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Archive for the ‘indigo’ Category

Good Things

Sunday, August 3rd, 2008

We have had pretty lousy weather for the last few days. When it gets overcast in the summer, I wilt. I need the sun for energy. This afternoon, it came back, and it was lovely.

I have had some good things going on, despite the weather.

Some Good Mail: I found a manila envelope in the mail yesterday from my blogging/complex cloth friend, Kathy Sands. She saved hundreds of dryer sheets and dyed them. Then, she had a contest to guess how many there were. I was way off, but she sent me some anyway!! I am going to find some fun uses for these.

I had forgotten that I ordered Laura Cater-Wood’s new workbook -Idea to Image, Tempting Your Muse. It arrived last week, and I am looking forward to using it to get my creative juices going.

Trying a New Technique: I have been itching to try rust dyeing. I love the look of rust dyeing combined with indigo. I had a scarf that I had done last year in the Indigo Dyeing class which was sort of wimpy. I decided to try rust dyeing with it. When we dismantled our bathroom for the renovation, I hung on to the expansion metal pole with baskets for shampoo etc, because it was rusting. I have wrapped the scarf around it and secured it with steel wire. I soaked it with vinegar water. I will keep it damp for a few days and see what happens.

Shopping for the Bathroom/Closet Renovation: We are getting close to the end of the bathroom/closet work. Yesterday, we ordered some FLOR carpet tiles for my little walk-in closet. I chose the heathered, brushed felt in dusty turquoise. I am in love with this and can’t wait to feel it under my bare feet.

Then, we headed out to the Container Store to order the fixtures for my closet. A very perky and competent designer plugged the closet measurements into the computer and away we went, designing the storage that I need. There will be shelves able to hold 50+ pairs of shoes, 12 feet of hanging storage and four drawers, plus shelves for miscellaneous stuff. So, it will be similar to this, but a different configuration. Mr C is picking up the elements and will install it after they get the new closet floor done this week.

So, lots of good things to be happy about. M & M and their parents are camping until Wednesday and I missed them this week-end. But, I am happy that they are out in the woods having a good time.

Finally…

Saturday, March 8th, 2008

I am going to show you all Indigo Construction which is in the Good to be Green show. Larkin’s husband did the photography and I think has shown the quilt in its best light, so to speak. My take on the good to be green is tied to the indigo dyeing procedure. With indigo dyeing, you must dip the fabric in the dye vat, take it out, let it oxidize, dip it again, etc. When it first comes out of the dye, it is green and then after oxidation, it turns blue – so, it is good to be green.

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It has been a busy day around here. Milo wanted pancakes for breakfast.

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Here is Milo in his new glasses. Didn’t I tell you he was really cute?

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After lunch, Steph and Jack came and picked them up. I took Maggie for a walk and then made a mad dash to the grocery store to get the fixings for dinner. I made beef, brown rice and cremini mushroom stew, rosemary roasted potatoes, spinach, grapefruit and avocado salad. Steph made a delicious lemon cheese cake with a ginger crust, served with raspberry coulis.

Here are the girls who have been having a great time together in Portland. They are all Indie designer/artists and it is so much fun to hang out with them.

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Left to right: My daughter Stephanie, my daughter Lisa, Lisa’s friend, Lorena, and slightly hidden by the flowers, Trish, who lives here in Portland. Lorena is from Argentina. Her husband is a clothes designer for Gap – boys. She is such a lovely young woman – I could adopt her!! Trish is an untrained artist who has amazing drawing skills. She moved here from Texas and started painting and has made a great life for herself as an artist. She brought her chihuahua, Pablo, and Maggie was not too happy.

Now, I must get to sleep early so that I will get to Tillamook on time for my video interview. I will post photos tomorrow night.

Primary Fatigue

Tuesday, March 4th, 2008

As you know, if you read this blog often, I am a political nut. I loves me some good political discussion, but tonight, I have to admit to being so over Hillary Clinton and the primary. I wanted it to be over tonight and it didn’t happen. I believe that Obama will be the candidate, but we are going to have to endure months of scaring, religion bias, “you like him better” whining and bad pant suits. Enough said.

On with the creative side of my blog. Just a reminder, when I started my blog back in 2005, the header said: “The artful creations of a high fiber grandma with occasional political rants.”

Here are 3 little pieces I did for the class with Liz. The assignment was to do 3 compositions where the focal point changes from far to near, using the same design idea. I did a lunar eclipse with indigo aspens.

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oneaspeneclipse.jpg

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I started on a vintage Japanese fabric collage composition today. It will also be my final composition for Liz’s class.

The first step is to put a large piece of Teflon on my pressing table, followed by a layer of Misty Fuse. Misty Fuse has no paper backing. I love that it does not change the hand of the fabric significantly. I then layer the pieces of vintage kimono fabric over the Misty Fuse.

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Another sheet of Teflon is place over the fabric, and I fuse the fabric with a hot iron.

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The fabrics are cut apart and are ready for use.

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Next, I cut squares of the fabric and start arranging a background for the collage.

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And that is it for tonight. At least I don’t have to wait up any longer for primary results. Bonne Nuit a Tous!

Just Another Rainy Wednesday

Wednesday, November 28th, 2007

It is Portland, Oregon, after all. I don’t mind the rain so much as the bitter cold. It hovered around 40° today.

Wednesday means that it is weigh in day. I survived Thanksgiving with only a half pound gain. I am okay with that. Stephanie took this photo of me at the beach. I am finding that I am no longer repulsed by seeing photos of myself. This is a good thing!

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I spent the afternoon and most of the evening doing the quilting on the “Good to be Green .” It is very tedious, but I love how it is looking. I am using a variegated thread in shades of blue on the blue indigo. I love how it works with the variegated indigo. Here is another sneak peek.

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Time to put my attention to Project Runway. Ta.

One Down and a PIF

Thursday, November 15th, 2007

indigoaspens.jpg

I finished Indigo Aspens for the High Fiber Diet Show next month. I did all hand stitching. Here is a close-up:

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I have become addicted to making marks on fabric with a needle and thread. I love how I can define a line or create a mood with little stitches.

I was one of the first 3 commenter’s on Jen’s Blog and will be the beneficiary of a hand made gift in the Pay It Forward promise. This is the first time that I have managed to jump in early enough.

Now, I will send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange. I don’t know what that gift will be yet and you may not receive it tomorrow or next week, but you will receive it within 365 days, that is my promise! The only thing you have to do in return is pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

Tomorrow, Ginger of Gingerfied is coming by to play in the studio with me. I will try to remember to take some photos. In fact, I want to take a new photo of her for her blog. She is much younger than her photo shows.