As Promised...

Silk painting. They're really rubbish, so far. I'm figuring out what works for me, and what doesn't at this point. So far? Shibori: yes Serti: No

I really, really wanted to like the Serti technique, (outlining with gutta and painting within the lines) as shown here in my daughter's requested butterfly scarf, but I really don't. I suppose my hands are somewhat tied by the fact that I refuse to use anything but water-based resists, as I do not want to add regular trips to the drycleaner to remove gutta. As a result, my gutta lines tend to get flooded or washed away by my painting.


I did batik (using wax as a resist medium) back in college, so I may have to give that a go again. Boiling or ironing out the wax sounds like a complete pain in the tuckus, but I KNOW that painting won't wash that away.





Unfortunately, the better guttas that don't wash away as readily make my paintings look like a kindergartener got into mommy's wardrobe with a magic marker. I don't mind the "human touch" in my artwork, but I don't like it looking like I used a fine-tip Sharpie when I painstakingly squeezed the lines from a bottle with a teeny tiny point on it.








My abstract items look better, and I think that's the way for me to go until I get more practice or get my wax.

I *really* like the effects of salt and alcohol on the dye. Those techniques are staying in my arsenal for sure.







The Shibori will look better when I take the time to do it right, instead of hurriedly trying to slap something together. But isn't that true of most art?

This shibori scarf reminds me of the "Magic Eye" posters that were prevalent when I was in High School. I took the 17" square scarf and twisted it into a rope. Then I over-twisted it until it wanted to wind back on itself, which I let it do. I then clipped the end together so it wouldn't untwist, and placed it in a small bowl of dye. I then unclipped it (my clip was metal) and nuked it in the bowl of dye for a few minutes. A rinse and ironing later, and it was as you see here.

I look forward to experimenting more.

Silk painting is on hold...

At least the "Show and Tell" part. I don't want to set up a steamer for one, tiny scarf, and I don't want to do more scarves until the frame I ordered arrives. I do not do well with improvisational art supplies. I just don't. Believe me, I tried. I was all "Little House on the Prairie" inspired, ready to make it myself or make do, but everything I tried was just a *little* bit off. It made things messy and sloppy. And trust me, my "artistry" needs to have everything going right for it from the get-go.

BUT... I really enjoy it. So expect to see some, eventually. :D

Diving in... again.

Yes, I'm diving into a new hobby... again. And in my usual style: head-first, no-holds-barred and don't spare the pocketbook! What's the hobby? Silk painting.

Yes, today was payday and I've just ordered over $100 worth of supplies... and yet that was not as many supplies as I wanted to get. Oh, no. I had to restrain myself because the little niblet really, desperately needed a new computer. So, supplies for me, and needed parts for her machine. Fortunately, hubby and I know how to build them so the cost will be minimal on the PC front.

Also, with all the fiber dyes I have on hand, I already have a wide palette of colors to choose from, it's just the knick-nacky things, like stainless steel pushpins, better suited brushes, resist materials, etc. Actually the resists were the priciest part of the purchase, even out-doing the silks by a wide margin, if you include the applicator bottles.

Shushan Socks

Boy, am I late posting this one. I recently finished my Shushan socks in the Twisted Giles Kabaam! yarn.



I had enough left over that I think I might be able to squeak out a pair of plain ribbed socks for the little one. She's strangely excited about that. I will refrain from calling us "sock twins" if we ever end up wearing them at the same time.

I have also made progress on my two versions of the Anniversary shawl.



Somehow I have not managed to share a picture of the one in KnitPicks "Sherry" colorway. I have those little closed rubber rings for stitch markers in white, and the KnitPicks laceweight is turning them pink! Pretty scary that I wash the dye out of my own hand dyed yarns better than a professional company. :(

I'm a sheep!

Although I suppose being a sheep in the fiber world is not as bad as elsewhere. :/

I've joined the latest craze, Plurking. Come join and be one of us.

Here goes nothing...

Well, I just spent $40 (one QUARTER of that for shipping!) on materials to try making a warping board of my own design for self-striping yarn. No offense to the lovely Scout (of Scout's Swag) but while her board is cool and all, I want something bigger. And less tangly.

Since these materials were ordered online, we'll see how this goes, but I'm strangely optimistic.

I finished (finally!) spinning up yarn from my own store's roving. One unit (I sell in 4oz. units) of "Purple Heart" and one unit of "Purplexed" spun to about fingering weight singles, and then plied together. I'm letting it rest on the 'noddy, then I'll wash and dry for pictures. I'm thinking a skinny scarf, or something. Not sure yet.

On the non-fiber homefront, today was mini-Di's last day of school, and it was a half-day. Apparently the end of school celebration included some form of recreational sport involving a super-soaker. They sent her home soaked, filthy, and hopped up on sugar. Thanks a lot folks.

I don't know... it's a mystery!

Started my first mystery KAL this weekend with the swatch from the Goddess Knits Mystery Shawl group on Ravelry and Yahoo. It looks to be an interesting project.



From the various hints I've gotten reading the posts in the Ravelry group, it sounds as though it will be done in the round, which should prove interesting. I didn't care for the look of the fabric in the swatch when I did it on US 5's, so I dropped it down to size 4's (seen in the above swatch). I still think it's a little sloppy looking, but then I'm not an experienced lace knitter, and I'd really hate to have to drop to 3's.