July studio updates
I've been working on several fabric-focused projects this month. Let's start with my July wearable: a work apron.
I purchased two bags of denim samples from SCRAP. They look like jean legs from the knee down, except hemmed on both ends. Very fun to work with! I cut them into blocks centered on the flat-felled seams and pieced them together into fabric. I barely used any of the denim, so expect more projects in the future.
I wore it to a class on fabric marbling at the always wonderful SFCB. I haven't done marbling since... elementary school, maybe. I wonder if you can marble with natural dyes?
I also joined a maker space this month. Possibilities abound! So far, I've been playing with their old longarm quilter.
I wrapped up my Tannins, Oxides, and Indigo course from Maiwa. I overdyed my rust prints with tannins and can't get over how they look like light and shadow. Here are a few pieces.
My garden is prolific and I'm in full-on harvest mode. I have enough raw materials to start test dyeing – just to see what kinds of colors my plants will produce. Here's the first batch of samples. From top-to-bottom: cosmos, marigold, fresh leaf indigo, Hopi sunflower, and coreopsis.
And finally, some weaving! I'm working on a 4-shaft deflected doubleweave piece. The draft is from Madelyn van Der Hoogt at Weavers School. The cloth is so lovely and gossamer. I tried felting a section to stabilize the two layers but it looks like something eaten by a garbage disposal.
And a quick note that some of my work will be up in Fremont, CA and North Carolina – check my Exhibitions page for details!
Year of Stories recent read: Wool by Hugh Howey