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Dyeing, Painting and a Chance to Win Jane’s New Book

I have had a busy day and am feeling great. I made a trip to Target this morning to buy more t-shirts. I had some left over dye and decided to dye some shirts for my M and M and Mr C hinted that he would like one, too.

I scoured the shirts and got everything dyed by early afternoon. I had enough dye left to use up on some fabric. I had mixed up some chocolate brown, teal blue and black in addition to the red, blue an yellow that was left from Saturday.

I bought some light weight lutradur at Fabric Depot on Saturday which I think will make nice leaves for my latest aspen piece. I painted it with Jacquard Dyna-Flow this afternoon. I love the colors. I will make leaf patterns with freezer paper and spend tomorrow night cutting and cutting.

Tonight, I am feeling rather tired and achy from all the standing and walking the dog so I decided to start working on Allegro, by next organza pocket piece. Since I need to make the background quilt before I attach the pockets, I have to know the exact measurements. For the 12 by 12 piece, that was easy. Here is my start. I think it might be easier to work it out on graph paper.

The darker pockets will fill in around the white pieces. I am trying to decide if I need to paint more of the white pieces.

Now, I have an extra copy of Jane Dunnewold’s new book, Art Cloth. It is a fabulous how to book from the queen of surface design. Leave a comment and I will do a random drawing on Friday.

129 Responses to “Dyeing, Painting and a Chance to Win Jane’s New Book”

  1. Michele says:

    Very kind of you to give away Jane’s book, and thanks for sharing your lovely fabrics with us!

  2. Ila McCallum says:

    Hi, Scooter! Tell Mom I would love a copy of Jane’s book. Also, thank her for being so generous.

  3. Karoda says:

    omword!!!!!! I’m number 131! I’m back online just in the nick of time!

  4. Lisa says:

    Thank you for the wonderful giveaway! I’ve just discovered your blog from Brenda’s blog “Serendipity and the Art of the Quilt.” It looks like you have been having some real fun here!

  5. My friend Sue Bleiweiss was able to take Jane’s class a few weeks ago and said it changed her life! I am thinking the book is a close second to the class:)

  6. Brooke Atherton says:

    I’ve enjoyed watching your dyeing experiments over the last couple of years, but enough about that. I LOVE YOUR DOG!!! I have standard poodles–is that what Scooter is? He looks like a joy, and a wonderful studio companion.

  7. SewLindaAnn says:

    I enjoyed your post and look forward to seeing your organza pocket piece. I’m inspired to learn about dyeing now. I love the colors in this post, so cheerful. Thanks for the giveaway chance!

  8. Leah says:

    Inspired by your post of today, that’s one of the things that keeps me coming back to your blog – the mixture of actual life and your creative life.

  9. Betsy Ridge says:

    Your work is beautiful, as is your spirit & humor! Your musings always bring a smile to my face and I love seeing what you are currently doing. Thanks for sharing!

  10. Sue Scott says:

    Your pocket piece is very intriguing – I am curious and inspired! Looks like lots of places to hid object and messages.

  11. Rena Krol says:

    I just discovered your blog – really enjoyed your dyed fabrics. I have been dyeing this Spring/Summer and loving the results. I, too, like the Robbie Eklow style and the way the colors run together. I took a 4 day workshop from Ann Johnson on surface design in black and white and learned so much. I’ve been dyeing some of the pieces made in the workshop. I’m putting you in my favorites list so I can keep up with your lovely work. Like everyone else, I’d love to win the extra book. Thanks for the chance.

  12. Linda Cline says:

    Great shirts! Looks like your having lots of fun with them. I like that brown/teal combination. I will have to try some tie dye in some more muted color schemes.

  13. Hi Gerrie,

    Love the colors on the pieces on your latest blog entry. I keep admiring your work, have studio space in Portland, hope to meet you sometime soon, join the Columbia Guild and more. Still have one foot in California, this keeps me hopping back and forth.

    Here’s hoping I’m the “chosen one” for Jane’s new book.

    Cheers and Warm Regards,
    Beth

  14. Couldn’t resist this one, Gerrie!! what a wonderful idea and a great way to get comments! And I love those red/green lengths of fabric!

    I hope you enjoy reading all the comments from all your readers who are devoted to surface design!! (and a chance at a free book!)

    all best wishes, Elizabeth

  15. Laura Schmidt says:

    Please put my name in your hat. And if it’s drawn, I might be able to pick the book up myself since I’ll be in Portland August 3-10.

  16. Michele says:

    Let’s see. Mr. C gets a shirt. You have a shirt. Mia and Miles are getting shirts. But someone has been forgotten. What about Scooter? He’d look so hansome with a tye-dyed bandana. 🙂

  17. Your work inspires me– your use of the line/strips, a la Aspens, is lyrical. And your philanthropy and marketing smarts is inspiring, too!

  18. Hi Gerrie,
    Great idea to get lots of comments on your blog by doing a give-away — Smart lady! Your “pockets” piece is gorgeous — love it! And the hand-dyed tees are pretty cool, too. You’re having a great creative summer, huh? Good for you!

  19. Wendy Read says:

    Offering Jane’s book is a great way to pull me to your blog – I look forward to following you, and seeing the progression of your new piece, and how the pockets fit into the whole.

  20. Janet Hartje says:

    I would love to have a copy of this book. I do not own any of Jane’s books, have only checked them out of the library. Thank you for your generosity.
    Janet

  21. Sandy Ellison says:

    Gerrie,

    I appreciate your sharing your daily fabric sketches with us. I admire your perseverance!

    I would love to have a copy of Jane’s new book.

  22. Beautiful fabrics. I’ve just started playing with dying fabric and hope someday to make some as wonderful as yours!

  23. Kathy York says:

    Gerrie,
    I love that you ordered this book twice. I have two of Jane’s other books and they have completed transformed the way I work with surface design. She is very inspiring! I would love to have a copy of her new book.
    p.s Love your hand-dyes! Looking good!!

  24. Lori S. says:

    Wow, your yellow, orange and green fabrics are wonderful. I love the texture you have achieved, and the colors are so summery. Very inspiring! Thank you for doing the give away – this book is on my wish list and I would love to have it!

  25. Dear Gerrie

    Thank you for your kind inspiration to do a draw for Jane’s new book! What a great idea.
    I took the time to check out your website and work. I am very impressed wiht your SDA connection. Good reminder to me that I need to join!. I joined SAQA in March and find my art and inspiration are growing in leaps and bounds. I love all the postive networking and the chance to look into fibre artist’s studios via websites and blogs.
    Your hats are brilliant and I love your huge production of unique gifts for your family.
    Carol Howard Donati

  26. Liz DeBellis says:

    The 1st book changed my life too! Right now it is in storage and I am thinking about going through mountains of boxes full of books in no order just to find it.

  27. Judy Warner says:

    I would love to have a copy of the book. Your piece, Allego, looks like it will great.

  28. Deb Baldwin says:

    I love your dyeing cheesecloth. I never thought of that. It’s great to have a chance to win the book. The book looks FABULOUS!

  29. Donna says:

    Love the colors on your dyed fabric. I also purchased 2 copies of Jane’s new book – one for me and one for a new art-quilter pal! So, I don’t need to go into the draw for your book, but just wanted to say that her first book, Complex Cloth, changed the direction of my art as well. She truly is the Queen of surface design!