New is good?

 I had a thought that my blog needed a face lift. I like grey, but is this too dark? It can always be changed again...

While I'm at it, I think I'll rearrange my art studio! Husband suggested recently that I should move my computer downstairs. I'm not sold on this, but it would give me another table to work at in the studio. No - I rather like escaping upstairs. 

I did move most of my indoor plants that crave a warm and sunny location for the winter upstairs. Little changes. Can't rush into to much at a time...

Addressing the Earth

 The proof copy was in Saturday's mail! Dee and I met yesterday afternoon and covered the book page by page making notes for changes to be made. Not many, but seeing it in print is much different from looking at a computer screen. 

The exhibit of the 12 dresses goes up tomorrow at the Quad Cities International Airport! It feels so good to be wrapping up both of my year long projects.  I'm sure my family and friends are tired of hearing about "my dress project"!  Thank goodness they are patient and supportive of me.

Don't like it? Dye it!

While doing some cleaning, I came across a quilt top (unfinished, of course), stashed away in my art studio closet. I put it in the trash pile, then pulled it out. I had held on to it for decades, but never had the desire to finish. The colors were so dated. Totally, not who I am now. I really hated to just pitch it. 

I always tell people in my dye workshops that it is perfectly ok to over dye ugly fabric. Why not over dye the quilt top!?!

This is not rinsed yet. We are to have rain today and I decided to let nature rinse it. The colors will lighten up, but I'm already very excited about how it looks! 

Fragments

 A little bit of stitching each morning adds up to a project in a few months! Included in this block is a piece of handwoven fabric from college days, and old recycled dishtowel and a sun print. 

Dyeing my own threads is so satisfying!

The sun print took on new life when I highlighted the negative space:

I used thickened dyes to create a pattern on this old dish towel:

Fragments

 Am I really beginning a new dress piece? Yes - I can't stop. With a collection of gifted dresses, a head full of ideas, and early morning stitching time (I woke at 1:30 this morning), the project will continue. 

On order!

 

The proof copy has been ordered! After a year of stitching dresses and months of compiling the book, it comes down to nothing to do but wait. 

The cover dress was an afterthought. I couldn't decide on a cover dress, so it seemed like a good idea to just create another one. This little dress was ice dyed and enhanced with Inktense. Does it look like countries and ocean? 

Random thoughts

 It is absolutely beautiful outdoors this morning. It seems that I should be out there doing something fun and exciting! Instead, I picked today to do some art studio clean up. It's needed it for awhile, but my excuse was the dress project.  Now that it is done and ready to head to the airport gallery in less than 2 weeks, I have no excuse. Tomorrow is trash day. I already have 2 giant bags hauled out to the bin. Yeah team!

It's now time to begin something new! With tons of ideas and a closet full of fabric, I'm thinking a couple of large quilts will eat up some stash. Where to begin?!?

*******

We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one.

Confucius

******

Time to get lunch going. 

Yummy color

 My small group of art friends got together yesterday for some silk thread dyeing. I am ❤️ ING the gorgeous colors and want to keep dyeing!

Color stories

 I'm working on a series of color stories based on the colors from an image. I picked a Marc Chagall watercolor from his ballet series as my inspiration. 

Me worry?

 My take on worry dolls:

Sunflowers

 Sunflowers are one of my favorites. Some of this seasons pics:

Ibex

 This caught my eye at the St Louis Art Museum.  Iranian footed cup from 400 BC. Now what really caught my attention was the grid and triangles that reminded me of a butterfly.  It also reminded me that I have a small crock to mend that a raccoon recently broke.  Must add that to my list of things to do.

Water lilies

 I made a trip to the St Louis Art Museum this weekend. My purpose was to see a textile show, but while searching for it, I ended up on front of a Monet. It doesn't compare with the emotional feeling of being in Paris, but it did manage to take me back to that day at the Musee de l'Orangerie for a few minutes.