I really hadn’t intended to go almost 3 weeks without posting. I was immersed in a couple of projects, but now I can come up for air and share what I’ve been doing.
I mentioned in early January that I would be visiting my fiber artist sister Anne to spend a few days in her studio to start working together on a collaborative fiber art project. At the end of January, I spent 4 fun-filled days with Anne, experimenting with a variety of surface design techniques and planning our collaborative project(s).
A cheerful mixed media sign welcomes you to Anne’s studio, which is well-stocked with many surface design supplies and tools.
We had decided to focus on a limited color palette – various shades of red with accents of chartreuse (we both love that color!) We each brought a supply of fabrics to share. The first day, we made a plan of the techniques we would experiment with – dyeing, painting, stamping, printing, discharging, foiling, piecing. We agreed to dive in without a pre-determined outcome, and see where it led us.
Our dyeing project was intended to produce a variety of red fabrics, but most of the fabrics came out pink. But that happy accident provided each of us with inspiration and fabric for pieces we plan to create for the upcoming Cherry Blossoms fiber art show.
After 4 days of experimenting, we had a collection of fabrics with a variety of surface-design techniques. We selected some of them for our collaborative project (see initial layout in the bottom left corner below). Anne will piece the fabrics, and add some more stamping or foiling. She will then send the quilt to me to add a border, layer and start the quilting. I’ll send it back to her to finish the quilting.
The fabrics that weren’t used in the joint project will most likely show up in future work of either (or both) of us. We’re both really excited about our collaborative process, and plan to do another with a different color palette.
When I returned from my visit with Anne, I turned my attention back to the workshop I facilitated yesterday for the Grouse Mountain guild – Creating Architectural Art Quilts from Photos. It was a new workshop that I developed at the request of the Grouse Mountain guild, so I needed to put my thoughts together on paper for a class handout. Also, each participant had submitted their inspiration photo to me, to create a full-size pattern for the class.
We had 18 people in attendance, and had an interesting variety of subjects for their art quilts. I talked about and showed examples of my architectural quilts, and the various techniques I have used. Then the participants got down to work on their own art quilts – making decisions about construction techniques and auditioning their fabric selections. We all had a great time, and each person left the workshop with a planned and partially completed project. You can see some of the projects below.
Thanks for stopping by. Today, I’m linking up with these blogs – click on the links below, where you’ll find many other creative and inspirational projects.
What a great time you had with your sister, Anne. I love that you both are into fiber art and all it entails. : ) Beautiful fabrics you came up with in your dying session.
You’ve been busy! It looks like you and Anne had a successful time – some lovely fabrics as a result. Looking forward to seeing your collaborative work. And your cherry blossom piece, too! Sounds like the class went well!
Now that my project is in your blog I will have to complete it-just no deadline!