Shibori Dyed Wool

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We have finally caught up enough on the “have to do right now” list for the house 

that I can go back to work in the studio.

 I love working with wool fabric - stitching, dyeing and felting but

 especially I like the Shibori stitched and dyed wool. 

Dyeing wool fabric this way is great for applique but not for rug hooking. 

Rug hooking needs only shading which is easier to dye for 

but Shibori stitched and dyed fabric has a wonderful patterning. 

It is a little more work since you have to hand stitch your fabric and 

draw it up before dyeing but it is not complicated.

Stitched and drawn up wool fabric before pouring on concentrated dye.

Then into a dye bath to add more color on top.

Pattern starts to emerge when cutting out the ties.

Wood grain patterning.

If you have never seen Shibori before or know what it is then 

do a Google search and you will be amazed at the possibilities in using this technique.

Making an oak tree using this type of dyed wool fabric has been in my mind for quite a while.

 I usually make very few sketches when planning a new sculpture. 

I like to cut out shapes and let forms evolve with each new piece

 and I make the technical parts up as I go along. 

I am not sure how my tree is going to turn out but then 

I am never sure of how any new piece will work.

 That is one of the reasons I don’t like showing work in progress. 

If it doesn’t work then no one but me knows! 

This time I think I will give you just a glimpse of my oak tree because 

so far I am very pleased with how it is progressing.

I am taking care of my grand dog Jack this week so it has been a good time to stitch on the tree while he sleeps on the rug beside me. 

Jack is a miniature Schnauzer and a very lazy old man.

Thanks to everyone who commented and offered encouragement on my last post.
It meant a lot to me and helped me to keep a positive attitude and hope for the future.
What ever that might turn out to be.

Time Off

Well I can’t say that what I have been doing since the tour is time off  

 but it was time away from the studio.

The studio tour went well with around 89 people visiting, which is about average. 

EggBert, Green Man and the Gold Finch House have all gone to new homes 

along with lots of mug rug sets, table runners and rugs. 

It was a good tour with so many nice people visiting.

Doing the studio tour is an enormous amount of work and 

I haven’t slowed down now for months. 

The Monday after that weekend I hit the floor running! 

We have worked all of this month to get the house ready to go on the market 

so there has been lots of downsizing, sorting out what to keep and what to put into a yard sale. Every closet in the house has been cleaned and reorganized, basement is still a work in progress (Pog’s 40 year stash), decks/porch’s have been power washed and I totally repainted, cleaned and reorganized the pantry/laundry room! Whew!! 

New improved pantry!

Moving is going to be a big change for Pog and I. 

Both of us have been living in the mountains for a long time now, 

37 years for me and over 40 years for him.

 At least we are staying in North Carolina, which is a state, that both of us love.

It is time for a change. 

With Pog’s decreasing vision it has become too difficult to take care of

 a big house, yard, flowers, cutting firewood and so many other things that come with living where we do with no support. 

It is time for a simpler house one that is all on one level and has a flat driveway! 

Hopefully after the house sells and we are resettled then we will be able to travel and visit faraway family while Pog still has some vision.

There are of course lots of other things to do on the house but I think we are getting closer to being able to catch our breath soon. 

I hope so because I am anxious to get back to creating.  

 It would be nice to sit and stitch/sew or weave instead of 

being up and down ladders and being hot, sweaty and dirty 

especially with the heat we experienced this month. 

It has now cooled off at least for a few days and some much-needed rain 

has arrived to feed the flowers so it is a good time to return to the studio.

I think a lot of Fall during  summer heat so the table runners 

in progress below makes me feel happy.

Have a happy and safe Fourth of July!!

Louise