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.
 

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/

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!

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.

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

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.

Green or Greens

Is it the greens we eat or green we wear that empowers us the most?

This green shibori dyed silk charmeuse and devore was unwrapped from the  pole, hung on the clothes line, then transformed via serger and sewing machine for an evening of play and strut.  You can find her at Koi Gallery in the Galt Hotel in Louisville.

 

 Artemisia, old, wise and playful, arrived in a bark beret, brings violets and greens. (The secret ingredient for achieving a powerful menopause).

This gathering, my dear, is the beginning of unknown inquiries. We have no idea what we are going to inquire about. With blue beads in her hair, Honeyrose, the woman I am to become, says, “Our life is not our circumstances, our life is our story.” I gather the Garden Girls to discuss concerns significant not only to our selves but to every weed, tree and shrub that surrounds us.
excerpt from my memoir, The Garden Girls Letters and Journal 

Today's Itinerary

Today I unwrap the silk from the poles that I had shibori dyed several days ago.  This Kentucky humidity means it takes forever for them to dry.  At least in the winter I can set them by the wood stove.  In summer, all I can do is wait, and work to fill other stations of perpetual works in progress and gather with artist friends to discuss sources of inspiration, work load and destinations.

“Where are you headed?” Artemisia asked.

That was the purpose of the gathering. The women had become fractured. All four were going in separate directions. Gardenia had begun to question the extent to which she was leaving home. Nettles was concerned about spending more time in the garden. Herbs were drying and she had begun to get pictures of presents in her mind that she could make with them. Lily’s silk painting was stuck and Rose was feeling like she wasn’t really expressing herself fully. That’s why she called the gathering.

“Let’s talk about us,” she said in the postcard she had mailed each Garden Girl. “What if we were real artists? What would life be like then?” 

excerpt from my memoir, The Garden Girls Letters and Journal

On Being Prolific

Work to fill stations

Station 1.  Fabric scoured with synthrapol

Station  2.  Poles cleaned

Station  3. Fabric wrapped on poles or ropes

Station 4.  Fabric shibori dyed

 

 

“Let’s talk about us,” she said in the postcard she had mailed each Garden Girl. “What if we were real artists? What would life be like then?”

Rose wasn’t often inclined to think about the real artist versus the not real artist. She was trying to avoid thinking. When thinking began, doing didn’t. It had occurred to her more than once that she could only do one thing at a time and do it well. But she wanted to know what the others were thinking.

“If you get your fingers dirty,” Nettles told her, “you will better understand your art and you’ll recognize it when it calls you. Sometimes you just have dig in, no matter what. Work always produces results, you know.”
excerpt from my memoir, The Garden Girls Letters and Journal

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.

Bias Cut Caftan

Bias Cut Caftan, pole wrapped, devore silk, shibori dyed purple and copper.  One size fits many.  Best if 5'7" tall at least.  Very dramatic and playful.  Find it at Etsy 

Charmeuse and Velvet

Caftan and Coat

More experiments.  Will I ever get there?  The pole wrapped shibori dyed charmeuse in shades of purple and yellow (which became green when I added the black) started out as a 60" square which I then cut on the bias to create this caftan.  I read somewhere that working on the bias is like working with live fabric.  No kidding.  Every time I moved it the shape changed.  The velvet coat was made from three yards of shibori dyed yardage dyed in shades of yellow (which became copper, rust and olive when I added black.)  I love color theory!  The experiment here was whether or not to dye one long piece or three smaller pieces precut to fit the back and sides.  Just like writing.   Constant rewrites says mentor +Connie May Fowler  Can't wait for the Kentucky Craft Market, Mar 2-3 in Lexington at the Convention Center.

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.

My First How to Video

My latest and greatest iMovie is now available on YouTube. You can view it at:
SHIBORI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzG48yK-D9s

Shibori Fire

How do I pole wrap 22" x 80" merino and silk with locks?
My first "How To Video" with music by Larry Vogt

You can view it at:
SHIBORI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzG48yK-D9s