Fiber Junkies - Pt 2

To continue our day, a few days later, our day was devoted to foiling...some of us had tried it before and some not... so it was fun for all.

We had loads of foil, fabric and adhesive so we were off and running.

 We had a beautiful selection of different color foils.

I had tried (and taught) foiling years ago and realized it worked beautifully with a silkscreen. At first I thought the adhesive was too thick and would clog up the screen but not so; it's important to get the screen cleaned quickly but we had a pan of water we put the screens in as we used them.

Here is the first foiling I did years ago in Jane Dunnewold's Complex Cloth week long workshop.

The technique involves using a special adhesive that you apply to the surface of a fabric with various tools - some of which included stencils, paint brushes, silkscreens etc...you get the idea. Above, foil adhesive was applied with paint brushes.

This is a stencil which worked very well. The adhesive is allowed to dry for at least an hour before applying the foil.

Another option instead of adhesive is a fusible web. Years ago, I was teaching foiling along with other surface design techniques - it was a venue I traveled to by plane. I packed everything in a suitcase and when I reached my destination, opened my suitcase to get ready for workshops, I realized they had confiscated my adhesive and left a "teeny, tiny note" telling me that they went through my suitcase...what to do?  One of my students suggested using fusible web which worked like a charm. It's not as spontaneous a look but still good. So for Fiber Junkies, I decided to do a sampler of different methods of foiling. Above I used Heat and Bond craft weight...results to follow.

Another clever way to foil is to sprinkle Bon Ash on fabric (and don't sneeze) and then lay foil on top. Unlike adhesive, there is no "drying" time,  it can be foiled right away.

Foiling is the opposite of what you might think. When I was first introduced to it, I thought the foil had to touch the fabric and ironed from the back.....but the foil faces up and you press on top of it; it releases itself from the cellophane and onto the fabric. It's an easy process with beautiful results. Here is Gen at the ironing board

and here are some of Gen's fabrics - so many beautiful fabrics came out of our day of playing. 

This was a silkscreened fabric done with discharge paste. I used the same screen and offset it just a tad and did some foiling with bronze colored foil. It was subtle but pretty.

Here is my sampler - left to right - Heat and Bond craft weight fusible, in the middle a silkscreen and to the right, Wonder Under fusible web sewing weight. All worked well but I loved the silkscreen for the detail you can get.

This is Bon Ash with copper colored foil...

and here is the stencil on left, brush strokes made with foil adhesive in middle, on right something foiled that I didn't let cool long enough. Technique says you should let your fabric cool down before you pull the foil paper off, something I neglected to do and a good lesson on what not to do.
A great day as always with wonderful friends. I am linked to Off the Wall Friday and Whoop Whoop Friday.

Fiber Junkies - Down the Rabbit Hole

Fiber Junkies had its first meeting of the New Year at my house last week....We planned to experiment with foiling but first we had a small but spectacular Show and Tell.

Kate and Denny have been making a quilt designed by Bonnie Hunter  - way above my piecing abilities...

Denny has been challenging herself to recycle quilts she no longer wants or uses. She came up with the idea to make large hot plates out of worn quilts. These are not only wonderful to look at but they are so functional and work well under large dishes - Clever Denny!

Mary's new piece is lovely, striking and so unique as is everything she does.

But we all literally had our socks knocked off when Denny pulled out her latest piece she's been working on for a long time - Down the Rabbit Hole. First of all, it's huge, loaded with color and a  feast for the eyes.

I tried to pick a favorite part (games I often play) but just too many came to mind.

I've always loved houses, especially the more whimsical ones so these tickled my fancy....

I really love the "running rabbits" - kind of reminds me of the ones in Watership Down, first thing I thought of when I saw them. After this wonderful display of talent it was off to the studio to play and get messy... more to follow.

SAQA January 2018

The Mountain Art Quilters which is a satelite group of SAQA in the Asheville, NC area had its first meeting of the New Year this past week...everyone was enthused to get back into the creative swing of things. Some gals have been very busy and brought some lovely things to share.

 I love the combination of pink and black and the interesting birds...each one different.

Mary created this very big and lovely quilt using Japanese fabrics.

I like the way she used the brownish cranberry strips to highlight each square.

Julie has been busy making quilts out of African prints. She was concerned that this looked like a panel but not so and doesn't give that impression in person...it's very vibrant.

Julie loves to do hand stitching and this piece has some beautiful hand work on it.

Kathy has started a new series of quilts using photos of places around Asheville. She said she wandered around looking at landmarks etc. and nothing grabbed her and then she came upon this street with interesting texture in the buildings and a canopy of trees...On the left is the picture she used for inspiration.

Some lovely piecing in the background.

Mary Jane likes to work in sheers and brought this small piece that she wants to incorporate with some cotton/silk blended sheer. It was luscious and a picture would not do it justice.

Our little group is growing and each meeting seems to bring new people...this gal (so sorry...don't know her name yet) brought some wonderful pieces highly embellished with some very fun things.

Okay...so these little orange thing-eys are pipe cleaners and do they ever bring back memories...As kids, we used to cut them apart to create caterpillars...don't remember what we used them for but they were so soft and fun to pet.

And more on the trees...

This gal has so much fun with her pieces and fun for us to see also...everywhere you look is something clever.

So here is a lovely piece mounted on a stretched canvas that has been painted black. It's quite lovely in person.
Such a fun meeting and so inspiring...nice way to kick off the New Year.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year and wishing you all a wonderful, healthy, happy and creative year doing things you love to do. So far that wish has not reached my life - the creative part anyway as the crazies continue to pursue....so many house projects. We are at the 11 year mark when things start to go (unlike 30 years ago when things lasted forever!) We have replaced a stove, microwave, fridge, washing machine and 2 vacumns in the last 3 months plus painting the main level of our house. I'm determined to get back in my studio SOON!...Okay...enough whining...The new year also suggested a little housekeeping at our booth in Woolworth in downtown Asheville.

 Down with the fall leaves...up with the new. Many things are not new as time has not been on my side but since they've been absent from the booth for a while, hopefully they are new to those that see them.

 The booth looks good and I plan to stop by tomorrow to work on inventory.

 Kate's wall and

 Mary's wall of spring-like wall art.

 We are still hanging quilts on the railing as you come in on the main floor - a new piece by Mary and

 Kate's beautiful strip pieced quilt and

 my 2 pieces with Mary's cute face popping up in the middle. If you're in the Asheville area, please stop by Woolworth - a wonderful gallery with so many interesting and wonderful pieces of art.
In the meantime, I hope to report back soon on something I started a while back...needs very little to be finished so here's hoping "After the Rain" will be done and posted soon...Thanks for sticking with me.  and happy, happy, happy New Year!!!

SAQA

Well, it's been a while and my fingers are itching not only to sew but to write something....Holidays, company and yuk....being sick and on antibiotics have held me back. I belong to SAQA and there is a satellite group in the Asheville area that has started to meet more regularly, even found a great meeting place. This little group started with 3 people and has grown to around 15 very talented women.

 Since we haven't met that often until now, I'm still learning names and faces but I have permission from all these lovely ladies to show their work here ....so on with the show! The above piece was very vibrant and I love the random piecing within each block.

 This lovely piece was created by my good buddy Mary Stori. I love everything she does and this is no exception. Mary has been creating her own fabric for a while and all this fabric is Indigo. I love the use of white mixed in and the very graphic quality to the design....such great balance.

 I first saw Kathie Briggs work on Pinterest when she was living in the midwest...How lucky for us, she came east and to Asheville...no less. Kathie is known for her intricately pieced designs and love of nature themes.

 Amazing!

 This is another piece by Kathie...so very different but I think it is stunning!

 I love this very happy piece and do not remember the gal's name who made it....I love her sense of color and fun.

 This piece blew me away with such soft coloring and intricate piecing. I'm not a piecer so sewing many many small squares together would be quite a feat for me.

 And a detail...she had to have dyed her fabric!

 I'm such a tree person so of course this piece just grabbed me.

 I loved the scrappiness of this quilt but still very sophisticated.

And Susan Lee who does fantastic work did this very dramatic piece.
You see...I wasn't lying when I said this group has talent...indeed they do....