Wearable Art on the Wall and on the Body

Above: Gallery Photo of wearable art.  A pieced poetry skirt with 10 yard waist band and below it is seen from afar.

I love that I can take my art off the wall, wrap it around me a read my story, The Coffin,  at my Only 2 Years Until My 70th Birthday Party, and that I can pose with my amazing grandsons, Chuck and Avery.

The skirt was created by pole wrapping crepe, charmeuse and devore silk and shibori dying it in a combination 72 colors of shades.

This is the same techniques I use for dying many of my designs, including wool and merino felted to silk and then layered using the FeltLOOM.www.feltloom.com/

Soon, I will have my Etsy store stocked.  That is my New Year's resolution.  In the meantime feel free to email me any time.

Felting on the FeltLOOM

The seasons come a go so fast.  In November I finished these two merino and alpaca pieces felted on the FelLOOM, pole wrapped shibori dyed and delivered them the Appalachian Fireside Gallery in Berea, KY.  Now I want to make more but December is almost half over.  Spring will be here soon.  Oh my.
 

Be Daring, Take Risks, Experiment

http://lavernez.com/

Lacey as you want to be!  Wanting to create something beautiful out of all the silk fabric I shibori dye, I have been saving the serged edges to create lacey scaves.  Using Solvey and disposable medical waste bags, made out of a material that looks like Saran Wrap, I lay the edges on it, cover with another layer of the  Solvey and then sew it with gold thread.  The Solvey dissolves when rinsed with water leaving a playful and lacey design.

From Rocks to Rugs

During the summer I felted pole wrapped and shibori dyed several pieces of wool and dyed them in reds and orange.  The intention was to create truly wearable art out of the center and use the edges to create a rug/art for the wall.

When I had enough fabric edges I places them on a 4x6 felted wool rug mat and began running it through the FeltLOOM several times. 

Connecting Fiber Exhibit

MS Rezny Gallery

Lexington KY

It was exciting to see the piece on the wall in the gallery along with five other amazing fiber artists.  A review expressed concerns.  Some I agreed with, others not so much.  However, being a writer I realize that it's the conversation that ultimately matters. 

www.under-main.com/thread-of-a-doubt/

Eclectic, Experiments and Seconds

The problem with experimenting is that I get carried away, go off the deep end.  While I get excited about the results, I'm not always sure they are as great as I think they are.  Nonetheless, I share them with enthusiasm and wait for recall.  First comment, too short, so I made some longer.  Another said more lacy, another said less lacy. ( Hmmmmm.  This is starting to remind me of Writing Practice.) My latest is using every last remnant to create art.  I figure if it's fabric I shibori dyed it shall not be wasted.  Using a water soluble stabilizer I lay it out, sew it up and rinse.

Olve Green Chiffon Cape

It's been an amazing summer, not too hot, perfect for dyeing and drying pole wrapped shibori in the sun.  Well, maybe it has been a little too rainy.  As I expand my collection I add more chiffon.  This chiffon cape is 44" wide and 30" from shoulder to edge lengthwise.

Always a Project in Waiting

In between shibori pole wrapping silk, applying dye and waiting for fabric to dry, which is fast on hot days but takes for ever on rainy humid days I like to keep silk around to paint.  (Actually that's what I always wanted to be when I grew up, a painter, but, because of 4-H and learning to sew from my mom, sewing and hand dyed wearable art became my forte.) Oops, and I've created a new way to address stray paint.  Respond!  Just paint a little flower on top of it!

 

The Shibori technique is based on manipulating fabric by wrapping it around a pole or rope, folding and clamping, or stitching. The fabric resists the dye and creates a pattern.     I always place at least three colors, or shades of one color of dye on the cloth.  This creates movement and depth.  The real pleasure attained using the Shibori technique is when you open each steamed package and discover the results!

1. Make rules
2. Choose a palette and stick with it
3. Ask “What if?”

The secret to beautiful texture and blend of color is to not use too much dye by learning to read the flow of the dye in the same way a kayaker reads the river before descending over a 40 foot water fall.  The only way to repeat what you discover is to measure and make notes. (Sorta.  You can never really repeat with shibori. J )

Vinyl Sulphon Dye:   Turq. Yellow, Magenta, Black.  I like to use the color wheel and formulate my own colors.  That way I know what color every other color contains.

Urea water:  ¾ c urea to 4 cups hot water

Add 1 t Ludigol

Use 4 cups Urea water to 7 T dye concentrate

Make soda ash solution.  Add  ½ t Soda ash solution to ½ c dye

 

I use about 3/4 cof dye for one yard of fabric.  But it could be more or less depending on the fabric and whether or not I want any white.

Soak cotton, rayon, bamboo in soda ash solution til damp then drizzle dye on fabric.  Record differences in dampness before applying dye.

For wool, soak fabric in equal parts vinegar and water with capful of synthrapol.  Record differences in dampness before applying dye by drizzling dye on fabric

Let fabric dry completely before steaming.  Wrap in at least 3 layers of newsprint and muslin.  Place in canner with  about 2” of water on stove. Cover with towels.  Steam for 40 min.  Rinse in hot water with synthrapol til water is clear.

For Cotton, silk, bamboo or rayon:  Wash on delicate cycle, cold water and softener (Dharma).  Be very careful when rinsing rayon as it will tear.  Dry on delicate cycle.  Iron with hot, steam iron  For wool, rinse carefully pressing fabric to remove excess water and dye.  Lay flat to dry, drape or place in washer with drain rinse cycle.  Let air dry.  Iron

www.dharmatrading.com/

http://exoticsilks.com/
http://trulywearableart.blogspot.com

Turquoise, Fuchsia, Yellow orange Triad

I love hot Kentucky days.  My devore silk dries fast.  Yesterday I pole wrapped 12 pieces of silk around six poles.  There were a variety of shapes.  Some were 22 x 80" which will become shawls or ponchos.  Some were 22 x 72" and will become infinity scarves.  Some were 44 x 44" and will become jackets.  Others were 44 x 60" and will become a cape.  I also am experimenting with 44 x40" which will become a bolero!  I dyed them all using the vinyl sulphon dyes in the triad colors of turquoise, fuchsia, and yellow orange.  Even though it is the same combination of colors, each piece will be different, either because of the pattern in the devore, or because the order of applying the dye is different.  That's what I love about color theory and shibori!

Be Playful

The idea is to be playful.  The goal, not busy.  Dyeing several pieces in one palette is turning out to be inspiring.  Sewing began yesterday.  This jacket began as 44 x 44" devore fabric, pole wrapped and dyed using the Vinyl Sulphon pure color dyes in a triad of turquoise, fuchsia and yellow orange.  I like using the pure colors in summer.  Come fall I will move into tones, then shades for winter.

Not Busy

I know these are not the most appropriate chairs for one's living room.  They are, however, very comfortable.  And when placed in the zero gravity position they lead to excellent relaxation, hence, meditation and reception of awesome ideas.

The May collection of shibori dyed pieces are complete.  Most are pole wrapped.  A few are rope wrapped.  All pieces are dyed using three colors.  I love the variety. Even Highlin' is enjoying the color.  The empty bowl symbolizes the next step:  sewing a cohesive body of wearable art.

The Goal is to be Not Busy

 

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The Goal is to be Not Busy!  And still produce results. 

Step 1.  Tear all pieces of silk to be dyed in one palette of colors.  I don't like to cut out patterns so everything I make is based on tearing, pole wrap shibori dyeing and sewing.

Step 2.  Create a palette that incudes three colors.  This insures that there will be texture rhythm in all my pieces. And because there are several different combinations, there will be variety, all of which contributes to a cohesive body of work. (There's that phrase again. "body of work!"  It's always important to be striving for a body of work.  That way you never get bored, no matter what your artform.)

Step 3.  Hang up an admire your creations so that you have eternal pleasure in your art making.  This collection is based on the triad and split triad of turquoise with a little seque into the analagous colors of red and and orange

Spring Tints

A beautiful Kentucky spring 72 degree day.  Doors and windows open. Dogs asleep.  (They give me joy on our hikes in the woods.)  Wind blows pole wrapped, shibori dyed silk on the line in the screened in back porch.   Waiting to be steamed and sewn into elegant wraps and capes. Their colors blend with the newly budding trees.  Larry takes his afternoon nap in the downstairs bedroom, sun streaming through the screen.  The empty hammock on the front porch sways. Two black cats sleep beneath.  Windchimes move slightlty.  Their glass shards colliding.  Soon I will  carry the silks to my studio in the loft.  Wrap them in newsprint, place them in an old canner on the stove, cover them with towels and steam set the pale spring colors of dye.  These tints are perfect for the subtle colors spring trees, rosebuds and dogwoods.  

Where Did These Colors Come From?

I hung this shibori dyed silk devore outside to determine if it was a summer color.  That's what I was striving for.  Wanting to tone the complimentary colors, turquoise and red orange, I added a little of their compliment to each color.  Maybe the end blend leans a little towards fall, however, I think they will work just fine all summer.

Living a layered life, I enjoy the colors surrounding my Kentucky cabin.  My art to wear becomes a form of memoir! Perfect for a Kentucky Derby party. Shibori dyed, pole wrapped 44x44" silk devore using the Vinyl Sulphon dyes.  Following color theory I used analagous colors of blue, turquoise and green.  Edges are finished using the Bernina rolled hem adapter.  Finally after 10,000 hours, I think I have it down!  Available at Etsy.http://www.etsy.com/shop/LaverneZabielski

Process spring and dripping art

The morning started with a watercolor sketch.  I'm working on developing a new strategy for coming up with colors of dye for my silk.  Lately there have bee lots of analogous colors.  Time to get more artsy.

It's always amazing what happens after I apply dye and the colors begin to drip.  A work of art all their own.  Today I photograph what almost looks an ocean coast topography.  Next time I might press a piece of water color paper on top.

This is the best time of the year for shibori dyeing.  It's nice to be outside and the colors are tender.  The fuchsia of the red buds, the greenest new grass and dog sleeping next to the picket fence creates the ambiance.  The charmeuse and devore silk on this shibori wrapped pole is dyed with two formulas.  One mixture of 1/2 c red orange and 1/4 t turquoise and another of 1/2 c turquoise and 1/4 t red orange.  There's something about adding a little compliment that takes the color to a new intensity.


This fuchsia and purple charmeuse gown finally made her way to Koi Gallery in The Galt House, Louisville, KY.  She's hot, simple and sensuous.  I think it's the perfect time of year for such self expression.

And if you can't get to her check out my etsy.

Home From Market

Home from Kentucky Crafted, The Market.  It is always exciting to prepare for, challenging to set up and exciting to showcase my shibori dyed Truly Wearable Art.  The show was  wonderful and I love to meet old and create new friends.  As soon as I get home I begin to envision what I want to create next, what to plan for the future and what to exhibit next year at the Market.  I only do one show a year.  The rest of the time focus on boutiques and galleries, and love to work one to one.  Email me if you have an idea.

This preview collection of pole wrapped shibori dyed wearable art for the Kentucky Craft Market in Lexington on March 8-9 is currently destined for MS Rezny Studio/Gallery.  30% discount this Friday night during Gallery Hop! Lots of new colors and designs.