Inspired by EL Anatsui's exhibit at the NC Art Musuem

I went to the NC Art Museum June 30th with members of PAQA South and went through the EL Anatsui exhibit, "When I last wrote to you about Africa", Janna, (our President at the time) arranged for us to have a guided tour and WOW is all I can say. If this exhibit is ever in your area, please go see it, it's amazing.  To see some of his art click on the link http://africa.si.edu/exhibits/gawu/index.html.
Anyway, to thank Janna for this treat, I was inspired by what I saw to make a post card recycling items from scraps and tags from the back of shirts.
First I dug around a bag of fiber scraps my friend Diane gave me from NCSU.

I laid these out on a 4x6 piece of quilt batting and sewed down the edges.

Then with the fibers on the right, I wove them into the fringe trying for a basket weave effect.

After I wove the fibers as much as I could I arranged what I could in the middle and then put water soluable stablizer over all if it and sewed over it all creating a new background fabric.
Then rinced out the stablizer. (I do love that stuff!)

Then I went hunting in the clothes that are headed for Goodwill and snagged some tags. I got the Lauren tag from a Sport Coat my honey just purchased.

I arranged how I wanted the tags and then dabbed some school glue to hold them in place then topped with a dark green Tulle.

Then I started stiching around every tag and along the edges of the new post card,

After I finished stiching I dug around my scrap bin and found an attractive brown to edge the postcard with. I used Wonderunder to attach it.

The I topped it off with some decorative stitching along the edges.

And Viola! a post card made from recycled items in my sewing room.
It was these items fate to be remade into my postcard.

Accepted in the Felted Wonders Challange at Cloth Paper Scissors!!!

I am so excited! My scarf was accepted as a finalist with 35 other's in the Felted Wonders Challange.

I'm hoping I can win the felting machine listed as the prize!! Happy Dance!

My First Art Showing!!!! Woo Hoo!!

I am sooooo pumped!! I entered the Cary Chamber Arts call for artists for  their show called "That Which I Love". I entered and found out this morning that I got in!

This is the wall hanging I submitted. The show is from June 29 - July 25.
http://chambersarts.com/ is a link to their website.

Wish me luck!!

Camp Kathie





My sister Anne and her bestest oldest friend Dawn came down for a visit June 3.

Anne Diagonal

Diagonal Dawn

They got in Sunday Late afternoon and were road weary...but after a some wine, a good nights sleep we were up and ready for fun. We spent Monday shopping and getting supplies. Tuesday had us in the garage getting the dye baths ready for fun. After scouring yards of fabric I decided to teach them some Shibori ties. So we stiched and gabbed and gabbed and stitched and then got into the color. Below are the results and they are stunning. Dawn says she now has a new hobby to try and hopes here hubby is OK with it.

Circle Moi

Circle Anne

Circles w/diagonals

Diagonal Moi

I don't know why my pictures are jumping all ove this blog

I think it's time to sign off and update my next project.

So long farewell, see you again soon!

Celebration of the Arts in Fuquay Varina June 2

I know this post is late but what a great time I had in Fuquay Varina at their Celebration of the Arts Festival. I finally got an EZ Up tent and it totally changed the look of my display (thank you Donna!)

My friend Sue came and helped me out that day. The weather was perfect and the location couldn't have been better. Hubby made me a new display so I can show the scarves better. (I am so lucky!)  it turned out very nice and it's light and easy to carry.

The only drawback was that the silk slides...no worries though clothes pins should take care of that. But they are easier to see and I can sort them for contrastability (new word I made up) The other display was nice to but it's beginning to lean and the scarves are pushed together too much to really see.

I also decided to make cell phone cases and possibly more small bags with my hand dyed fabric.

I also put our 1 yard pieces of other hand dyed fabric as well as fat quarters.

I also put out the Shibori Panels I made before. I think I'm going to play around with Shibori more in the cottons..it's really a cool technique.

I also came across some Batik panels I made in a class and got them finished off. While I was getting the wax out of them I was remembering how much fun we had making them and yep....guess what else I'm going to start doing...Batiks...I've made 2 scarves so far (not pictured as yet) and a big panel that is really cool. (again not pictured as yet)

The Batiks are great color

I really love how great my display looks with the white EZ Up Tent and all the bright colors around it.

Happy Happy Happy
Joy Joy Joy

In Print!!!!!!!!!!!

I posted a picture of a fabric post card a couple of months ago.
I submitted it to Cloth Paper Scissors "Readers Challenge" and on Saturday, I found out that it got published on page 85 in the May/June 2012 issue. I knew it was cute when I mailed it in, for some reason it looks even better when it's published in a magazine!

I'm waiting for my feet to get back on the ground. Woo Hoo!!

Ahhh yes. They sun is shining, the birds are singing happily the weather is getting sooooo balmy and nice...so what's a girl to do when the hubby is away and it’s above seventy degrees??? That’s right! Get out into the garage and create!!!
I decided to try Nuno felting again.

The first step was to outline the silk chiffon scarf I was using with painters tape on to the table. Then I laid a layer of bubble wrap (bubbles facing up) and then a layer of plastic wrap on top of the bubble wrap. (This keeps the fibers from getting “into” the bubble wrap).

Once I had my layers in place I started to spread small pieces of wool roving along the borders of the blue tape.

Once I had my layers in place I started to spread small pieces of wool roving along the borders of the blue tape.

As soon as I got the border complete I started to add more wool to the center. I experimented and made small flowers with gold and black wool. I also added some fibers I from a vendor at the vendor show in Sanford in January. Not really sure what fiber they were but since they felted I’m pretty sure they were natural.

After I got the wool arranged, I carefully (and slowly) arranged the silk chiffon scarf on top of the wool roving

Then I started to add the wool to the other side of the scarf in the same way, the borders and I made more cute little flowers  

I pulled the flowers out for last since I was having problems the wool mixing in with them.

Once all the wool was laid I out the flowers back on…perfect!

I then carefully laid tulle over the top of the scarf.

Then carefully poured warm (not hot) soapy water over the tulle what’s not shown is I poured it over my hand so the wool was not pushed out of place.

Once it was all wet, I took a swimming noodle and rolled it up and secured with knee high panty hose.

Then I started to roll the noodle. It’s kind of like rolling with your forearms down the center out and then moving your arms to the outside with your elbows and pulling in. Sometime if I can get someone to take pictures while I’m doing it I’ll share it.

Anyway,

After about 50 rolls, I undid the panty hose and carefully unrolled the scarf and then went to the opposite side and rolled it up again, secured it and did another 50 rolls.

After that 50, I again unrolled the scarf and carefully peeled back the tulle before it totally meshed into the wool fibers. Then I flipped the scarf and took away the plastic wrap and re-rolled the scarf with the noodle and went to town….I probably rolled this for 8 songs on my IPod. When I was done I unrolled the scarf and checked to make sure the fibers were enmeshed into the scarf. (they were!)

After being rolled for 8 songs

Then I took HOT soapy water (heated in the tea kettle) and poured it over the wool to help shrink it.  After a few minutes I folded up the scarf and took it to the sink. Under hot tap water I rubbed the fibers together even more.

Then comes the fun part…still folded together, I threw the scarf into the sink to “shock” the scarf into submission. I did this 4-5 times.

After that I soaked the scarf in 1 quart of cold water with 1 Tablespoon of white vinegar for 15 minutes, then rinsed well and hung outside to dry.

It turned out sooooo pretty!! I think I’m going to get some yardage of silk chiffon and see if I can’t do larger pieces and make a vest or jacket