Mark Making with Nature Book Sale

All THREE of my books, Compost Dyeing and Other Fermentation Dye Tecniques, Rust and Clay Dyeing, Mark Making with Nature in one package via digital download for $30.00
On sale this weekend until Midnight on the 31st!!!

Spring Cleaning

Well I'm into day two after having a cortizone shot injected into my injured right knee and WOW what a difference it has made in my mobility.  Today after sleeping in, I must have needed the rest, I decided to empty out some boxes shoved to the side in the upstairs hallway, suprise suprise MOST of the boxes were empty, they've been sitting there forever collecting dust, go figure. 

I put two small bookshelves where the boxes once lived and proceeded to free up floor space in my studio, yes there really IS a floor in my studio.  I'm hoping to vacuum that floor tomorrow!  Photos coming and soon.

Blog Look Update

Decided to update my blog look today and have NO idea what happened to my header!  There was a lovely large photo at the top and now it's a tiny picture and a huge amount of white.  Onward.

Of e-Books and Other Things

I finally found a source so that I could make my books available as a digital download :-)  Check out my website for more information, I'm hoping to make the downloads available from my blogs as well. http://www.kbaxterpackwood.com/e-Books.htm

Am still recuperating from a nasty fall two weeks ago, I've been using the down time to get caught up on desk work, book projects, and a new video project which will be shot once it warms up this spring.  Until then I will continue to stream twice a month the recorded videos are available on Ustream.

Garden Journal

WIP - Garden Journal Spread

Chipped Heart

Snow covered garden

There really IS a garden under all of this white stuff!

Crow

Crow sitting on my roof, I love the contrast of the texture and pattern of the shingles against the sky and the crow.

Spring and Crows

The crows are back, a few weeks early actually, this means that in about six weeks the robins and cedar waxwings will also return.  Is this a sign that spring will be early this year?  John certianly hopes so as he's itching to finish painting the house.  I've started planning my gardens and will be starting seeds soon. 

Here the crows are sitting atop my house trying to keep warm.

The Crows are Back

WIP - Deer Slayer

The copper nest is installed, now I'm having problems with the abalone egg, I've tried several wrapping techniques but nothing worked in a way that was visually appealing.  Will experiment further tomorrow, will also paint the tips of the antlers.

Tea Dye Bath

About 20 teabags in water.  I brought the bath to a boil and simmered for 15 minutes, I then added the prepared fabric and simmered for 15 minutes before turning the heat off.  This is one method of aging new fabric, the color however is not permanent.

Tannin Over Dyed Rusted Cotton

I have a short tutorial on Ustream on dyeing with tea, coffee, and tannin and then over dyeing rust dyed fabrics with them  http://www.ustream.tv/channel/mark-making-with-nature I will be streaming part 2 tomorrow at 3pm Central Time.

Over Dyeing

Over Dyed Rust Dyed Cotton Fabrics

Upper Left Hand corner Tannin over Rust
Upper Right Hand corner Constant Comment Tea over Rust
Lower Right Hand corner Coffee over Rust
Lower Left Hand corner Tannin bound resist over coffee  over rust.

Crow Work Finished

Crow work finished and awaiting it's niche.

Aging Fabric with Tea, Coffee and Tannin

Tomorrow afternoon I will demostrate how to age fabrics effectively with tea, coffee, and various tannins. I have 30 minutes of stream time planned, which will be recorded, the stream however may go over 30 minutes.  http://www.ustream.tv/channel/mark-making-with-nature 

Knee Injury

I'm STILL debating whether or not I want to go to the hospital.  I FUBARED my right knee, yeah it's REALLY bad, the pain IS incredible but deep down I know exactly what they will tell me and that is to make an appointment with my orhtopedic surgeon on Monday.  The knee is swollen like you wouldn't believe.  Please pray for Angel my sheltie as she thinks THIS is her fault and it isn't, well I was on the process of taking her out to the loo when I slipped and fell but still it's NOT her fault.  I should have cleaned up the back stoop earlier from all of the snow and ice melt but was lazy and didn't.  Guess whose fault it really is????

Copper Nest and Mother of Pearl

Happy New Year

Happy New Year Everyone!  This year is promising to be an exciting year already. 

Crow - Detail

WIP - Crow

Natural Dyed Cotton Fabric -Madder Root and Cutch on Natural Muslin.  Mordant - Alum Tannin Alum.
Timtex Core.  Machine Stitched, Hand Beaded, Glass and Natural Mineral Beads, Bone Pipes.
Still needs hand stitching, I will work on that tomorrow.
8x6 inches.

Crow Ornaments

My inspiration bird a raven that was sitting on my grape arbor this summer.  We don't get many ravens here, mostly crows, and I was really happy to snap his pic before he left.

Needle felted black merino wool and blue calypso angelina fibers made into a constructed cloth.

The same black needle felted wool and the back side of the angelina cloth which consists of black shred and forest floor angelina fibers.

ATC constructed of peltex, double sided adhesive, with kona PFD fabric, bird body consists of black merino felt, and the wings I made of layers of angelina fibers. 

The back side of the crow ornament I will cover it with vintage black german glass glitter when I'm finished with the stitching.  The backround colors are from Tsukineko Walnut Inks - Cherry Blossom and Adirondaks Inks - Butterscotch.  I made the card during today's live Ustream  You can view the recorded video at my Ustream link, click the previous link or do a search for kbaxterpackwood!

Hanging Out in the Studio

John and Angel hanging out with me in my studio this evening.

The Watcher

Because everyone should have a bird sitting on their monitor!

Crow Work

New Crow piece from last Wednesday's Ustream episode.

Cutch and Madder Root dyed natural colored cotton muslin and dyed wool boucle yarn. 

Crow stamped with Setacolor Black Transparent Paint.

Machine Stitched.

6x8 inches.

New Camera Mount

Adjusting the webcam.

John installing the new camera mount

John made me a new camera mount for my webcam tonight!  It's adjustable and swivels 360 degrees.

WIP - Encaustic

From last Wednesdays Ustream.  These are in need or more surface manipulation.

Wax

Studio Live Stream

Made my debut today on Ustream with my first live test and all went well, thank you to Dale Anne and Diana for stopping by and critiquing!  I will be adjusting the cameras tonight and will be streaming live tomorrow from my studio 3-5pm Central Time.  Pre-Chat will begin at about 2:30ish PM Central Time.

Studio Live Stream this Wednesday

I will be live streaming from my studio this coming Wednesday 3-5pm. I will be working on some encaustic collage pieces and maybe some other stuff as well. Check it out!

Encaustic - Playing with Wax

I will be live streaming from my studio this coming Wednesday 3-5pm.  Will be working on some encaustic collage pieces and maybe some other stuff as well. Check it out!

Live Streaming from My Studio

I created a Ustream channel and will be streaming live from my studio starting next week. I'll be working on various natural dye, rust dyeing, composting, pigment painting, etc. in addition to a lot of collage mix media. I won't be able to particiapte in the chat unfortunately, my monitor and key board are across the room from me but will have a fix for that and soon.
You can find me at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/kbaxterpackwood and search for kbaxterpackwood.

Cuddled Up.

A serious cold front is moving in and the cats have hunkered down accordingly, on wool blankets no less.

 
Thomas in the upper left hand corner and Pepper in the center.

Gesso Central

Avocado Peel

Will add more peels tomorrow and bring to a boil to prevent mold from forming.

Vintage Green Beads

Streaming Live from My Studio

I created a Ustream channel and will be streaming live from my studio starting next week. I'll be working on various natural dye, rust dyeing, composting, pigment painting, etc. in addition to a lot of collage mix media. I won't be able to particiapte in the chat unfortunately, my monitor and key board are across the room from me but will have a fix for that and soon.


You can find me at http://www.ustream.com/ and search for kbaxterpackwood

Avocado Pit Dye Vat

Starting an avocado pit dye vat in a 2 quart jar.

Eye Glasses Strap

I started with a cartoon of what I hoped the beaded strap would look like and then started going through my collection of vintage beads, not bad for a first attempt!

Pony Beads

I'm looking for a source that sells these beads in Pony through 11/0  I'd REALLY love more pony's and some 8/0's in the iridescent coated black beads.

These beads are black lined green and blue glass beads respectively, pony size, and I need more of these as well, what you see here in all of the pictures amounts to a tablespoon and a half each.

 

What's on My Sewing Table

Or you can't see me, right?  NOTE I do put in my descriptions that my items come from a pet friendly home, someday my studio WILL BE out of the house again.

Madder Root Dyed Crochet Lace

Madder Root Dyed Ruffle

Madder Root Dyed Lace

Madder Root Dyed Trims - Found!

I've been looking for these for awhile as I had several projects in mind.

An Unhappy Pepper

No room in the inn for a tabby cat, Pepper's VERY UNHAPPY because a box of inks is sitting in what he percieves to be HIS chair! ;-)  Poor baby.

Copper on Compost

Madder Root Dyed Goodness

I've been looking for this pile of trims for the better part of two weeks now, tonight they finally revealed themselves along with a favorite pair of Gingher Scissors and my tape measure.