MORE "DARK LIGHT 123"

I love these five packs of color. They are created in the "dark light 123" crossover method, taught to me by my dye buddies, Cynthia and Christine. Its a lovely blend of 2 colors, which also produces different values. They work so beautifully together. Directions for this method can be found here: https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=7501629057264755564#editor/target=post;postID=6314322770481458600;onPublishedMenu=posts;onClosedMenu=posts;postNum=57;src=postname

The combos I used, starting from upper left, proceeding clockwise:
1. golden yellow with better blue green
2. lemon yellow with deep orange
3. golden yellow with fuschia
4. turquoise with navy
5. amythest with cerulean blue
6. amythest with fuschia

I wanted to create some of these five packs for use in my personalized placemats. I love this one I recently made for a sweet youngster I know. It is pieced, batted and backed, stitched and discharged.
And here she is...sweet Cecilia.

ADIOS AMIGAS, PART 2

This is only amigas, rather than amigos, because I did not have any men in my classes this year . Maybe in 2015 I will find some men who like to dye! I think using a photo like that above might help when advertising. Or maybe a SPORTS figure with a tie-dyed shirt on!

But the women and girls who showed up at my studio had fun, created some amazing items, and helped to make my winter in Mexico extra special!

Rosemary was a faithful attendee every week. I would say that her dyeing is all about PLAY! She loves to explore and try anything NEW! Here she is printing a cheesecloth texture onto a rayon scarf.

Kathe also showed up once a week. She is the queen of fabric books for her grandchildren, and also the queen of bridge, belly dancing, fitness walking and everything fun! I wish you could get a good look at her work shirt...it was a work of art in itself! She now has a huge stash of fabrics to work on her projects this summer. Yes summer! In Mazatlan that's when projects get done...it's too hot and humid to do anything outside.

Emita, above, is standing next to the curtain that her mother, Emma just dyed and created for her Mazatlan boutique, YeYe. This was a huge project of spiraling 4 large pieces of manta and hoping they all meshed together. The result is beautiful and Emita is happy! Emma is the recipient of all my unused liquid dyes when I leave Maz. She doesn't have access to these dyes and wants to keep on going with the process. Go Emma!

Nancy brought her canvas lounge pads, all stained and worn. We doused them in soda-ash and then she brushed on every blue I had. They are now fresh and clean and lovely BLUE! Her partners that day were Mary and Mary. There were lots of Marys that day! One dyed solids and the other gave new life to old clothes! They visit my studio once a year and we had a great time dyeing and catching up!

Sharon was one of my early students and a newbie to dyeing. As a fellow Oregonian, we have so much in common. I hope to see her again next year!

My neighbor, Amanda, came on two occasions with her sister and niece to dye shirts...once for a team and the second time so her family could all have matching Carnaval shirts. They'll be back, along with other neighbors I believe.

Adios also to Barb and her sister Margot, visitors Vicki and Judy, Sharon F.. We know how to have a good time don't we. Thank you all!

IRONING DAY

I was a child of the 50's and 60's and ironing was one of my chores as a young girl: sheets, pillowcases, hankies, shirts and anything else my mom put in the basket for me. I didn't exactly love to do it, and now,  given a choice, I prefer easy-care items that I can shake out from the dryer, perhaps do a bit of smoothing or finger pressing, and it's good to go. But hand-dyes? I love to iron my hand-dyes. The colors and patterns just pop out from their previous semi-interesting, wrinkled wad of potential.

So today was my ironing marathon for the basket of semi-interesting wads of potential that I created at our retreat last weekend. I had washed them and hung them on the line to dry, so to get best results, I had my spray bottle along to dampen them for best results.

So many pieces, not enough time!

GYPSY QUILTING

For I am just a gypsy quilter,

Needle and thread in tow,

I stitch my stories as I travel,

Across this land I go.

Yes, it's that time again...moving time. Transitioning. Packing up and heading out.
Tomorrow we head north to our summer spot in Refuge Cove. Four days later we'll arrive. There will be friends along the way to visit, and familiar places to enjoy. And lets not forget all that last minute shopping.

I have these three little story quilts from my "Signs of Life" project ready to go. Thank goodness I don't get car sick. I can stitch away mile after mile, ferry ride after ferry ride.

Refuge Cove, here we come.