Oh, Pretty Fabrics - More Underpainting!

I underpainted more fabrics than I had planned on.
I mixed up more dye than I needed and couldn't let it go to waste.


Here are 5 of the pieces hanging up to dry. I used two different methods to do the underpainting on these.


I used a totally different method for this piece. As my friend Peggy and I were studying all the pieces she chose this one as her favorite. It was time well spent as we studied and analyzed the fabrics. I decided what I would do next with this one. Peggy was a chemist in a previously life. Even though she is not and has no intention of becoming a dyer she was able to give me some suggestions of things I might try with my dyes. (I got a message from her this morning and she may reconsider becoming a dyer after she spent time with my fabrics yesterday!)


This was one of my favorites and I will attempt to save the colors just as they are.


When I finished I still had leftover dyes. I decided to combine the similar colors in 3 pots and see how the colors would wick onto various fabrics. I got some interesting results.

The rose colors were done on a cotton/linen brocade. The texture of the brocade and the colors gave a very Victorian feeling to this piece.

I just can't get enough of color and the effects of the dye. The more I do the more I want to do!

Because I have to roll some of these on poles, and do other things to some of the others I will not get to my big dyeing session today - probably not tomorrow either. I am anxious to see the final results and I'll keep working at it.

I am sharing a colorful puzzle with you today.

Classes are over and I'm tired - a good tired

Today was the last day of Jan's class.
I really enjoyed the class and learned so much and accomplished so much.
We had a great group of ladies in the class along with our top notch instructor.
It was after 5 when I left the Barn.
The last thing we did today was share our work with the rest of the class and talk about it.
I would like to share some of my work with you.

These three small pieces were underpainted and shibori dyed over the painting. I have an idea how I will use these. (But don't hold your breath waiting to see the finished piece as my priority will be working on the quilts for my solo show in January)

This piece is also underpainted and shibori dyed over it. At this point I have no idea how I will use it.

These 24 pieces started out as a dark to light orange gradation. Each set of 4 was overdyed with a different color with the same patterning. I also have an idea how I will use these.

For this group of fabrics I split a one and one half yard piece of my Gradual Gradation Fabric into five equal pieces. Each piece was shibori dyed with a different color.
The Gradual Gradation fabric shades from dark to light and back to dark. It has been folded so that the dark and light are next to each other in the photo.
Almost all of the fabrics I worked with started as a color rather than starting with plain white fabric as most class members did.
I wasn't trying to be the maverick of the group, I just had some solid hand dyes that I thought I could enhance with some shibori dyeing.
I'm pleased with them and I hope you enjoyed looking at them.