Jenny Dean is the author of Wild Colour on natural dyeing, unfortunately the book is out of print….. But Jenny has started a blog and often talks about dyeing tips and recipes.  The latest post is on dyeing with fungi and she has a number of great images showing the colours that she was able to achieve.

Be sure to check out Jenny blog at Jenny Dean’s Wild Colour  http://www.jennydean.co.uk/wordpress/

Are you addicted to handmade bags? Or maybe you’ve admired some of the fun and funky quilted and collaged clutches and totes out there and want to make one—or more—with your own personal style? Here are seven of Quilting Arts Magazine’s top quilted bag patterns, gathered together in one FREE ebook for you. 

To find the patterns go to: http://quiltingarts.com/media/g/free/default.aspx

The Clackers

The Clackers will meet at Linda’s house on Tuesday May 26th at 7:30 pm. We will continue with the lace projects and also try putting together our felted pieces to make a rug. Please bring a sewing needle with a large eye and some ideas how we can do this!

Workshop Registration opens on April 1st.  This year we offer 37 workshops – there’s something for every level of expertise in a wide range of fibre disciplines. 

The registration form will be available on the website starting April 1st. 

In addition to the Workshop information, right now you’ll also find application forms and details on the Juried Exhibit, Merchant Mall, Artisan Market, Festivities in the Landing and all the special events. 

Check out www.gibsonslandingfibrearts.com today.   

If you prefer a printed copy of the brochure, e-mail us at info@gibsonslandingfibrearts.com with your complete mailing address.  Or, if you live on the Sunshine Coast, you can pick one up at fabric stores, galleries, libraries or visitor info centres. 

Please do not reply to this email address, send any questions, comments or requests to info@gibsonslandingfibrearts.com.   

Thank-you!

Photos needed

It’s that time of year again - we are looking for a photo for our bookmark and postcard for the Artisans’ Sale in November.  If you have any interesting photos of fibre-related items, animals, etc, would you mind forwarding them to Shari at gypsyshari@hotmail.com at your earliest convenience so that we can choose our design for this year and proceed with printing our cards.  Thanks alot!
 
shari

Mason Sewing Machine is proud to host Hilary Rice, a nationally acclaimed fibre artist. Hilary will be sharing her wonderful artwork with us over the two hours of her trunk show “Along the Silk Road”:

It is said that all things are connected. Each of us moves through our lives, one thing leading to another, the way the silk journey of long ago was a continuous journey. While selling silk was part of it, it also acted as a conduit for thoughts and ideas. In her inspirational talk, textile and mixed media artist Hilary Rice will share her story – a story full of chance meetings and doors opening, fun experiments and happy accidents. It is a journey that acts as a conduit for thoughts and ideas - a journey that winds through a progression of art quilts and into a new world of creativity.

You are invited to join us for this inspirational evening.
Date: Tuesday, April 21
Time: 6:30-8:30
Admission: $10

Mason Sewing Machine
6184 Fraser St, Vancouver, BC V5W 3A1
PH:604-327-3800

Email: info@masonsewingmachine.com
Website: www.masonsewingmachine.com

Gail Harker is offering a number of courses at her centre in Oak Harbor, WA. This spring she will be offering the following classes:

  • Level 1 Art and Design: Color Studies - note this class will be held at Oak harbor and Salt Spring Island
  • Adventures in Papermaking
  • Sketchbook Studies - a journey of visual discouvery
  • Level 1 Feltmaking
  • Level 1 Experimental Machine Stitch
  • Level 1 Experimental Hand Stitch
  • Level 2 Studies in Design and EWxperiemntal Hand Stitch
  • Transform and Adorn with Embellishing Machine
  • Level 3 Art and Design

Check out Gail Harker Website for more information.

Organic Basket

Learn the structural techniques of creating a round basket with wicker, and play with tapestry and wedging. Turn to the garden, orchard or seaside to incorporate materials such as vines, bark and driftwood along with
other traditional basketry materials like seagrass and vine rattan.

With materials provided, create a generous 10-inch basket

Sunday May 3rd 9:30-3:30pm Code: 6850 Ages 18+

Place des Arts, 1120 Brunette Ave, Coquitlam, BC, V3K 1G2 604-664-1636

Register at our front desk, on online at www.placedesarts.ca

Sunday was spent playing with silk and more silk, a little bit of wool and a whole lot of water.

We started the day out by making silk fusion by the instructions provided by Treenway. Please read and follow Treenways instructions for the first time making silk fusion.  We don’t follow directions very well and it is a good idea to learn the proper way first before you start breaking all the rules.

With silk fusion the fibers are layered the same way they are for felting, at right angles so that the fibers mesh and adhere to each other.

First Organza is laid down and the first layer of silk is laid down right to left in a thin layer.  The second layer of silk fiber is laid down top to bottom (or at a 90 degree angle) on top of the first. The third layer is the fun layer where you add your dyed silks and start embedding in any silk type embellishments that you like.

 Here are some silk ribbons added to the fusion.

After everything is place where you like it you cover the whole piece with organza and wet the whole piece.  You will need to flip it over and also wet the material from the back as well.  Once very wet sponge off some of the water so the fibers are damp then paint a mixture of textile medium and water over the whole piece.  The silk will take on a milky white look. This material is then placed on a window screen to dry, this can take a bit of time.

Here are two pieces of silk fusion that we made during the day.

Silk Fusion can also be made over forms and these are pictures of Celeste’s piece making a bowl.

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After trying the silk fusion we went on to break all the rules that we just learnt about silk fusion and started making our own version of silk fusion crossed with fabric paper. To see the results of the combination check out the fabric paper page as I have edited the instructions a bit  and added some new pictures.  Please leave comments and let us know if you are liking these projects or not.  Thanks

These are some of the postcards that I have made for my first Internet postcard exchange with the Surface Design Yahoo Group. This has been great fun and I have been able to use three of the techniques that we have been learning about here.  The background material, is the fabric paper, the dragonfly was made with beads that we made on the bead day and the wings where made from melting cellophane and angelina together.  Hope you enjoy seeing these.

Yellow Postcard

Yellow Postcard

 

Ivory Dragonfly

Ivory Dragonfly

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