Cross Cut Circles is complete and hanging on the wall. I carried the painted backing around to the front edges and then sewed a pocket rod on the back. It measures 31 by 26.5 inches. I am very pleased with how it turned out. The green cross pieces and the red sashing is from the fabrics I made at the Crow Barn Class in October.
So what else creative did I do this first day of my two week vacation? I did some errands, I did some deacons work for the church, I didn't go to the gym, and....
I WORKED IN THE STUDIO. Yeah!
This is my goal for my vacation- to work in the studio every day (or at least do some art everyday or something that helps me with doing art).
I figured out how to install the cartridges and put on my new respirator that I got for my birthday in November (Thanks Mom and Dad!). I mixed up some formosol into the print paste I made last night before I went to bed and did some discharge printing with it. I discharged on three pieces of fabric I started in my class with with Leslie Morgan and Clair Benn. I used three more of my new thermofax screens to put the discharge paste on. I managed to clean them in the shower so they didn't get ripped. I have to wait for the application to dry and then I have to iron it outside with a steam iron and my respirator on. The chemical reaction takes place when the hot steam hits it and removes the color from the fabric. This is step two or three on each of these pieces of fabric. I am already doing more steps of work to each piece of fabric than I ever did before.
Another project I am working on is stitching a piece of fabric for in prep for shibori. I am stitching ovals all over it. I will draw the strings up tight and then dye it. Where ever the strings is the dye won't penetrate the fabric so it makes a texture all over the fabric. This hand work is so relaxing- good vacation exercise.
I forgot to soak some fabrics in soda ash yesterday so I did that today too in prep for tomorrow afternoon's screen printing work. Now they are hanging to dry in the basement.
I have three art related things I am intentionally working on these two weeks. I won't fully finish any of them I suspect, but while one is resting or batching until the next step, I have the other two I can continue on with.
1. Work on my building for the City and Guilds course. I have all the fabric and supplies and all I need to do it put it all together. This means lots of time at the sewing machine, which i don't always enjoy- tedius. I do have a good book on tape so hopefully I will discipline myself to do an hour a day and by the end of vacation it should be close to being ready to put together. I really need to move forward with this class so I don't get dropped from the rolls.
2. Continue to develop the fabric I came back from the Crow Barn class with using new to me techniques and ideas. This means a littel bit each day then batching overnight and then washing, drying and moving onto more. Sometimes a piece has to hang on the design wall until I know what the next things is to do. I am learning to think out of the box and try new things. Staying focused on the process of doing is the most important thing I am working on here..
3. To make a beginning on my next project. I am going to make seven small pieces to hang in a row over our very large fireplace (it is only a couple of inches shy of NINE feet mind you) with the theme of seeds. In some of my writing about regeration I remembered this verse from John 12 Jesus says, "I tell you the truth unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds... " I am going to try and explore the symbolism and see what comes of it. I would love to use some of the fabric from #2 we'll see if they are ready in time to be used.
So a vacation at home: sleeping in and not having to wake to the alarm, spending time with my husband and children who have time off from school and work, and being in the studio or doing something art related every day - glorious.
Check back tomorrow for day two's report.
Karen
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