Rust dying (you knew I'd get around to that eventually) is going well. I'm in the process of playing with different fabrics, as opposed to turning out yardage right now. I did some bleached burlap and khaki colored linen yesterday and I LOVE both pieces. I have a silk chiffon scarf and a piece of raw silk out there right now and can't wait to see the results. I'm also trying to come up with a way to set up rust dying and gelatin plate printing and maybe some other surface design techniques as a workshop. Fortunately, most of my stuff only requires space and not an actual studio. I'm considering limiting it to maybe 5 people at the time on someone's driveway. That would be do-able for a one day class. Any ideas or suggestions? Any special requests for surface design techniques? Any takers on the workshop? I guess my next thoughts should probably be in the direction of letting people know the classes are available. Hmmmm, wonder if they'd let me post notices on the MQA board? Anyway, feel free to leave comments about this idea, or any others you have.
And the best way to get someone's attention on a blog is to post a picture, so here are some in-progress shots of Gye Nyame. 
This first one is a truly pitiful full-on shot of it. Pieced African cottons around the dancer, the mask, and the stars at the top. Commercially printed Gye Nyame symbols on the left and bottom.
This first one is a truly pitiful full-on shot of it. Pieced African cottons around the dancer, the mask, and the stars at the top. Commercially printed Gye Nyame symbols on the left and bottom.
The dancer is a faux leather fabric and the skirt is ripped strips of some of the fabrics around the border, twine, and some of that gorgeous recycled sari silk from my friend Vicki in Miami.
The mask is free-hand cut scraps of the African fabrics that are fused to a piece of heavy black. The drawn lines you see on the rust dyed brushed denim background of the dancer are patterns drawn on Press-N-Seal to be auditioned for the quilting lines. I'm happy with the djembe drums but the masks definitely need some work. Simple diagonals probably in the pieced borders and relatively heavy quilting over the fused mask at the top.
3 comments:
Oh, the quilt came out very intersting indeed!
I do like your dancer.
re classes: half a dozen people in a driveway works well for dyeing & painting, should be fine for other techniques. I'd suggest investing in one of those market canopies or whatever (we have a huge "temporary carport" type one semi-permanently installed over at mum's). We scored about 10 near-new wooden ironing boards for $1 each from the Salvos, and because they're so height-adjustable they make a) great portable equipment holders b) small work surfaces or c) trestles (in pairs) with a perspex board on top. We also have regular trestles & an assortment of larger tops, but they're not as portable. The perspex & sealed ply/craftwood boards are proving to be the most easily portable work surfaces. Don't forget to factor in your prep time etc when working out how much to charge, and write up some good notes to hand out (and take notes yourself during/after the classes of things people have trouble grasping and FAQ etc, so you can update & improve your handouts).
I agree, that dancer is so elegant and sinuous. Beautiful.
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