Kimono Collage #2 Detail

This detail image of Kimono Collage #2 shows a bit more of the printing, stitching and the luminous quality of the freshwater pearls. 

Kimono Collage #2 Finished!

Here is the second Kimono Collage!  Fused collage of dark silks has been machine and hand stitched.  The next layer is Thermofax screen printed silk lining embellished with machine and hand embroidery and freshwater pearls.

It is stretched over a re-purposed 16 x 20" stretched canvas.

Screen Printing the Kimono Lining

Moving ahead with the Kimono Collage series, I felt I could develop my designs a bit more authentically if I could add a bit from my own hand.  Thus, a section of the lining has been Thermofax screen printed.  Not sure this will be useful, but it seems worth trying.  Especially in light of the fact that all the patterned lining fabric I have is now used up.

Kimono Collage #1 Detail

Kimono Collage #1 16 x 20" Stretcher Bar Mounted

Here is the first Kimono Collage I was able to finish.  It measures 16 x 20" and is stretched over a re-purposed stretched canvas.  The rectangular top layers are from kimonos (linings), but the vertical hand stitched cord is actually a man's necktie rolled up and stitched in place. 

Kimono Collage 12" Square - More Stitching

This is as far as I have gotten with this 12" square Kimono Collage.  I took a leap of faith and screen printed over the top of a couple of layers of silk.  I am not thrilled with the printing - don't think it added a whole lot, but I am committed now - unless I remove or overlayer with something else. 

Actually, I have even considered abandoning the Kimono Collage series or changing the scope significantly, but I decided to try to finish the other two 16 x 20" pieces I began at the same time.  More Kimono Collages tomorrow.

Mixed Media Daily Postcards - December 1 - 6

Silk Kimono Collage - Another Composition

This collage is intended to be a 12" square - I am thinking I will wrap it over 12" x 12" stretcher bars.  At least that is what I am thinking, and that is why I have folded the edges back.  I like the hand stitching and I think I will do more of that.  I also like the machine quilting in a diamond pattern - it is subtle but helps keep things together .  I built this collage on a piece of batting, so it was sort of fragile.  The red is from the lining of a kimono.

Composition Auditions for Kimono Collage

Here, I am messing around with various elements to add to the collage foundation.  I thought maybe a pop of red might be a good choice.  This seems a bit overpowering, but it is a good start.  More ideas to come.

Kimono Collage #3

Third Kimono collage.  I am planning to add some hand and machine quilting to these.

Another Silk Collage

Kimono Silk Collage #1

Here is a first effort with the kimono silks.  I mixed in a few necktie silks, too.

Antique Kimono Silk - removing mothball and mold smells!

A friend in my art quilt group, WAV  (visit our blog here) brought a big pile of antique kimonos to our October WAV meeting.  She suggested we could each take pieces of them home and I focused on the dark ones with subtle woven patterns.  As I was taking the kimonos apart in order to salvage every bit of useable fabric, I was envisioning creating fused collages from them. 

When I got my pieces home, and began to iron them, I found the odors of mold and mothballs overwhelmed me!  I could not work with the fabric the way it was, so I decided that even though all this fabric is silk, I would wash the fabric, hoping the odors would vanish in the wash.   I washed in warm water, delicate cycle and used what I always use when washing silk - Orvis paste.  I washed twice hoping the odors would disappear.

Not so!  In fact, the washing seemed to intensify the odors!  Oh my!  The whole house smelled like mothballs and mold - even my husband was bothered by the smell.  I researched how to remove the odor and back into the washer all the silk went.  I soaked it for 24 hours in white vinegar/ water solution.  Then, I spun it out and found it still reeked! 

OK, so the next step, according to my research - hang it outdoors until the smell disappears.  Here are the silk panels on the clothesline, where they hung for a month.  These were my "Halloween decorations".  My grandson and hubby thought it looked very "witchy" or "ghostly". 

I did finally get the smell out

Mixed Media Daily Postcards - November 23 - 30

 

Primary Colors Scrappy Back for Scrap Quilt

 Here is the back of the Primary Colors Scrap Quilt shown in yesterday's post.  Details below:

Primary Colors Scrap Quilt

This one is 48 x 80".   It is the tenth scrap quilt I have made since September!

Primary Colors Scrap Quilt

 This scrap quilt is composed of a failed "art quilt" and some leftover blocks from a New York Beauty along with some fabric pieces from the scrap box.  Detail images below.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.  I am cooking dinner at my house for all our kids and grandkids.  We all look forward to these happy times together. 

Scrappy Back for Pastel Baby Quilt

 Here is the back of the baby quilt I posted yesterday.  Still using up the scraps and no end in sight!

Pastel Scrap Quilt for Baby

 Here is another of my recently completed scrap quilts.  This one is made with my own hand dyed and hand printed fabrics.  I chose pastel colors from the box and it only added up to a baby quilt size, which is just fine, I think.  Details below:

Bright Row By Row Quilt Back

 Here is the back of my Bright Row By Row Quilt.  It includes a row of paper pieced cats that I found in the drawer AFTER I had the top completely put together including the many borders.  I did not wish to tear things apart, so I opted to add the cat row to the back of this quilt.