What's going on?

I haven't posted in a while so here are a few updates:

Here is the result of dyeing dryer sheets. I think they are very pretty. This is post Synthrapol and washing and the colors are still nice.

I've been working on circle designs based on Principles and Elements of art. I will have some fused samples by tomorrow to take to my OK Quilters meeting.


Also, I've been sidetracked with other crafts since my last post. I found out about amigurumi's, which are little crocheted animals and creatures. This month's Crochet Me online 'zine has an article about them. I was taught to crochet by a nun who lived on my block as a kid, so I do still dabble in crocheting.

Another thing that I have been obsessed with learning about are kanzashi, the flowered headdresses worn by geisha. There are a few online tutorials on how to make them, and given my penchant for things in the third dimension, I will try my hand at them this weekend.

I also have been making things for the ATCards.com forum swaps I signed up for. I am very excited about making ATCs (Artist Trading Cards), and even though I know I won't get quilted ones back in the swap, I am excited to try this out.

Lastly, here are some things on my design wall. One is a miniature based on my all time favorite painting, Beata Beatrix by Dante Gabriel Rossetti. There's thread play, some fused Angelina items from my workshop in Chicago, and a painted piece of Lutradur, from the Cloth Paper Scissors "Make it U" workshop.

Dryer Sheets

I found that Setacolor fabric dye will dye used and re-washed dryer anti-static sheets. I was dyeing some fat eighths and I had leftover dye. I also dyed a "color catcher", those things from Shout brands that you throw into the wash with things that might bleed onto your laundry. It took the color pretty well. I'll get some pictures of them up here soon. Funny....it was a beautiful sunny Sunday until I started dyeing outside. That's when the clouds rolled in. So much for SetaColor sun painting... The dryer sheets were very bright until I washed them in Synthrapol, but they are still definitely dyed. Next time I will use more concentrated dye, mine was a little thin.

In the meantime, I have some new ATCs on my trading card page, as well as all of my dimensional flower projects on my 3-D page. Here is a card made from vintage Kimono fabric.

...my preciousss....

The Friday Lunch Bunch Round Robin group has a new theme for next year's round. Precious fabric. You put in your most precious fabric, and make the first block to set the theme. The rest of the fabric goes in the box, and off it goes. Yes, it's difficult to say goodbye to it. That's the point. What will I put in? Perhaps my only hand dyed fabric. Each in it's separate fat-quarter stack, I have never found the project for it. Maybe this is it...
The first round is in Sept. 2006.
Picture courtesy thonering.net