Trying to play catch up - so going to post pictures of news and work for these last few months. First let me say that I have been searching ever since we moved to Beaufort, SC, for a happy place that is a good fit for me and my fiber work. There really are a lot of galleries in Beaufort as well as Bluffon but mostly display painting, jewelry, wood turning and ceramics - I have tried a couple of those, but although they are really wonderful places to display art, my work was not a good fit.
The exciting thing, is that I was invited to be part of the Maye River Gallery in Bluffton on Calhoun Street directly across from Spartina. If you know anything about Bluffton, you will know this is the prime location as there is a ton of foot traffic always and in winter there are a lot of tourists from up North so I am hoping that my work will appeal (and sell!) I have been very fortunate so far and have made my rent and some to spare so I am encouraged. Not only is the location great, but the 15 members who make up the artists in the gallery are among the MOST talented artists ever and they are so very kind and supportive of one another and of me, a new member who is is learning about all of the intricacies when I have to work (everyone works two days a month, it is a real blessing to be part of their family. http//:www.mayerivergallery.com
I think fiber lovers want to see and touch the textile - I know I do to enjoy the color and texture; this is one reason that I haven't done much with etsy although my studio was beginning to be overwhelmed with my work! I don't mind mailing things occasionally but I don't want to be making trips to the post office when I can be in my studio
In any event, I confess to posting pictures mostly to Facebook - they make it so easy and I love sharing information and techniques with worldwide friends and learning from them as well.
Now to what I have been working on: eco printing - always!, shibori, indigo, ice dyeing, joomchi still obsessed when I have the time and of course felt making. I have also become enthralled with Alabama Chanin so have been working on my first hand stitched dress using hand dyed fabric - bottom layer indigo, top layer logwood that has been spent but still gave a lovely creamy color. This top layer was stenciled using a huge stencil I cut out of pennant felt - ugh not a fun job (so I bought a Cricut for next time!) and used pearly grey for the paint. Each leaf/flower is hand stitched and then the center cut away leaving a margin (reverse applique). Yes, it is a lot of stitching but I love doing it for a couple of hours in the evening - find it very soothing. Two and a half panels done - one and a half to go!
Another thing I have been doing is taking a few classes from Botanical wizard, India Flint; she does possess a certain charm and her ideas are helping me immensely to think outside the box; her voice is sooo soothing, I love listening to her talk as the wind whistles, the fire for the cauldron crackles and the ocean in the background as she works. So all of these things involve hand stitching - no machine. I'm loving the slow stitching which is quite a movement at the moment and since I consider myself a textile saver, loving the thrift shop searching for just the right pieces to cut up and put together again in a different form before bundling - and then! there is always the great reveal
I have taken all three (so far) of her workshops - Japanese Bags, Alchemist Apron and now Conscious Clothing - all of which are hand stitched, bundled and dyed.
First the Japanese bags from India's Bagstories workshop using all sorts of fabrics and dyes.
Secondly India's Alchemist Apron workshop:
Created from linen shirts with embellishments from the heart
India's Consious Clothing workshop - great for a textile saver like me - this is just the workshop I wanted needed! I LOVE being immersed in these delicious decisions as to what, how to combine since I had no clue otherwise!
The first picture is before the dye pot - a combination of all sorts of fabric and textures.
This is the dye pot - what will happen?
The reveal before being rinsed - I'm just thrilled with the outcome; have since rinsed and it is a bit lighter. I will make a sleeveless dress next using the same techniques but all that work was so worth it!
In between all of this, we had some beach time at Harbor Isle, and our granddaughters visited from their farm near Gettysburg - they are grown now so they had a great time going to the dock and pool with some site-seeing and visiting thrown in as well. We also had a dye day because I wanted them to give them some lessons on indigo as well as ice dyeing.
The girls at the Paris Market always a must visit in Savannah enjoying a lavender spritzer and macarons:
Ice dyeing fun
Indigo - silly me forgot to take pictures and a huge box was shipped off to their home after they left!
More ice dyeing on thrift store linen shirts
Now for some willy nilly work accomplished over the past few months:
The exciting thing, is that I was invited to be part of the Maye River Gallery in Bluffton on Calhoun Street directly across from Spartina. If you know anything about Bluffton, you will know this is the prime location as there is a ton of foot traffic always and in winter there are a lot of tourists from up North so I am hoping that my work will appeal (and sell!) I have been very fortunate so far and have made my rent and some to spare so I am encouraged. Not only is the location great, but the 15 members who make up the artists in the gallery are among the MOST talented artists ever and they are so very kind and supportive of one another and of me, a new member who is is learning about all of the intricacies when I have to work (everyone works two days a month, it is a real blessing to be part of their family. http//:www.mayerivergallery.com
I think fiber lovers want to see and touch the textile - I know I do to enjoy the color and texture; this is one reason that I haven't done much with etsy although my studio was beginning to be overwhelmed with my work! I don't mind mailing things occasionally but I don't want to be making trips to the post office when I can be in my studio
In any event, I confess to posting pictures mostly to Facebook - they make it so easy and I love sharing information and techniques with worldwide friends and learning from them as well.
Now to what I have been working on: eco printing - always!, shibori, indigo, ice dyeing, joomchi still obsessed when I have the time and of course felt making. I have also become enthralled with Alabama Chanin so have been working on my first hand stitched dress using hand dyed fabric - bottom layer indigo, top layer logwood that has been spent but still gave a lovely creamy color. This top layer was stenciled using a huge stencil I cut out of pennant felt - ugh not a fun job (so I bought a Cricut for next time!) and used pearly grey for the paint. Each leaf/flower is hand stitched and then the center cut away leaving a margin (reverse applique). Yes, it is a lot of stitching but I love doing it for a couple of hours in the evening - find it very soothing. Two and a half panels done - one and a half to go!
Another thing I have been doing is taking a few classes from Botanical wizard, India Flint; she does possess a certain charm and her ideas are helping me immensely to think outside the box; her voice is sooo soothing, I love listening to her talk as the wind whistles, the fire for the cauldron crackles and the ocean in the background as she works. So all of these things involve hand stitching - no machine. I'm loving the slow stitching which is quite a movement at the moment and since I consider myself a textile saver, loving the thrift shop searching for just the right pieces to cut up and put together again in a different form before bundling - and then! there is always the great reveal
I have taken all three (so far) of her workshops - Japanese Bags, Alchemist Apron and now Conscious Clothing - all of which are hand stitched, bundled and dyed.
First the Japanese bags from India's Bagstories workshop using all sorts of fabrics and dyes.
Secondly India's Alchemist Apron workshop:
Created from linen shirts with embellishments from the heart
India's Consious Clothing workshop - great for a textile saver like me - this is just the workshop I wanted needed! I LOVE being immersed in these delicious decisions as to what, how to combine since I had no clue otherwise!
The first picture is before the dye pot - a combination of all sorts of fabric and textures.
This is the dye pot - what will happen?
The reveal before being rinsed - I'm just thrilled with the outcome; have since rinsed and it is a bit lighter. I will make a sleeveless dress next using the same techniques but all that work was so worth it!
In between all of this, we had some beach time at Harbor Isle, and our granddaughters visited from their farm near Gettysburg - they are grown now so they had a great time going to the dock and pool with some site-seeing and visiting thrown in as well. We also had a dye day because I wanted them to give them some lessons on indigo as well as ice dyeing.
The girls at the Paris Market always a must visit in Savannah enjoying a lavender spritzer and macarons:
Ice dyeing fun
Indigo - silly me forgot to take pictures and a huge box was shipped off to their home after they left!
Now for some willy nilly work accomplished over the past few months:
you do beautiful work. i, too, have gotten into Alabama Chanin's stitching. i signed up for one of her Craftsy classes but haven't done much yet. there aren't enough hours in the day. enjoyed your post.
ReplyDeleteOh Margo, you are so amazing! I am simply awestruck❣ I love all of it❣
ReplyDeleteBeautiful work Margo! I'd love to learn indigo dyeing!
ReplyDeleteLove your work! What's in the Dye Pot that you got beautiful grey's?
ReplyDeleteAlso, would love to meet you - I live in Savannah.
Michele Lebar