The goal is to stay in touch.  I'm in the process of changing my website so that it will be easier to update and add information.  Check it out and let me know what you think.  LaverneZ.com

My new site also has a collection of felted alpaca and merino pieces embellished with beads. The fabric was created on the FeltLOOM.  Perfect for your home decor.

This week I'm beginning shibori dyeing silk in preparation for fall.  Can you believe it?  Summer isn't even here and I'm thinking fall. Right now they are wrapped in newsprint sitting in the canner waiting to be covered with towels and steamed for 45 minutes to set the dye.

Pole Wrapped, Shibori dyed coat

 

I know it is quickly approaching summer.  Nonetheless, thinking about a merino and alpaca coat, shibori dyed in preparation for winter is not a bad idea.

Irregular Design Completed

 At first I wasn't sure that I like the fact that the two front sides were not similar.  Now I like the contrast.  With the focus on color, this one has more green than I anticipated.  Thus leading me to using all yellow with purple and a dash of black next time for more copper, rust and olive.  I love color theory!  And I love irregular designs that become dramatic.

Another Challenge Presents Itself

Both of these pieces started out by felting .25 alpaca/merino onto 44" silk gauze
After dyeing, steaming and rinsing, the one on the left was put in the washer on the drain spin only cycle. It is now 30" wide and fulled much  more tightly. The one on the left was line dried and is 37" wide and more soft. Hmmmm. I was going to make a coat so I guess I will re-wet the one on the right and drain spin it so they are both the same. The question is will the tighter fulling wear better?

Black Fire

In preparation for my art opening the theme is Fire.  I'm trying to see how many different ways I can dye fabric, and make art within the concept of Fire. And in some cases I'm trying to see how large a piece of fabric I can make and shibori dye.  This piece of 1/4 pound merino and black devore silk is Nuno Felted on the FeltLOOM, pole wrapped, then shibori dyed in orange, red and purple.  The black side is the silk, the colorful side is the wool. Either side could be considered the "right side"  It started out being 45" by 72".  After felting and fulling the final size is 35" x 64" not including the natural edges which vary in size from 2 to 3 inches. This soft and beautiful piece of fabric can be used as a wrap, a throw, or hung on the wall.   Find it on Etsy     

And Then Purple

What to do with leftovers?  I felted merino wool and silk using the FeltLOOM, then shibori dyed it in three shades of purple. These were remnants of a larger piece which became a vest. Wanting no waste, I overlapped the long strips and felted them again on the FeltLOOM. Could be worn as is as a scarf or tie, or cut into pieces for your own project. Natural, irregular edges are great for felting. The widest is 5.5”, the narrowest is 2”    
Find it on Etsy