Fabric for a dress part 2--results

This is the result of rusting the stitched and gathered silk you saw in the previous post.  The fabric is 4 yards so I didn't manage to fit the entire piece in the picture.  Part of it is on the floor.

I tried a suggestion from friend James Dennison to use castile soap to wash the silk.  I do not detect any color shift in this piece although some scarves I washed tonight were not so lucky.   Not that the results are bad, just was hoping there would be no color change.

I used Dr. Bonner's (with hemp, unscented).  Am looking for some other brands to try.  Suggestions welcome. 

Here is a detail of this very large piece of dupioni silk.  The stitching distorted the chevron patterns that usually occur in my shibori rust pieces.  The tea created very black marks.  I did draw with tea dust, but those areas were not as distinct as I'd hoped either.

Another detail below.  There were leaves all over this piece inside the folds and on the outside against the pipe and almost none of them printed or left a distinct mark--just general white resist shapes.   Of course they are distorted too because of the gathered pleats throughout the cloth.  I can't quite imagine a dress out of this--will have to play with it a bit. 

Fabric for a dress part 2

Stitched

Another 4 yards of silk fabric is being prepped.   Had a different light shining on this so the color looks warm compared to the shots below.

Took me days instead of hours to stitch spirals and snakes all over this dupioni.  Took a while to gather everything up too and press.  I'm slow.  What can I say.

The fabric has been considerably reduced in width and length in the process and is now folded and soaking in vinegar.  Tomorrow (hopefully) I'll put it out to rust.  Haven't decided yet what I'll use.  Maybe berries, may not.  I work spontaneously once I'm outside.  Will let you know when I know.

Detail of a spiral gathered up and pressed flat.

Fabric for a dress

Tried another large experiment on dupioni with elderberries and shibori rust (I did a 15 foot long piece last summer--click on the Farm Girl Landscape page to see it).   This 4 yard length of fabric is destined to become a dress...or not.  Depends.  Sassafras leaves were used for the resist.  To my surprise, they preserved the magenta color that initially came from the berries.  The fabric is in my tin box to cure and has not yet been rinsed or washed. 

On the pipe, but ready to come off. 

Off the pipe, wet and not unfolded yet.

Sassafras leaves preserved the elderberry magenta color.

The rest of the elderberry color oxidized to blue.

Wet, unfolded completely, resting in the shade.

Wet and hanging on the clothesline--sun is behind the piece.

Fabric is dry now.  Detail

Detail of string marks and chevron pattern (dry).

Close detail of leaf resist and tea marks (dry).

On the pin wall and floor of my studio (dry).

Detail of dry piece.

 

YIKES!! A Fire near Jacoby Arts Center

This is the back of Jacoby from across the lot at Kentucky Fried Chicken

October 1 was the Innovations Bus Tour for outlying galleries.  The bus arrived on schedule at 3:10 pm but could get no closer than 1/2 block away due to a fire at the end of a block long building that is across the alley from Jacoby Arts Center on Broadway in Alton.  Broadway was blocked off at Henry Street.

Police prevented our visitors from unloading and walking down to the gallery despite many spectators in the area.  I was so disappointed.

The fire started about 12:30 pm and by 6 pm several trucks from four fire departments were there battling from Broadway and the large parking lot at the back.

I'm standing in front of Jacoby looking down Broadway around 3 pm

Taken from behind Jacoby around 6 pm.

Firemen had temporarily stopped blasting with hoses and flames erupted at 6 pm.

Broadway looking towards Henry with the hoses snaking around.

On Broadway across the street from Jacoby.  Fire is in end of this building.

An alley separates Jacoby from the block where the fire is.

Two businesses and some apartments were destroyed at the far end of the building which was mentioned as being "historic".  It has a "modern" exterior however and fortunately the fire is at the far end away from Jacoby.  Here's hoping it doesn't spread any closer.  It looks like one big long building with several businesses on the ground level.   The people who lived there and the businesses lost everything.  Too sad.

Lucky me

A week or so ago I was in Alton to meet some people at the Jacoby gallery.  Did some antiquing afterwards and came across this tin box.  Could not believe my luck or the price!  $27 bucks.  I plan to use it for curing fabric before washing.
I'm still trying to figure out where I read (years ago) that the Japanese use tin lined boxes for curing naturally dyed fabric (indigo?) up to 2 years.  My friend Kimberly Baxter Packwood suggested that with humidity, the tin would act as a mordant which I suspected.  I don't want anything to mildew while in storage, so hope to keep it dry--which is perhaps why it takes so long for the curing process.


I have allowed berry dyed fabric to cure 2 months or more before washing--no need to do that with walnut or rusting.  But TWO years is LONG time to wait.   So if using color I need to plan way ahead.  The interior is just as shiny as can be.  The outside is a lovely patina and the lid is red.  I forgot to photograph it closed.

Sunday night I wrapped up a few pieces to rust overnight so that I could reveal them to some visitors coming to the studio on Monday.  It was dark and sprinkling rain!  Had to borrow my neighbor's head lamp when I discovered mine is broken.  Being in a hurry to get out of the rain, I was working fast.  This long scarf was wrapped on my auger.  I piled on green tea and squirted liquid tannin before wrapping and here is the result.  Not washed or pressed yet and hoping to avoid any color shift in that delicate pinkish color.   Love the zebra stripes and wondering if I can come close to replicating this design in future.

If anyone has a source for information regarding curing fabric in tin boxes, I would appreciate your sharing it.

ARTEAST event coming up

 

First time since 2002 that I haven't participated--just couldn't spare the time to make scarves when I had the collaboration show to deal with...but the upside is that this year I get to see everyone's work instead of being stuck in my own venue.  

Mark your calendars!! 

Saturday, October 15, 9 AM - 5 PM
Sunday, October 16, 11 AM - 5 PM 

ARTEAST was initiated in 1998 by a group of artists as a way to pool their resources and bring attention to the extraordinary artists in the Metro East area of St. Louis. Now in its 14th year, ARTEAST continues as an event designed to showcase the artists who live and work in Madison County, Illinois.

Artists from this region participate by opening their studios to the public or participating in exhibits. Over 120 artists working in a wide range of disciplines including collage, painting, ceramics, photography, printmaking, sculpture, glass and digital media show their work and demonstrate their craft.

Organized as a self-guided tour for patrons, ARTEAST provides an opportunity to get a glimpse into the workspace, inspiration and techniques of our resident artists, while exploring the neighborhoods, historic city centers and beautiful countryside.

The event is free and open to the public.

The poster (with map on the back) is available at Jacoby Arts Center and most venues.  You can also print out maps from the website at www.arteasttour.com .

ARTEAST Small Works Exhibit opens at the Jacoby Arts Center Friday, October 7, 5-8 pm with a reception.  The show will be up through November 6.  Most participating ARTEAST artists will have a piece in this group show to provide a preview of the ARTEAST tour event mid-October. 

 Ron Vivod, Alone in the Dark, Photo Digital Artwork

Ron Vivod, my brother in law, participates in ARTEAST.  He will be at venue #24 on the map at 

Eden United Church of Christ   
903 N. Second Street
Edwardsville, IL  62025

Fiber Focus at Art Saint Louis--Great show!

Gallery view of Fiber Focus exhibit at Art Saint Louis

Friday, September 16, I attended the reception at Art Saint Louis for the Fiber Focus exhibit juried by Lia Cook.  This exhibit is part of Innovations 2011 and will be up through October 13.  So proud to be in the show.  Robin Hirsch of ASL took this photo which includes my big piece, Garden Kingdom, on the left.  On the floor is the Best of Show piece and for the life of me I can't remember the artist.  Will post that as soon as I do a little research.  It is made of dirt sifted through a lace tablecloth and is most impressive.  The show has been up a while and apparently someone must of stepped on a corner and scuffed up the dust.  Still beautiful.  You can read more about the exhibit here and find the participating artists.   Found the info:

Trudy Rogers-Denham, Columbia, MO  Best of Show Award sponsored by Missouri Fiber Artists