Studio Clean Up

I'll try to post pictures later this afternoon of my wet studio, I started cleaning it yesterday - and unpacking my stuff from the other place. It's slowly coming together, and involving a LOT of rearranging of everthing, but I have faith that eventually it'll be a real working studio again.

The problem with having BOTH a design studio, the place where I do all of my stitching etc., and a wet studio, the place where I do all of my dyeing and painting of fabrics, fibers, and papers is that they are seperated by a floor in between the two - and my knees don't like stairs anymore!

More later from the land of chaos and dust bunnies.

Ghost Tree Blue

Ghost Trees Set - Collage Mania

The top photo is taken on a white background bottom photo on my green cutting matt.

I will try to take a better picture later without the hot spot ;-)

http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/NewFiles/ACS/FAQ.html

FFAC Collage Mania Pieces

Ghost Tree #6

Ghost Tree #5

Ghost Tree #4

Ghost Tree #3

Ghost Tree #2

Ghost Tree #1

Ghost Trees No. 1 - 6 http://www.virginiaspiegel.com/NewFiles/ACS/FAQ.html

Materials: Found Paper, Ink, Paintstiks, Fabric Paint, Timtex, Wool Felt, Metallic Thread, Cotton Thread, Wool Yarn, Compost Dyed Silk Organza Net (Behind the center panel)

Size: each piece measures approx 8 1/8 x 5 3/8 inches

Wild Poppies

I needlefelted degummed silk waste onto a base of white wool roving, tis over a piece of shiny white organza fabric. The black lines were created by needlefelting heavy black pearl cotton onto the fabric. this would probably look better photographed against a dark background, instead of my white table.

Needle Felting

I haven't decided where to take this piece, it is a combination of wool and degummed silk waste. The shiny areas are bits of angelina fiber that was carded into the wool batt.

Degummed Silk Waste

I just loaded a bunch of these beauties to my store: http://www.prairiefibers.etsy.com/ The degummed was is most excellent for needlefelting and for using as doll hair - wild dolls hair!

Flickr Photos

I've been updating my albums http://www.flickr.com/photos/kbaxterpackwood/

Woodland

I created this piece sometime around 1996 or 1997 I'm not sure when now, it's been a good ten years I can definately say that!!!

Under the Influence

Of inspiration! I spend a LOT of hours photographing trees, rocks, leaves, soil structures, fungi, flowers, etc., to add to my library of visual ideas. Having a digital camera has reduced my costs significantly, I save film developing dollars for the good stuff now, and for black and white images.

The furkids

There are more pictures over here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kbaxterpackwood/

Coral Reef Series

Top pic is of the fabric before I started applying shiva paintstiks - I"m no where near being done with the surface of this piece, and then it needs to be stitched!!! My shiva iridescent blender is NOT cooperating, time to dig out a new one. Everytime I went to draw a line on the fabric it wouldn't lay down color, if I pressed harder it just started flaking apart not fun at all, I've had this blender for about four years now so that could be a part of the problem.

I've never been to a coral reef, just seen them in photos etc., so no where near being close to the real thing. I have 4 maybe 5 pieces of fabric that ended up looking like coral, well ot me anyway, so this is the nature of my newest series of art quilts.

Test

Just a test post to make sure it's working correctly.

Studio Time

Well first I need to clean my space and have a spot to sit first!

Silk throwster's waste

I uploaded a tutorial to http://www.kbaxterpackwood.blogspot.com/ on how to make silk paper with throwster's waste. I also put some throwster's waste up for sale in my etsy.com store.

Making Silk Paper Tutorial

This is how the fibers tend to arrive, in a large mass all tangled together, at this point you can use them for anything, making paper, doll hair, very organic flowers, emellishment in a landscape piece, etc.

Throwster's waste contains sericin, this sericin acts like an adhesive when spritz with water and heated with an iron, when heated the sericin causes the silk fibers to stick to themselves thus creating a sheet of silk paper or constructed cloth.

• To make silk paper with throwster's waste pull the fibers apart to form a thin single layer.
• Spritz with water, but don't drown the fibers.
• Using either two pressing sheets or parchment paper - I use deli sheets - place your layer of fiber in between the two sheets and press with a hot iron.
• You don't want to scorch the fibers so keep checking on the papers progress by lifting your top pressing sheet and see if they have bonded.
• Once they have bonded you can then add a second layer of throwster's waste and heat set to bond both layers for a thicker layer of paper or leave as is and use for embellishment, needlefelting, etc.

The fibers need to be teased apart, if you iron them together in this stage, without teasing them, you will end up with an unworkable mass. Pull the fibers apart gently silk, they don't need to be completely pulled apart, just seperated a bit to make a single layer of fibers.

Tease the fibers apart further until they are thin and gossamer like, if you wish to have thick areas this is fine, these areas might need additional pressing and water in order to form a bond.

First layer of throwster's waste after pressing with a hot iron

Second layer of throwster's wasted ironed to the first layer, it's important to spritz the first layer with water so that the second layer will bond with the first layer.

Painted Bondaweb that will be ironed to the silk throwster's waste paper, I used a fabric paint with a metallic sheen called Pink Halo.

I cut the painted bondaweb to size and then pressed it to the throwster's paper, I used two pressing sheets, one above my paper and one below, to sandwich the whole thing to prevent the bondaweb from attaching the iron and ironing board.

Here is the silk paper with the painted bondaweb attached, the paper is strong enough on it's own to be used for embellishing, but I chose to add the bondaweb as I was wishing to make some flowers for collage that had a bit more bling. Detail shots show that you can still see the fibers underneath.

Silk throwster's waste which can be purchased here http://www.prairiefibers.etsy.com/

Love Lies Bleeding

These fat eights are available in my shop http://www.prairiefibers.etsy.com/ the fabric is hand painted silk dupioni.

Thomas Love

No the iron isn't on, it's not even plugged in, thankfully.

Angel Love

Wow she actually sat still for her photo, too bad it's on our very messy bed! She's five now I figure she'll calm down someday, or not.

New Goodies

Seems you guys really like these little beauties so I added more Prairie Colours Natural Dyed Yarn Bundles to my etsy.com store! I also posted more silk carrier rods in hot spring colors. I'll be adding more of the silk fabric bundles tomorrow.

Whtat my name means

It would appear that someone has been looking over my shoulder!

What Kimberly Means

You are a seeker of knowledge, and you have learned many things in your life. You are also a keeper of knowledge - meaning you don't spill secrets or spread gossip. People sometimes think you're snobby or aloof, but you're just too deep in thought to pay attention to them. You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start. You are confident, self assured, and capable. You are not easily intimidated. You master any and all skills easily. You don't have to work hard for what you want. You make your life out to be exactly how you want it. And you'll knock down anyone who gets in your way! You are full of energy. You are spirited and boisterous. You are bold and daring. You are willing to do some pretty outrageous things. Your high energy sometimes gets you in trouble. You can have a pretty bad temper at times. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow. You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily. Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is. You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in. You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising. You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

What my name means

What Kimberly Means

You are a seeker of knowledge, and you have learned many things in your life. You are also a keeper of knowledge - meaning you don't spill secrets or spread gossip. People sometimes think you're snobby or aloof, but you're just too deep in thought to pay attention to them. You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start. You are confident, self assured, and capable. You are not easily intimidated. You master any and all skills easily. You don't have to work hard for what you want. You make your life out to be exactly how you want it. And you'll knock down anyone who gets in your way! You are full of energy. You are spirited and boisterous. You are bold and daring. You are willing to do some pretty outrageous things. Your high energy sometimes gets you in trouble. You can have a pretty bad temper at times. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow. You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily. Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is. You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in. You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising. You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

Dream World

Whilest I wait upon my other fabrics to finish dyeing, for Malus sylvestris, I've been busily pressing some of my compost dyed fabrics - many of which are now being listed in my prairiefibers.etsy.com store. Then I found this piece tonight, it looks all dreamy and stormy.

This piece is definately calling out to me, I see large thunderstorm clouds, the screen printed lace bit thrown is leads one to think all sorts of things - having survived one F5 and one F3 twister in my short life I'm sure you can imagine the sorts of things I'm imagining!

Compost Dyed Fabrics

I listed several pieces of my compost dyed fabrics to my etsy.com store, I'll post some rust dyed pieces tomorrow, today is our 7th year anniversary, so I'm off to spend some well deserved time with my hubby!

My store http://www.prairiefibers.etsy.com/

Goodies

I've been uploading some new natural dyed goodies to my etsy.com store today, they are very lovely! I have more than I can use at the present and am dyeing more - spring has sprung at the Prairie Fibers Studios! Btw I didn't use the plants listed to acquire the colors, as many of these plants are threatened or endangered. Rather I make my colorways based upon my favorite prairie plants!

Auditioning Fabrics

I've been auditioning fabrics again, for an art quilt project. I compost dyed these cotton fabrics about five or more years ago now and still have no other fabrics to go with them. I've been natural dyeing both silks and cotton fabrics to coordinate, no such luck. Each piece is about 20 - 24 inches square, it might be another five years before I find something to go with these pieces.

Photograph This

Good Luck photographing the whirling dirbish!!! Btw this is my tri-colored sheltie better known as Angel. Every time I start the camera she bolts or starts twirling in circles. The spots on the floor were created by Angel and I understand that they took quite a bit of talent to make - NOT.

The baby

A baby fur ball anyway!