Embracing liminal spaces I start where I am.

“That moment when there is nothing to hang on to is the moment when we are most present, most alive, most vulnerable, most human.” ~ Patti Digh

That moment when there is no where to go,

the roads are frozen and the snow beautiful.

Snowstorm Jonas has passed.  

We wait while the snow lingers. 

And make art. The snow becomes my go to, my inspiration.

“Possibility can only be born from the present. From what is owned. From wholeness.”

~ Jennifer Louden

needle felted and wet felted alpaca from Heartfelt Alpaca

layered with soy and tussah silk roving

waits for color.  

I start where I am.

Outside, the table is still covered with snow and it is sooooo cold.  

I take my shibori poles indoors to the sink.

shibori felt dries by the wood stove.

Inside our cabin I curl up by the fire.

Being ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THIS LITTLE MOUNTAIN it takes longer for the snow to melt.  

That's ok.  As long as I have cream for my coffee.

Later today we will hike down the lane,

retrieve our car at the bottom and head for town!

Needle Punched and Wet Felted

Time to shibori dye my new needle punched and wet felted shawl.  I like it white, however, what would it look like dyed?  The piece I'm actually working on has silk mulberry roving.

First I soaked the cotton gauze in 1# of baking soda to 2 gallons of water.  Used the drain spin cycle on the washer and dried in the dryer.  Whether or not to iron was the next question.  I like to try to eliminate as many steps as possible so for this experiment I chose not to iron the gauze.  Hence, the sixth was closer to 26” than 36”.  After following all the steps in my video, I line dried the pieces before pole wrapping them. I drizzled 3-4 colors of fuchsia and yellow green tones.  The fabric was more dense from the wet felting compared to when it was completely felted on the FeltLOOM felting machine.  At first it looked like the dye was just sitting on the fabric.  Not really flowing.  However, by the next day much movement of colors had occurred.

Shibori on the porch

I love how my dog, Highlin' follows me wherever I go.  Today I transform a 60 year old stained linen tablecloth and shibori dye it with tones of fuchsia and yellow green.  Perfect for my holiday party.

Art for the Breeder's Cup

Thank you, Kentucky Arts Council for taking the time to organize a gallery market for Kentucky artist to make our beautiful art available to all the amazing people that will be in Lexington for the Breeder's Cup.

I am honored to have been invited.  This lovely shibori dyed velvet devore shoulder shawl is one of the pieces I am taking to the gallery tomorrow.

Photo Shoot

Eco Topper using Shibori dyed Remnants

Documenting is important.  And sometimes it has to be with our own camera or phone.  Mannequins are nice, but nothing like having a model.  Last week in M S Rezny's studio, Rupel Patel was an exquisite model bringing my newest designs to life.  Mary captured the movement, rhythm and depth of each piece.  I'm anxious to create more of these Eco Toppers. However, they are part of a long process.  First I have to felt more merino.  Then shibori dye it.  Then create a new design.  And then I will have the remnants I need to felt on top black wool and line with black crepe.  It's important that I remember my art is all part of a process that shapes itself by materials at hand, cannot be rushed and no step can be missed.

Sustainable Art

What makes art sustainable?  Most certainly it cannot be if any part is thrown away.  The materials needed to make art are expensive. Hence, I save everything that has my vision in it and use it as soon as possible.  Lately I've noticed that when I felt wool on the FeltLOOM, and then cut out a design, I have leftover pieces that fall to the side.  They still contain all the energy I put into the felting, the shibori pole wrapping, applying the dye and formulating the colors.  They are still beautiful.  Still contain the potential for more art if I ponder and respond creatively.  This Eco-Topper was created by felting the "leftovers" on top of dyed black wool.  I love the design because one size fits many, it's warm, can be worn over a sweater, and makes a strong, I know who I am, I know what I'm doing,  statement.  Currently she is on exhibit in my Dress-Up show at Mary Rezny's Gallery in Lexington, KY. 

Eco-Topper

Eco-Topper, lined with silk crepe, Kentucky Wool and upcycled shibori merino

The art is in the palette.  After considering what colors to use when shibori dyeing felted silk and merino fabric and then creating a design, there are always pieces left over.  They look beautiful as they lay in a pile or are scattered about.  Collected they become elements to lay on top of 44x80 Kentucky wool batting and felted on the FeltLOOM. Hence, no waste.  Everything is used and because all the thought went into creating the palette, each new piece of art is equally beautiful.

I posted this image on FB and a friend replied that she liked the Mad Max Glam look. Yes.  It makes a strong bold statement.  When worn, there is no subtly here about who you are or where you are going.

There's nothing like that last moment of anticipation when you are removing pins and trimming off excess fabric before turning your new piece right side out so that you can see what you have created.  It's these moments that keep me creating, that speak to me and say, let's do it again, and I begin to search for more materials.

So fortunate that my friend, Lucinda, gave me a box filled with vintage buttons.  I search for two pondering if they need to match.  Never, my friend, Cathy says.

Dress Up

Grandmother raised seven children in a small house on a cotton farm in the Texas panhandle seven miles west of Matador.  She told stories of days gone by, of fine furniture and fancy clothes.  As a child when I went to visit she never put pots and pans on the supper table.  It was always “set” and when we went to town we dressed up.  Wearing my newly sewn dresses and my hair in curls, town folk would say. “Why you must be Stella Tilson’s granddaughter.”

Dressing up changes your stance.  

It is a power tool.  

It makes a statement.  

Not so much by wearing the latest fashion but by the way you layer what you have, whether it’s brand new or make-do. With conscious attention to textures and palette you create movement and balance.  You say:

I know who I am.  I know what I’m doing.

Growing up I learned to sew and shopping for fabric with my mother was a peak experience. It made perfect sense that I created clothing when I learned to shibori dye fabric.  Instead of buying patterns, I tear and piece the colors that speak to me.

When I see dressed up, 

in Sunday best or painted blue jeans

In paintings or photographs 

I see soft.

I see caring and tenderness.

I see take a stand.

I see power.

I see 

I know who I am.  

I know what I’m doing.

Creative Legacy

Creative Legacy JOurnal

What are we going to do with all the art we create?  And all those photos and articles, brochures and programs.  I am considering those questions in an online course I am developing and in this recent article. Claim Your Creative Legacy.   

Kentucky Craft Market March 7-8

Work in progress. This is my favorite time of the year to create new work for Kentucky Crafted The Market.  A little bit I follow trends.  Like orange and blue and turquoise.  But following the seasons is more fun.  And since I consider my Truly Wearable Art  as a "Power Tool," it can be worn all year, any year, anywhere, when you want to make a statement.  After I Shibori pole wrap the silk or felted merino wool,  I create palettes to reflect the colors surrounding me; palettes that will compliment your wardrobe.  In late winter, early spring, I add a little bit of each colors compliment to my formulas as I prepare to drizzle the dye.  I am always amazed at how well the fabrics I dye blend with the natural scenes.  Be Bold. Be Striking. Take the risk to express your self.  Be prolific. It's worth it!

Olive Chiffon Cape

44" Wide, 30" long from shoulder to edge.

Sunset Colors

I love making these capes instead of buying blanks.  They start out as 44 x 60" or 55 x 60".  Serge the edges, or use the rolled hem on my Bernina.  Then cut out about a 2" opening in the center and use the rolled hem attachment to finish it off.  That has been a little tricky to learn, however.  It makes the theory 10,000 hours of practice so true.

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!

Pure Colors

The photo is for effect only.  The idea is to be playful.  The goal: not busy.  Dyeing several pieces in one palette is turning out to be inspiring.  Sewing began yesterday.  This jacket began as 44 x 44" devore fabric, pole wrapped and dyed using the Vinyl Sulphon pure color dyes in a triad of turquoise, fuchsia and yellow orange.  I like using the pure colors in summer.  Come fall I will move into tones, then shades for winter.

Prepare to sew

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.

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.

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