Shibori Hand Dyed Skirt

Because I am not a quilter per se, I decided to make a skirt.  Here it is.  Just a simple simplicity pattern using three pieces of my shibori fabric.  Perfect for summer. And, for me, to sew a skirt that fits me is a MAJOR accomplishment.

An art quilt!!!

Here is something new for me.  An Art Quilt!  I put this on my Etsy Shop. It was a lot of fun to do but I prefer to paint or thread paint.  Most of these fabrics are my own dyed or hand painted fabrics.  The best part of making this Art Quilt is that I have lots more small pieces of my fabrics and now I know what to do with them.
This measures 14 x 19".

Upcoming events

August 2,3 and 4, 2012 in Harwich, MA, I will be exhibiting and selling my hand dyed fabrics at the Bayberry Quilters of Cape Cod annual Quilt Show.


Fiber Art College is where I am teaching Soy Wax batik on a scarf in September.  The Fiber Art College itself is a treat. Searsport is a lovely location, not far from Belfast, Maine. Check it out!

Hope to see you at one of these events.

New Etsy listings

I have been playing with color, fabric manipulation and more to try for some different looks.  Here is where you buy them: Etsy Shop

This is so much fun!  One does have a lot of control in this dyeing process which is perfect when there other things on your mind!

When I look at this fat quarter, I see trees, leaves and flowers than can be cut from this interesting piece.
What do you think?

Gelatin Plate Printing

In an effort to create art without using dyes, I decided to try gelatin plate printing again.  The first time I did it I found it much too limiting, both in size and process.

But it is a new time. I went to the local grocery store and purchased their last gelatin.  OK - now I will mail order.  I purchased large aluminum disposal cookie pans too.  Made the gelatin plate this morning and tonight I printed some fabric.  See what you think. 

My pieces of fabric are only about 11 x 17 in size.  I started with pastel fabric paints and did three or four prints on each piece of fabric, starting with the lighter colors and building up.  I started using some o-rings and decided they didn't look too well.  I cut some stems from a houseplant and I learned I had to use my hand to apply pressure to get a nice print from it.  I used my old faux finishing tools for some texture but it just didn't light my fire.  But I had letters, cut out from a workshop I took with Susie Monday a year ago. www.susiemonday.com.

 And text is fun!

Then I was cookin".   This is the piece I like the least. It is too muddy.

But here is another which only had two layers of paint. See the houseplant marks.

And another:

And here are couple of the finished ones where I intensified the paints.  Two of these pieces were done on pink textured dyed fabric.  But this one just above was started with white cotton muslin.  The one just below had the pink fabric as a ground.  I used a pastel green over it, then a deeper green and finally a purply green.

I used Pro Chem Textile Paints to do this.  But I really like to mix my colors with a brush and get into the color.  Next time I will use acrylic paint and mix it with Golden GAC900.

Now I know what I will do in the hospital, after my surgery.  I will cut letters, all sizes and shapes out of mylar, for my gelatin and screen printing endeavors. 

Walpole Artisan Earth Day exhibit

Life has a way of many unexpected turns.  In the last two months I have been the "victim" of those turns.
I visited the AQS show in Lancaster, PA trying to sell some handpainted fabrics.  Many of those are now on ETSY:  http://www.etsy.com/shop/Lipman.  I was also at the Rutland, VT quilt show which was lovely.
In between I had a mild heart attack.  Good thing!  It was in Lancaster, PA where the heart specialists are terrific (how does one think my folks live to age 93!).  While looking for the cause of the heart attack, a lung mass was found.  More about that when I know more.

In the midst of all this, doing art is a total block.  But my wonderful art friends at the Walpole Artisan Cooperative (http://www.thewalpoleartisans.blogspot.com) decided to have an earth day exhibit.  It felt soo good to create something without any boundaries.  Do visit the Walpole Artisans across from Burdick's and see the earth day exhibit.

Preparing for my next adventure

What does one do with lots of handpainted fabrics? I need an outlet. And I need an income. Out of work and doing art but really, who will buy the supplies! Supplies cost money!

I was juried into the AQS show in Lancaster, PA next month. Scary thought since I haven't done a show in 6 years! But here I go again. It is like an addiction.

Here are a few of my latest creations. I am tempted to list them on ETSY as a trial run. I had some success there before but right now - NO - I need to stay focused. Create work and sell it in Lancaster!

Lots of little star bursts! I think Quilters will like those. And some larger pieces of various types of Shibori dyeing. Not to mention what I didn't photograph!

Back to the art studio! Tomorrow should be a nice warm day for a walk. Keep painting, Terri!