I worked on some art today!
Dyeing Fabric
Yay, finally some art content for my blog. This weekend I dyed fabric with my best friend from childhood. It was a trick in my new house but we managed to get it to work. I had ordered 200 yards of fabric to dye but it didn’t arrive in time so we only dyed about 60 yards. So I’ll be doing more soon with 200 yards on it’s way.
The PFD (prepared for dye) fabric torn into 1 yard pieces ready for the dye bath:
There is no where in the house and no basement so dyeing is done outdoors at the new home (isn’t my big crab appletree awesome?):
The dyes are mixed (powder added to urea and water in the water bottles) and we’re ready to begin:
Kelly adding color to her fabric:
The dyes are on the fabrics and the table isn’t quite as clean as when we started:
Another cool tree picture - couldn’t resist:
The final results - washed, ironed and ready to make a new textile painting:
Dyeing Details
A few years back I was on the TV Show Uncommon Threads demonstrating how I dye fabric. In conjunction I did a series of posts with all the details. If you have any questions they are likely answered in the Dyeing Fabric series of posts.
Comments
Thanks to everyone that left comments over the last few months as I sold my old house and moved. I tried to keep up but many times was too busy. I appreciate all of them. Today I feel I’m an artist again and can get back to my "normal" life. At least until the remodel to add on a studio begins.
Posted by Lisa in: Making Abstract Contemporary Textile Art
Tagged: Dyeing, dyeing fabric, new home
Judy said,
July 13, 2008 @ 10:30 pm
Dear Lisa,
It must feel truly wonderful to be back working as an artist again after such a long break!
Judy
Tina Mammoser said,
July 14, 2008 @ 2:36 am
I can’t imagine a nicer place to be than under an apple tree dying rainbow colours. :) It must be so nice to be back at work. Enjoy!
Patty Altier said,
July 14, 2008 @ 4:37 am
Beautiful colors! Dyeing fabric can be hard work, but it had to be a lot of fun having a friend to work with! With the limitations of the new house are you going to have to dye enough fabric in the summer to get you thru the winter months? I can’t wait to see what colors you come up with using the next 200 yards!
Vicki W said,
July 14, 2008 @ 6:47 am
Your fabrics are so beautiful! You also seem to be so happy in your new home - congratulations!
cynthia said,
July 14, 2008 @ 7:01 am
Looks fantastic, Lisa!!
Barbara J Carter said,
July 14, 2008 @ 9:54 am
Congratulations on your first art project in the new house. Those dye colors are delicious! I look forward to seeing what you make from all that fabric.
Lisa Call said,
July 15, 2008 @ 11:06 pm
Yes Judy - it’s really good to be back.
Tina - yes - the tree is the place to be.
Patty - the biggest problem with dyeing right now is there is a break in my sewer pipe. I hope to get that fixed next week ( I have money in escrow from the sellers to do this). Then I think over the next couple months I’ll get all 200 yards of my fabric done and ready for winter.
Vicki - thanks - and yes - very happy.
Thanks Cynthia and Barbara!