:30 and the next morning I'll be in Paris. Sharon will meet me at the airport and the adventure will begin.

Here is a partial list of things we plan to do but in no particular order and we can always add or delete things as we feel. I will be observing classes Sharon will be teaching at the Paris American Academy and I'll get to meet the director and see how that pans out for me.

1) Parisian flea market
2) pastries - food in general
3) libations (champagne!)
4) Pret a Porter Paris is an international fashion trade show, the meeting place for fashion and creative accessories designers. YES! I get to go to this.
5) The Louvre
6) Exploring the Latin Quarter where the academy is and where I'm staying - Notre Dame

I don't care about going up in the Eiffel Tower or some of those other very touristy things. I'm not sure if we'll get out to the countryside but it could happen.

I was in Paris once before but it was only overnight. Just long enough to know I wanted to go back and now I get to do that.

My dilemma about packing is this: I'm not just having to pack clothing to take, that would be easy, but I have to take some of my wearables to show and I need to take some things I want to work on while I'm in the studio, which means fabrics, dyes, and other supplies. I can check one bag weighing up to 50 lbs. If it's overweight or I took a second bag it gets very expensive. I can take one small carryon. I have piles of things everywhere and as soon as I finish typing this I will begin stuffing space bags and putting in the suitcase in hopes it all fits and weighs the proper amount. I know, I know, poor me right?

I made the decision not to take my computer. I can use Sharon's but not sure what the internet situation will be so if you don't hear from me much that only means I'm having the time of my life.

I don't speak any French. I haven't fretted about this too much, I have a few basic phrases to use and I'll just have to wing it.

I'm back on the 16th so until then Au revoir!

Art Mimics Nature

2010-08-30T08:06:00.000-07:00

Art takes nature as its model. (Aristotle)

Often artists get inspiration from nature. I find that to be true when I am dying fabrics and ribbons. Color schemes are nature oriented and in this example I show some shibori dyed ribbon that mimics a flicker feather.

A while back my friend Linda and I had driven to Big Sur where I delivered some of my dyed scarves to the Local Color Gallery. After lunch we decided to walk the Andrew Molera State Park Headlands Trail. The trail snakes through ancient oaks, a meadow of native grasses and vines, ending where the river creates a lagoon and flows into the ocean. Along the path you pass a cabin that boasts to be the oldest standing structure on Big Sur's coast. This property was a successful dairy in the late 1800's so the paths have names like "Creamery Meadow Trail".

As we walked along I spied some downy feathers and soon came upon this Northern Flicker wing. The body of the bird was off to the side. I assume it was attacked by another predatory animal. I am known to collect feathers, seashells, and acorns so of course I picked this wing up and carried it home.

I soaked the wing in salt water for several days to kill any mites and when I was looking it over in my studio I realized I had dyed some ribbon that was similar in color and the shibori technique creates the chevron pattern that looks like the pattern of the flicker's.

I truly think artists must observe nature and get their inspiration from it. How else would one create?

Often I dye something the color of bark, the blue of a robin's egg, the color of a terra cotta pot, and many autumn leaves. Once I visited my sister in Colorado and brought home some rocks I collected in the mountains that were colors of grays, rusts and tans. I warp painted silk yarns in these colors, wove the fabric and made a series of vests from it.

Nature has been mastering itself for some time now, and it is an honor to be able to capture its beauty. (Justin Beckett)

The Road Home From Sedona and Songs

2010-08-21T11:07:00.000-07:00

Leaving Sedona with Bakersfield as my destination to spend the night I was in awe of the scenery. Those pillars of weathered red rock, Bell Tower, and the Vortex make this a magical place. After leaving the hills I was driving through the desert landscape again. I would see nothing for miles and then pass small towns where I wondered what people who lived there did. You could see the green areas surrounding these towns where water must be but is it piped in from somewhere else or is there a deep well, an oasis if you will? I passed abandoned cafes and one bar I swear with nothing around it for miles called "The Honolulu Club". I wish I could have stopped to take a picture but I flew by before I could think to stop. Maybe that's why it didn't succeed, no one could stop in time.

I thought of music again, songs that I play on the CD player as I drive along and often times sing with at the top of my lungs. I thought of the Native Americans who used to inhabit this land and I shoved the Indigo Girls "Rites of Passage" CD in and sing ..... " I used to search for reservations and native lands before I realized everywhere I stand there have been tribal feet running wild as fire some past life sister of my desire"..........

I come upon signs for Lake Havasu and then I see a sign saying "London Bridge" and an arrow. I'm driving and couldn't snap a shot but did get this one and put my own sign on. Hear this song to relate. Sort of. Well they mention London Bridge.

I was traveling on 40 West and saw signs for Flagstaff, Kingman, Barstow, San Bernadino ..... well of course 40 parallels Route 66.

As I crossed the state line of course we have to go through inspection stations, "where are you coming from" "Sedona" "do you have any fresh fruit or plants?" "No" "Okay have a nice day". But I was in a line I had to wait a while because there was an Olympic Racing Sailboat being towed in front of me with Massachusetts plates. They did a thorough inspections under the boat, around all the sides, etc. I wonder where that boat had been.

As I head farther north and west in California I start seeing corn fields and then the orchards, cherries, almonds, peaches, apricots. Closer to Gilroy I see some fields of flowers and roses. And then I'm almost home.

My journey is over and now I'm planning my next one which will be a long airplane ride to Paris.

Joanne's "Poetry In Motion" Duster Jacket

2010-08-17T09:38:00.000-07:00

I mentioned at one point about having been commissioned by a friend to "upcycle" a jacket for her. She sent me the garment and it reminded me of a classy "smoking" jacket to wear around the house. Golden satin with a pointed lapel and little fake flap pockets with matching fabric covered buttons. I removed all the buttons, removed the flaps, and cut the collar off. Next I began draping fabrics and laces I might want to use over the shoulders. I actually sewed many of these down using a machine and pinned the yoyo's on, then stepped back to take a good hard look and decided this looked like a clown suit. Geez, what was I thinking? I was very unhappy with this.

I fretted and wrote friends for advice and meditated on it a bit then I took the seam ripper to it and started over. Once I muted the palette and took a different design approach it all came together wonderfully and I was very pleased. I used silk fabrics I had painted faux script on and used that as inspiration. Upon completion I called this "Poetry in Motion".

I gave the garment to Joanne at Art Unraveled and I think I saw some tears well up in her eyes which made me feel very good and relieved that she liked it so much.

I regret that I didn't get any pics of her wearing it and I had the opportunity. When we met Jennifer, Angie, Martha, and Fran for dinner she had it on and it was the perfect photo op but I didn't have my camera with me. Sigh. Anyway here are some snapshots I took before I packed it up and hopefully Joanne may post some pictures of it after she gets back home.

Part II of Road trip to Phoenix-Art Unraveled

2010-08-16T16:44:00.000-07:00

After arriving in Phoenix on Thursday I had an uneventful evening with a well needed rest. Friday after breakfast Jennifer and I took off to SAS fabrics. This year we went to the one on Indian School road because we found out it's air conditioned (what a concept). It's not as large as the one on 19th but that store doesn't have AC and believe me in Phoenix in Aug. it's much more pleasant to shop where it's cool.

After purchasing many bargains of fabrics, trims ($1.00 a spool/bag), and sundries we took off in search of a bottle opener and silicone spray. Both items should have been easy to find but really we went to several places before we found either of them.

Finally arrived back at the hotel where I thought I would mix dyes for the class on Sunday but decided I needed to rest more since I had a class that evening. Drawing Lab with Carla Sonheim. Fun drawing exercises to get you going. I'm posting some of the things I did and hope this doesn't discourage anyone from taking classes with her. BTW she is offering an online class. Note that these little drawings were done quickly, some with my left hand, some by not letting the pencil leave the paper, some by just scribbling the shape of object in. I was wanting to jumpstart back into drawing and this really did help me.

Saturday I was up early to set up my vendor booth. I always get keyed up for these events and it's helpful when people actually come buy your wares and especially for me when a garment finds the perfect home. For instance on this lovely and sweet young woman. Could this dress fit her more perfectly???

Here are a few more samples of items I sold.

Me in my booth.

After vendor day was over and I had packed everything back to my room, Jennifer & I had some dinner (and well deserved adult beverage) and then I spend a couple of hours mixing the dyes for class the next day. The class was successful and I posted the results in an earlier post. "wayward blooms to dye for" and I think they are!

Monday morning I got my car packed up (again). I have to broadcast that the hotel staff at the Embassy Suites in Paradise Valley are the best!! They are always so helpful. They know me now and not one of them goes running when they see me arrive. It's a good indication of their compassion to help.

Around noon I was headed for Sedona to spend a couple days with dear friends.

First Leg of My Road Trip to Phoenix in Songs

2010-08-14T08:49:00.000-07:00

As I left home with my car all packed and only room for me as the passenger seat was also full of stuff I headed toward LA. I was to meet my friend Sharla to have a beer, a swim, and some dinner in that order. I always think of this song when I take off because I know I'll be on the highway "Out with the truckers, and the kickers and the cowboy angels".

Leaving the 5 to get on the 210 on the outskirts of LA as I took the ramp and rounded the bend I hit gridlock. I thought I was making good time but then it took over 2 hours to go 90 miles. Pasadena to San Bernadino and on into Redlands to spend the night. During this slow trek this song came to mind "I've come a long way, I've come a long way, I've gone 500 miles today, I've come a long way, I've come a long way and never even left LA". Now I digress but want to call your attention to the fact that in Southern California highways are called "the". The 10, the 405, the 210. Somewhere along the way I have picked this up. In Missouri growing up it was highway 67, etc. In Texas it is Interstate 35 or I35, etc. When I moved to California I just said "you get on 880" but now it's "the" 880. I said I was digressing sorry, now back to LA. I stayed in a decent hotel with a fabulous hole in the wall Mexican food establishment (they seem to be the best) next door. The hotel had free beer and wine so I grabbed some tacos to go and a Stella Artois from the bar and went back to my room to savor.

My friend Sharla did not show as she came down with an awful sore throat. I missed her but did not need to get her germs either. (Sharla, I still love you!) I headed out bright and early the next morning to get on "the" 10 and head to Phoenix. Again "Grievous Angel" came to mind and of course this song as I saw the signs to Tonapah.

As the scenery changed and the cactus appeared on the hillsides this song from an old favorite band, The Austin Lounge Lizards, began playing in my head.

I made it to Paradise Valley and checked into my hotel room with no mishaps and then met my friend Jennifer and we had a beer in the bar before she took off to have dinner with a friend and I retired to my room.

More to come with next post.

wayward blooms class at Art Unraveled

2010-08-13T16:10:00.001-07:00

I started a travelogue of sorts when I ventured out on the road from my mountain top home to Phoenix to teach at Art Unraveled and to vend. I want to edit my writings before I post it here and I need to find time to download all my photos to post along with. For now I will show samples of the flowers created in the "wayward blooms" class Jennifer Whitmer and I co-taught. I think everyone was pleased at their beautiful creations!

I'm sorry I don't have names to go with particular flowers. Well to be honest I know very few names of the students who were in the class. But I do remember faces!! If you are reading this and one of these flowers is yours let me know.

Every time I teach new people to dye cloth I am amazed at the enthusiasm! Really once the magic of coloring silks captures you, you just want to do more and more, try different techniques and colors to see what the end result it. I wonder if I should put disclaimers on my handouts "Dyeing can be addictive"?

I was thrilled at the beauty of these and hope to be able to teach this class again in the future.

Contemplating Art Retreat Teaching Applications

2010-07-27T10:11:00.000-07:00

It's always an issue when applying to teach at art retreats ....... charging for kit fees and creating a supply list. There are two sides to these issue and I've been on both of them.

Many teachers have supply lists a mile long and they are daunting when you look at them as a student. Some of the supplies can be costly and then there is the problem of packing everything to bring, especially when flying these days since some airlines charge so much for baggage! When there are a ton of expensive items one must consider the investment of them and is it something they will use? If you take a mixed media painting class and decide you suck at it but you have $80.00 invested in the supplies then you have to be prepared to eat that cost and donate the supplies or store them indefinitely in hope that one day you will use them.

Some students complain about instructors charging kit fees. I know my kit fees are usually the highest but that's only because I am buying silks to dye which cost. I don't make a profit off the kit fees. I figure my cost, which is the lowest since I have wholesale accounts, not at a retail value. I don't charge for the dye involved or the equipment I invest in to bring. I have to have microwaves to heat set the dye in. Lining up microwaves and garments racks for vendor day is stressful for me if I'm flying to a retreat so I attend those I can drive to. I just load the car with all I need and away I go down the highway. I am hoping that students understand why I charge the kit fee and that they understand they are getting a good deal. Another pro for the kit fee is that students don't have to order the silks and bring it with them. I hope they understand I can't afford to buy everyone the silk, so I charge for it.

I try to keep my supply list at the least amount of items I can. I understand about having to pack a mountain of supplies, I'm a student many times myself. But think if the teacher has to bring everything?!! It would be cost prohibitive to teach. Well it depends on what you're teaching and what it entails.

I took an art class with Kelly Kilmer years ago, before 911, when she could travel with a suitcase full of paints, and markers, and gel mediums and it was freeing for the student to just show up and get to experiment with all those goodies in the techniques she was teaching. But now it's hard to travel on an airplane with some of these items, let alone bringing a whole suitcase which you would be charged extra for after a lengthy inspection. Some items have to be shipped ahead of time, more cost. I sure hope students think about these issues and realize why kits fees are necessary and why they are asked to bring supplies instead of everything being supplied for them.

This is what my car looks like after it's packed with stuff to take to teach at an art retreat.

So now I'm filling out the applications and really paying attention to these issues.

For all retreat goers and instructors who are reading this I'd like to know your thoughts on this subject!

Wisconsin Journey

2010-07-23T09:11:00.000-07:00

The trip to Wisconsin was successful. It was the family reunion on my husband's mothers' side. The bugs were incredibly awful! Swarms of mosquitoes and biting flies I did not relish but the rest of the time there was great. I walked the gentle sloping fields to the creek, I looked intently at the clouds, clouds we don't see often where I live in California, thunderheads and approaching storm clouds filled with rain. I noticed wildflowers, trees, and rushing stream waters. I slathered on repellent hourly to fight against the relentless bugs. (did I already mention that?).

We took my 93 year old mother-in-law who has trouble walking because of sciatica and weak hip and knee joints that are painful for her. We lined up wheelchairs in the airports. We took a direct flight from San Jose to Minneapolis and then a long trip through the terminal to baggage claim (I kid you not, miles between gate and baggage). We were glad we had hired a nurse friend to go with us. After we left the airport it was still a 3 plus hour drive to the farm which put us there close to midnight. The next morning we drove an hour away to Rice Lake to rent an RV for Rose to be comfortable in for the next several days. She doesn't remember a lot, short term memory is fairly gone. After we got her settled in the RV she wanted to know where her keys were so she could lock up and we explained she didn't need them to lock up, that she was in an RV at the Farm. She thought she was back home and then asked how she got to the farm. She couldn't remember the previous whole day of traveling, even though she stayed awake all those hours. She has moments of being lucid and remembering and then it goes away and she gets disoriented. But she has such a positive attitude, always upbeat and things are just fine. I hope if and when I get to that stage of life I will be as pleasant as she is but I think I might be the grumpy old lady type.

The nurse left us on Sunday and we were the ones to take care of Rose and on the long travels home on Monday. It made me appreciate care givers so much. I realized I am not the nurse type. It isn't that I don't care or have the compassion, it's the actual physical part of what it entails to care for someone on this level, having the stomach for it I guess. Lelani, we appreciate you sssooooo much for all you do!

Now I'm home, that journey is over and I'm preparing for my next one to Phoenix. The kits are made for my class and I'm finishing up some pieces I've been working on to sell on vendor day. AND Joanne, one of those pieces is your duster jacket. This is a garment my friend Joanne sent me to upcycle for her and bring to Art Unraveled. She wanted to be surprised and I'm having such a hard time not to send her pictures and ask if she likes it so far. I just have to have faith she will!

"It's A Family Reunion Like You Wouldn't Believe" .......

2010-07-13T11:50:00.000-07:00

....... A line from the song "Skinner Creek" off of Michael's cd Reunion.

We'll be heading to the 100 year anniversary of the farm Michael's mother grew up on in Northern Wisconsin tomorrow. We're taking his mom with us who turned 93 last month. They'll probably be 100 people there, camping in tents, in RV's, and staying up all night around the camp fire. Five full days and no computer. This will be the interesting part, not be "connected" for five days. It's debatable as to whether we'll even have cell reception or not. My kids are going with us, ages 22 and 19. Think they can survive 5 days without computer access or cell phone? Hhmmm. No texting?!

I'm looking forward to walking to the creek, fishing, tubing the Flambeau, seeing fireflies at dusk, eating fresh caught and cooked fish, having no schedule, telling stories around the fire. I'm not looking forward to the mosquitos as big as houses, sleeping in a tent on the ground without an air mattress, ticks & chiggers.

I'll be back on the 20th and then I'll be getting ready to travel to Phoenix for Art Unraveled to teach and vend.

Hope everyone is having a lovely summer!

"I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference."

— Robert Frost

Handkerchief Poppies

2010-07-06T13:44:00.000-07:00

I've created more vintage handkerchief flowers which remind me of poppies, especially like the Matilija poppies that are in bloom around my house now.

I have just listed a few of these pins I've made on my wayward threads Etsy shop.

My Handkerchief Poppies

2010-07-02T08:35:00.001-07:00

Over the years I have collected printed hankies and always wondered what to do with them. The color and cheeriness of them attracted me to buy them at flea markets and thrift stores until I have accumulated quite a pile of them. I stored them in a round Blue Bell ice cream container for years until a few weeks ago I took them out again to admire them. I have to do something with these!

I had seen other artists make flowers out of them but they cut them and I couldn't bring myself to do that. Am I nuts? I started gathering them and folding them and pinning them on garments and finally I came up with a flower I could make them into. When I sent the pictures to show my sister she commented that they looked like poppies and I agree they do have that floppy quality of a poppy so that's what I've decided to call them. I did not cut them, they are hand stitched so if someone wanted the hankie back again (?) the stitching could be remove.

I've sewn vintage buttons as centers and each flower will have a pin back sewn on so you could wear these on any garment, a hat, or perhaps use them to decorate a room.

I've only made these two so far but just had to share them and plan to make more. Wouldn't a bowl full of these be uplifting to see?

My Studio and Work

2010-06-29T17:03:00.001-07:00

I've been pretty busy working in my studio, dyeing fabrics, lace, & ribbons and recreating garments into new ones. I completed this jacket and have a few more to work on. This is a vintage rayon acetate bedjacket I dyed a caramel color. I then trimmed the bottom with a hand dyed silk ruffle and collaged the back with hand dyed and vintage fabrics and lace. The more I look at this I'm not sure I'm finished with it.

I you live in the Santa Cruz area I will be having a trunk show at Idle Hands located at 805 Pacific from 6:00 - 9:00 as part of First Friday art walk. Please stop in and see what I've been up to, have some refreshments, and see other wearable artists and there wares. After the trunk show I'm heading over to the Crepe Place to a CD release party fro Jay Lingo where my friend Sharon Allen is opening. Here's Sharon in one of my reborn slip dresses she wore to her CD release party. I dye silk habotai, created yoyos with the silk and sewed them onto a vintage slip with vintage shoe button centers.

I work in an unorthodox manner as I am creating several pieces at a time, dragging out bins of vintage laces and linens to use along with my own piles of dyed fabrics and trim, flitting from one piece to another seeing what works or speaks to me. This is what my studio looks like and will for many months to come as I start to travel and teach at retreats and vend and try to create in between.

Spanish Broom and Other Flora Around My World

2010-06-27T08:56:00.000-07:00

The drive to and from my house is filled with perfumed air from the Spanish broom growing along the roadsides. I roll my windows down to take it all in. I love the bright cheery yellow burst of color as I round the curves.

Many locals complain about this invasive plant. They also call it Scotch broom, which it is not, and apparently is not as invasive as the Scotch or French broom which both grown in the Santa Cruz Mountains where I live.

Here’s what I gathered on the Internet about it:

A perennial, evergreen shrub, Spanish broom, aka Weavers broom, is often mistaken for Scotch broom (Scot's broom) but can be distinguished by the fragrant flowers and rounded, bright green stems.

Deciduous, summer to early spring, this species is considered somewhat less troublesome than Scotch or French brooms. In its native range, stems and fibers are used to make baskets, mats, ropes, and paper. Flowers provide a yellow dye and an essential oil that is sometimes used in perfumery. Introduced from the Mediterranean region and Canary, Madeira, and Azores Islands.

Spanish broom was introduced into the California ornamental trade in 1848 in San Francisco. Beginning in the late 1930s, it was planted along mountain highways in southern California.

According to the California Invasive Plant Council, Spanish broom occurs in coastal scrub, grassland, wetlands, and oak (Quercus spp.) woodland throughout California, and forests in the northwestern part of the state. Spanish broom is associated with coyote bush (Baccharis pilularis) in the interior Santa Cruz Mountains, with a large monospecific stand of French broom located downslope. Spanish broom also occurs in redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) forests.

This shrub is in full bloom on the hillside along the long drive to my house. I do not know what it is and have not been able to identify it so if you know please leave a message for me!!!

Grasses

Sticky Monkey Flower

Deerweed

matilija poppy

Yerba Santa with lovely Swallowtail Butterfly

Elderberries in bloom. When the blossoms turn to deep blue/purple berries the birds will flock in droves, western tanagers, lesser goldfinch, flycatchers, towhees, grosbeaks, and then the band tail pigeons will swoop in with wings drumming to lord over the other birds while they stealthily flit from branch to branch.

wayward threads & Rachel Zee Photography

2010-06-19T18:47:00.000-07:00

I took a 45 minute drive to Mountain View yesterday to attend the FabMo distribution center. I was happy with the stash I gathered. I had a friend who attended in the past and said there wasn’t much to choose from the day she went but I think I got lucky. Tables of designer fabric swatches from sample books, cards of trim samples, yardage of donated fabrics are the offerings I perused. A $5.00 donation per grocery bag was asked and I walked away with 3 BAGS FULL!! I’ll use these fabric pieces to revamp vintage and used garments and accessories for my “wayward threads” clothing line.

Remember my post where I cut and sewed a vintage barkcloth remnant as the start of a jacket? The fabrics I had pinned to use as a skirt ended up not being the ones I choose. I totally changed the whole concept by dyeing silk noil gauze for a skirt instead of the tiered look I had originally thought I’d use.

This sweater jacket is not my usual color scheme but it just designed itself as I went along. I had the pink sweater and had dyed a vintage Edwardian cotton petticoat a pale sky blue. When I received the hand stamped trims in the mail I purchased from this Etsy shop the color scheme was born. I collected fabrics and embellishments from around my studio and piled them all together on a table and then pared it down to what I felt worked. While I was gathering and matching and piling on the trims and buttons I realized that this piece was exactly something that could be part of Dollybelle's Peepshow blog. I describe it as Parisian sparkle, lace, and birthday cake. Thanks for the inspiration Christine, I’m sure I channeled you in some way!

I posted several new upcycled reborn garments in my Etsy shop using photos that Rachel of Rachel Zee photography took using two of her friends, Carmen and Addison as models (I hope I spelled their names correctly). Lovely girls and the shoot went so smoothly. Rachel did an excellent job of choosing a perfect site to do this shoot at and an eye for capturing the images.

Please have a look at my new listings and the beautiful photos and let me and Rachel know what you think!

UNBOUNDART

2010-06-18T08:01:00.000-07:00

My cousin Kim Schrag is an artist I have always admired. She lives in New York State and has just now started a blog with her mate, Fernando Llosa, to showcase both their works. You can visit it here and be sure to click the link to their website to see all the fabulous art they create. I particularly like this piece of a series that Fernando is calling Stone Poem assemblages. I love that name for his work, stone poems, lovely.

And this piece by Kim. I can't believe she is creating this with paper? I want to see this in person. Guess that means I have to go visit her and I should, it's been a very long time since I've gotten to spend time with her.

I am almost ready to post some new wayward threads frocks on Etsy and a post here about them and the construction process but I have an appointment this morning with FabMo in Mountain View so I need to leave soon. Yes, I'm going to the distribution center to see what kind of fabrics I can find there. I have been wanting to go to this for a while now but the dates for this have never been ones that work for me. We all know I need more fabric right? :)

Silk Ribbons

2010-06-09T13:10:00.000-07:00

I just posted some more of my hand dyed ribbons on Etsy. Before I was through posting I had already made a sale. I am always amazed at who purchases them and what they do with them.

Here my dear friend Nina made this lovely story necklace. Her pieces truly are narrative as she calls them. She incorporated some of my faux scripted torn fabric ribbon strips into "The Forest" This piece sold very quickly as most of her jewelry does. Here are some images she so graciously sent me with permission to post.

Another jeweler friend of mine, Caty who creates fabulous lampwork beads and some edgy jewelry designs with PMC and copper, has purchased (and traded) ribbons with me. Here is one of her creation using a dyed silk cord. Isn't it lovely?

A few years ago I had a workshop in Kauai with the talented DJ Pettitt where she "constructed" this fabric book. I say constructed because it seems like many layers of work - painting, stitching, and handwork where she used fabrics I had dyed for her and see the shibori dyed silk ribbon she uses to tie it all together? Another use for my humble little ribbons. BTW, DJ gave me this book as a gift in front of a class I was teaching and I had to staunch the tears of joy as I argued with her that she could not give me such a thing. Since then I am learning grace, how to say "thank you" and not argue against such beautiful gifts.

If you purchase ribbons from me I would love to hear back from you about what you create with them or use them for!

BTW, I just got notice that one of my "wayward threads" vintage reborn slip dresses is in an Etsy Treasury. Another slip dress was also listed in a Treasury a few weeks ago here.

Good Day Sunshine! (blog give away winner)

2010-06-02T09:29:00.000-07:00

One a clear day I can see the beach across the bay in Monterey.

The rain has gone for now and the days have been bright and sunny and almost perfect. Over the weekend I had a photo shoot of my work and Saturday couldn't have been a better day to do it. Spent the night with a friend in Pacific Grove and she cooked me a fabulous breakfast the next morning. Crab and goat cheese omelet with hash browns and mimosas, yum!

I'm waiting patiently to get the proofs of the photo shoot. The photographer was busy this week so I know it will be next week before I get them. I'll be sure to post them here and also more items will be listed in Etsy.

Yesterday was my blog give away and since I had all of 5 comments and one of them was anonymous I wrote the names down on scraps of paper, folded them, laid them in a pile and closed my eyes to choose one. Joanne was the winner! Cowboy Jack I'm real sorry you weren't the winner because I would have loved any excuse to take off and travel to Current River. It's been too dang long a time and I'm sure the peace and tranquility that place brings to me would be just the ticket. Next year?

I have had a lot of hits on my vintage slip dresses and others sent me private messages via email or facebook. I can't wait to add the jackets and tops I've been working on but I'm just waiting (chomping at the bit really) to get those pics!