Final stages

I am now in the final stages of my two pieces. This is when I get very critical and re-visit what has been achieved so far, and try to work out what needs to happen next.

I felt the white dots needed more definition other than the connecting running stitches, so printed some red circles in some of the dots. This was done with the end of a bamboo paintbrush handle which is hollow, hence the very small circles. I then added just a little green in the centres.


It is surprising what can be used for printing and we need to be observant as to what is available. I was about to throw out a used pop-out pill package the other day but it ended up on my work table instead.

Printing with the pill package. I like the irregularies within the grid format. Also printing from a cork, and the bamboo paint brush with some deliberate smudging.

Here I have added some colour to the bottom portion.

I like this quote:
"People who say that it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it"- George Bernard Shaw

High Risk

Taking risks is par for the course as far as I am concerned. One never knows what exactly will happen and yes, there can be disasters but on the whole I think most things are worth a try.

This week I experimented with dropping drips of paint from a height on to paper, then fabric. Getting the consistency of the paint right needed to be sorted first, then the trial on paper, then on to fabric. I tried making the drops initially while standing on a chair then, because I am tall, just holding the dispenser up high and dripping. I like the result on the paper but because the fabric is absorbent it didn't spread quite so much. However, I still liked the result.

Trial on paper.

Then on to previous sampling on fabric.

Then it was a tense moment as I dripped over my two house pieces. Once dry I connected the drops with a tangerine running stitch (yes, more stitching!).

a little bit of stitch

The figures in my latest pieces have gained some extra colour this week. I could have played safe and done this in some compatible colour but instead felt I needed to add a zing and there is no better way to do this than by making an unexpected choice. So I used an apricot / orange colour. I think it works.



And I have added some stitch! I do very little stitching (actually none) these days but getting out the needles and threads seemed very familiar. Not much, but a couched cord on top of each of the steps. The cord is appropriate for the eventual final application, when everything else is completed.




This week I have finally got to mount my previous piece 'Dis-cord' which got completed, except for the mounting, just prior to Christmas. After getting it applied to a painted canvas backing, I took it to a local canvas manufacturer to get the eyelets / grommets done. They were able to do this while I made a lengthy visit to my dentist (yes, another capping!). When I collected my piece the receptionist commented that she, and her work companion, found this piece very 'spooky'. This did not offend me, but instead I felt it was a compliment. This piece is not a 'nice' piece, it was not intended to be such, so her 'spooky' response confirmed to me that it was working. If you wish to re-visit this piece, and my comments about it, you can do so by clicking on Dis-cord.

Over-dyeing a garment

During last week I have over-dyed a silk garment for a client. I am always very hesitant when asked about such an activity as it is mostly unsuccessful. First, the type of fabric needs to be determined (I will only dye cellulose fibres and silk). Second, the stitching thread, zip and of course buttonholes (if any) will remain the original colour. Third, any tight tucks, gathers and folds will act as a resist preventing even distribution of dye colour. And finally, it is common belief that over-dyeing will disguise any fading. Unfortunately this is not the case, the over-dyeing will spread evenly across the previous colour, and the fading will still be evident.

Despite all the above, I decided to give it a go. This garment had been hung amongst others on a rack of clothing, and the narrow shoulders and sides, which had been exposed to the light, had faded. It also had metal and glass bead decorations but because they were stitched, not pasted, I felt they should be okay.

The garment before dyeing. Not easy to see the fading but it is there.

After over-dyeing. The new colour I felt was much more appealing, and the fading was almost eliminated unless you knew where to look.
However, the silk georgette overlay on the skirt took a sad and shrunk, about 10cm/4"! The bodice overlay did not seem to shrink at all. Fortunately the lining dyed the same colour, and both my client and myself felt this shortening of the overlay made a feature, and is actually quite elegant. The beading came through the dye bath well and appeared a lot more refreshed and sparkly.

I have now added shrinkage to my list of reasons why not to over-dye a garment!

Steps and stairs

A busy week but still some progress. These pieces are quite small, measuring 30cm / 12" across the base, and the same from the base to the top point.

Masking off the oval again, but slightly offsetting. Print pattern from a lace curtain.

The figures are now grounded on to flights of steps.

During the weekend I visited the Aotearoa Feltsisters 'Earthwaulks' exhibition in Bottle Creek Gallery, Pataka, Porirua. Not only is this exhibition very well displayed but it shows a great variety of works in felt, and dyed with natural dyes. The work is varied and well executed. The exhibition closes on Sunday, 30 January, but if you are unable to get there, you might like to view the pieces on their blog aotearoafeltsisters.blogspot.com.

Steady progress...

It is good to get back into regular routines and steady progress has been made this week. I have also re-jigged a corner of my studio. This involved dismantling a couple of very old storage units with a crowbar, chisel and hammer (a) because I couldn't get them out of the house on my own, and (b) they are to go to the refuse dump anyway. My portable printing table has now got a permanent place and I no longer have to remove it / return it on to my larger work table. I always feel that having the right work space is incredibly important, and adapting it over the years to suit current requirements is also important.

And now to my latest piece...

This is not a very good photo, it was taken just after I had screened colour on to my 'finished' pieces. I have masked off a motif in the centre of each and the colours are looking very strong as they are still wet.

I meant to take a photo of the pieces when washed and dry, and the masking removed, but got carried away with what I was doing, and forgot!

The next stage was to break up some of the background with discharge paste.

Nothing at all to do with my latest piece but Saturday night at dusk there was one of the strongest rainbows I had ever seen, and it reflected itself on to the misty rain that was creeping into the Hutt Valley.

Finished, before they're started...

I confess it is probably not normal, but I have just 'finished' a couple of pieces before they have actually been started! Okay, that probably doesn't make sense. I want to include the finishing in the processes to produce them. Therefore, I have stitched a buttonhole edging around my two fabric pieces using a linen thread, and will dye and over print the stitching as I work, with the idea that it will blend in to the whole.

I am continuing with my overall theme of the house shape, and incorporating figures. These pieces are intended for my next solo exhibition. I am planning a smaller sub-group of works, their finished shape reflecting the house. These should make a good contrast to the larger pieces I have worked so far.

Having completed the stitched finishing on the edges, I decided to transfer the initial dye colour via my large printing screen.

Templates placed under the screen to determine the shape of the colours to be applied.

Procion MX dye and water painted on to the screen. The dye has been generously applied and then the screen lifted into a vertical position so that the excess dye dribbled down the screen. The stitched fabric pieces will be pre-soaked in soda ash.

This quote appealed to me, how true!
Some things leave my list after I've done them - others after I've abandoned all hope of doing them. Ashleigh Brilliant