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.
/

Lightweight Shibori Alpaca Coat

 
 I shibori dyed two pieces of 44" x 8o" alpaca and merino felted onto silk gauze using the FeltLOOM
There was lots of white, more than I anticipated.  I presoaked the fabric,  before pole wrapping  then I used one cup each of turquoise, green and blue vinyl sulphon dye mixed according to the instructions at Dharma Trading . 

As usual, I like the finished piece better than I anticpated.  Hence, again, I remember, it's the colors I choose and the technique that are important.  Then I surrender and take what I get. 
 
In the beginning I didn't want to use my sewing machine but it is so much a part of my past that I wanted to start using it again. The secret for me is to simplify. I decided that I don't have to follow all the rules/instructions! I can improvise and let the fabric guide me. Love the pockets this time! Thank you +Arturo Alonzo Sandoval for being such a great Mentor!

Another Challenge Presents Itself

/

Another Challenge Presents Itself

Both of these pieces started out by felting .25 alpaca/merino onto 44" silk gauze

After dyeing, steaming and rinsing, the one on the left was put in the washer on the drain spin only cycle. It is now 30" wide and

fulled

much  more tightly. The one on the left was line dried and is 37" wide and more soft. Hmmmm. I was going to make a coat so I guess I will re-wet the one on the right and drain spin it so they are both the same. The question is will the tighter fulling wear better?

/

A  Challenge Presents Itself

I shibori dyed two pieces of 44" x 8o" alpaca and merino felted onto silk gauze using the FeltLOOM
There is lots of white, more than I anticipated.  The color is darker on the part of the fabric that was on the outside.   I presoaked the fabric, then used one cup each of turquoise, green and blue vinyl sulphon dye mixed according to the instructions at Dharma Trading .  As more layers are created from pole wrapping there is less penetration.  There are so many factors that determine penetration.  How long did I wait after presoaking?  Should I have used more dye?  Shall proceed and make the coat I had planned?

 I shall, putting thought into design before cutting out the front, back and sleeves.


/

Purple Alpaca Coat

Using the FeltLOOM I felted two bats of .25 Alpaca/merino blend onto 44" by 80" silk gauze.
 So that I would have enough for a coat I made two pieces of fabric.
The fabric was pole wrapped on two 4" pvc pipes, tied with string and scrunched.
Then I soaked it in a solution of equal parts of white vinegar and water and a tad of synthrapol
Not wanting my purple to be too bright, I added 1-3T of black to each cup of dye.
Using a total of three cups of dye on each pole I drizzled it onto the fabric, reading the flow of dye like a kayaker reads the river to determine how much dye to use.
I was able to cut the a sleeve and a front or back out of each piece.
A lining could be used.  However, wanting the coat to "move" 
and to be as lightweight as possible, I chose not to.
All the edges are finished except the bottom.  This means that it hangs a little more straight.  If
I hemmed the bottom there would be more of a ripple which could also be nice.  By not hemming the bottom it means that later it can be cut to the perfect length for whoever wears it.
I'm looking forward to working with +Margie Shay 
to develop her palette of colors!
 




Raw Silk Duster with Crepe Scarf

/

What I learned with this duster is the difference when I presoaked the raw silk in a solution of vinegar and water.  I rope wrapped each piece which was precut for the finished design. The patterns are more fluid and pale.  There is move diversity of colors.  At first I wasn't pleased, however, the more I have viewed and pondered the finish duster, I like it.  The crepe scarf uses the same colors of red, orange and yellow which have been shaded with black.  It was not presoaked, therefore the colors are deeper.  This is one of the looks I plan on featuring in the next Lexington Fashion Collaborative Future of Fashion 4 on June 22 
/
www.lavernez.com

Layer your busy life and gather your memories and tools to make art now!
Learn how to create the formulas for the colors that surround you and create a legacy
 
Live the life of an artist by responding instead of reacting!
Create wearable or displayable art
using alpaca, wool, and exotic silk.
Experience the new
UK Fiber Program FeltLOOM,
and the shibori technique for dyeing silk or wool.
 
 Workshop
 Sunday
July 8 and July 15
9 am to 1 pm
 $90 plus supplies
 
Extra time on the FeltLOOM now availble for FAI and UK students.
$45/hour by appointment only

 

Follow color theory and everything you do will be beautiful.
Trust me.  It works.  Even mistakes will be beautiful. 
If I don't like it, I know that someone else will like it!  
/

Slowly, I'm getting back to my art making routine
Filling every station with a work in progress


Nuno felted merino and alpaca 
waits to be wrapped

Raw silk, rayon and cotton
Wait for a theme, a palette to descend upon me
More for summer? 
Tangerine Copper
 Or is it time to fall into winter? 
Blue Violet

Yesterday I dyed two 44" charmeuse silk scarves in rainbow colors
Today I start a fire in the wood stove
To hasten the drying

Black Fire

/


In preparation for my art opening the theme is Fire.  I'm trying to see how many different ways I can dye fabric, and make art within the concept of Fire. And in some cases I'm trying to see how large a piece of fabric I can make and shibori dye.  This piece of 1/4 pound merino and black devore silk is Nuno Felted on the FeltLOOM, pole wrapped, then shibori dyed in orange, red and purple.  The black side is the silk, the colorful side is the wool. Either side could be considered the "right side"  It started out being 45" by 72".  After felting and fulling the final size is 35" x 64" not including the natural edges which vary in size from 2 to 3 inches. This soft and beautiful piece of fabric can be used as a wrap, a throw, or hung on the wall.   Find it on Etsy     

Alpaca and Locks felted with Silk Chiffon

/
If you're wanting to dye Alpaca, nuno felted with silk, this is a wonderful fabric.  Soft, and very light weight.  Quarter pound alpaca batting and locks were felted with 8mm chiffon using the FeltLOOM.  This piece is not yet fulled making it great for dyeing that needs to be rinsed.  


Find it at Etsy