Unpacking......Continues

I am still unpacking from our trip...

Below is a demo piece I created in a rust dyeing class in Idaho

I demonstrated soaking the fabric in vinegar, how to wrap up the rusty object, then packed this up in a plastic bag...

It brewed in the heat in the back of the pick up for nearly a week while we traveled.

Absolutely perfect conditions for rust dyeing!

I unwrapped the bundle, removed the rusty metal, then soaked it in baking soda for a few hours...

It is now washed, dried and pressed...

I will add this to my rust dyed fabric collection!

CLICK HERE to view more Rust Dyeing

One of the pit falls of traveling with your teaching equipment:

Things can really take a beating, packing and unpacking.

I travel with 4 of these thread boxes that I use in my machine quilting demos.

This box just didn't quite do the job keeping the threads in order...

Lucky for me I had a birthday recently...

My Anny Donna surprised me with new thread boxes:

When I arrived in Idaho, she had these boxes waiting for me!

The dividers hold the spools in place beautifully.

She found these in the fishing department of her local hardware store.

CLICK HERE to view more on the Threads I use

I unpacked a few demo pieces I created in classes during our trip:

Gel Glue Resist

Class Sample from Idaho Class

The paint is now cured and I can throw this piece in the washing machine to remove the glue...

CLICK HERE to view more on Gel Glue Resist

Painted Cheesecloth

A by-product of sun dyeing...

Cheesecloth on Painted Fabric

Class Sample from Idaho class

Upper portion is the cheesecloth, lifted off the fabric, after drying in the sun

CLICK HERE to view more on Sun Dyeing

Sun Dyeing - Leaf

Class Sample Print

I created this as a demo in Idaho in a Sun Dyeing Class

I really like it, but I think I have made more work for myself...

I do believe I will have to finish this piece at some point.

Paint Testing Cloth

When painting fabric, I test the colors of paint on a cloth.

This is the result of testing setacolor paints.

I see Monet's Flower Garden in this cloth...

The Glads are in bloom by the Thread Shed

CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts

CLICK HERE to view more FLOWER images

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

Surface Design Workshop.........Idaho

I am in Idaho.....600 miles from home!

Check out the slideshow below to see the fun we had in Idaho:

CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts

CLICK HERE to view more on Gel Glue Resist

CLICK HERE to view more on Sun Dyeing

CLICK HERE to view more on Rust Dyeing

CLICK HERE to see my entire Blog

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

Fairies & Flowers...

I had a great deal of fun today finishing up this fairy quilt of my grand niece.

Click Images to Enlarge:

Fairy Business isn't for Sissies

Back in April I posted a quick tutorial on how this photo transfer piece was created. If you missed the post CLICK HERE to view.

Not a lot of threadwork on this piece.

For the most part I matched thread color and just traced over the basic lines in the photo with thread. I am trying to practice the "less is more" theory.....which is difficult for someone who believes "more is more."

This is the Gel Glue Resist piece I just showed you in my previous post yesterday.

This is the AFTER shot with the glue washed out.

I washed it in the washer on HOT.

Close Up View

After the glue and paint was applied, I sprinkled rock salt all over the surface.

The salt made the cool texture in the paint.

Red White Dinnerplate Spider Dahlia

I went behind the Thread Shed today and found this beauty!

I have never seen a dahlia like this!

It is BIG and WILD looking.

Front Flowerbed

A bird family has made their home in the flowerbed out front.

No sooner did Brad put the new bird house up this spring, and a pair of birds took up residence and began raising a family.

Red Glads

Every year when these fire engine red glads come up, Brad refers to them as Scarlet Spears.

Lavender Dinnerplate Dahlias

It is difficult to truly appreciate just how BIG these dahlias are until you are standing right next to them......eye to eye. They are as tall as I am.

State Fair Zinnia

Love that juicy orange color!

State Fair Zinnia.....side view

Asian Star Lily

These beauties poked up their heads this week.

I wish you could smell the aroma....enchanting.

The smell draws you in for a closer look.

I love the dots inside the petals and the orange stamen

Yellow Dinnerplate Dahlias & Pink Star Lilies

p.s. To see more of the Fairy Business Quilt Click HERE

Settling down to hand sew bindings,

LuAnn

To see my New Work CLICK HERE

To see the Thread Shed CLICK HERE

To see my Exhibit Quilts CLICK HERE

To see Tutorials CLICK HERE

Sun Dyeing, Rust Dyeing, Gel Glue Resist, Threadplay, Paper Quilts

What a fun weekend.....Sun Dyeing, Rusty Dyeing, Gel Glue Resist, Threadplay, Paper Quilts.

Click Images to Enlarge:

This is Hillary's Sun Dyed piece.

She came to spend a long weekend with me in the Thread Shed.

We managed to find time to make a few fun pieces.

This is my sun dyed piece.

Oak leaves and dandelions baking in the sun.

We used Tulip spray paint on white muslin fabric.

This is my Elmer's Gel Glue Resist piece.

Also made with Tulip spray paints.

I am patiently waiting 72 hours for the paint to cure before I wash out the glue.

This is the back side of the gel resist piece.

My next piece will hang directly from the clothesline while I apply the paint.

I am hoping to get some dripping lines in the paint.

This is what my rust dye piece looked like after 5 days of rusting in vinegar and salt.

On the 6th day I removed the plastic covering to allow it to completely dry.

It really darkened up in the oxygen.

This is the rust dye after soaking in baking soda and a good washing.

I plan to applique' big horses running across the fabric.

Maybe add a little metallic paint too...

It is getting down to the nitty gritty of what I can get completed for the quilt exhibit in September. I put a few journal quilts, in progress, up on the design wall to see which ones "move" me to work on them...

Suzy

Threadplay on Phototransfer

This journal quilt of my son's dog, Suzy, was the first to come off the design wall.

I really enjoyed thread painting Suzy's face.

The thread added such texture, even though it was white on white.

This is a close-up view of Suzy.

The photo transfer is clearly visible through the heavy thread play.

My thread of choice is Superior Thread Bottom Line. It is a fine 60 wt trilobal polyester that is perfect for heavy stitch work. It allows the photo to come through even after all of the thread work is done.

Home Sweet Home

Blue Jay Paper Quilt

This was the next quilt to come off the design wall.

Decorative stitching was all that was needed on this piece.

No free-motion quilting at all.

Suzy is recovering nicely from her surgery last week.

She looks like a flashlight with this plastic collar around her neck.

Thread Shed Hollyhocks

Old Fashion Single Flower

Orange Dinner Plate Dahlia

My favorite time to photograph the flowers is right after watering.

The droplets look wonderful on the petals.

Pink & Yellow Glads

Hillary went along her merry way today.......we had so much fun. I will miss her and I will think of her each time I look at the textiles we created together this weekend.

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn

To see my New Work CLICK HERE

To see the Thread Shed CLICK HERE

To see my Exhibit Quilts CLICK HERE

To see Tutorials CLICK HERE