Big Pile of Placemats

Here is the whole group of 12 placemats tossed out on the table. I am really quite pleased with the way they turned out. They measure 13 x 18".


Here are a few of the reverse sides. Also terrific, if I may say so myself!

Placemats Front and Back

I have finished binding all twelve placemats and two table runners (one is 30" long - for my kitchen table, the other is 56" long for my dining room table). Above is a picture of the reverse side of the placemat - I put discharged fabric on the back of everything. I have two sets of napkins that I use all the time and they coordinate beautifully with the new placemats. I have one set of rust dyed napkins (shown above) and another set of hand dyed napkins in a variety of multi-colors (shown below).
Next time I have a dinner party, I will try to remember to get a photo of the table setting!

Discharging Black Cotton Lawn

Years ago, I had a bolt of black cotton that discharged to a nice creamy white.
Ever since, I have been on a quest to find another black that will discharge to white. I have not been successful yet, but I recently purchased a large quantity of cotton lawn (a very delicate, thin weave) that discharges to tan. On my monitor, this is an accurate representation of the resulting shade of tan.

Above is an example of this black cotton lawn - pole wrapped bleach discharged.

Below, is an example of kanoko shibori with bleach on the black cotton lawn.

I have not yet tried using Jacquard discharge paste with this fabric, so have no idea how it might respond to discharge paste.

I am providing these images primarily for those individuals who wrote to me asking about the fabric I used in "Sticks and Stones", shown in a recent post about the Yellowstone Art Museum art auction. That fabric is no longer available.

I do have a large quantity of this 45" wide black cotton lawn, which I am willing to sell for
$6.50 per yard plus actual shipping charges (I prefer USPS). Please realize that I am not in the business of selling fabric, but I have a lot and if you feel you must have some, please email me and we can make arrangements.

YAM Art Auction

Yellowstone Art Museum Auction

This is a very big deal for me!
For the first time ever, (well, actually this is the first time I have entered) - but my entry,
Sticks and Stones - was accepted!
This is a really significant career milestone!
This auction is very prestigious for the city and state.I do not know of any textile art included in this prestigious event in the past - and certainly this is something unique - all discharged cotton and hand stitched, embellished with sticks and stones.
There were over 500 entries!

Anyway, when I delivered my piece - the response was really gratifying.
People were not responding for my benefit (they didn't know I was there!)
There was a lot of oohing and ahhing!
What a thrill!

I have this piece mounted on mat board and framed in shadow box style behind museum quality glass.
The opening reception is January 28, 2010
The party and auction take place3 on March 6, 2010.
I'll be sharing more as those events come about.

Paintbrush Piecers Quilt Talk Continued

"Gelatin Print Calendar"
I used first and second printings on a gelatin printing plate to create the border and the actual calendar pages for this piece. I had some cosmos I used for the prints.

Here, I am explaining the first and second prints that result from using plant material for the resist and print making using a gelatin plate.

These are examples of discharged fabric. I used household bleach. The one above was done with a resist paste - can no longer recall what the paste was made from. The one below was pole wrapped before the bleach was applied.

The coat is constructed of a variety of shibori discharged pieces. I am pretty sure this fabric is Kona cotton in black, which pretty consistently discharges to a rusty or peachy shade.
I have not been able to find a black that discharges to white in a very long time. If anyone knows of a good source - I would LOVE to hear about it!