A Peak Inside My Portfolio: Fiber Arts

Lately I've been dabbling in fiber arts,. In the past I've done a lot with embroidery, as you can see here and here. But recently I added to my skills with painting on fabric. I have done two items that were given as gifts. One was a tie for a family member on my husbands side. I painted a seascape on a yellow tie. The other was a table runner for my aunt, in which I used, batik, dyeing fabric, painting on fabric and embroidery to complete the final piece.

First I used a flour paste to create a batik design on my fabric. Although it worked out well, I would not recommend this method, it was very messy!

After applying the paste and letting it dry, I then sprayed a watered-down dye  mixture onto the fabric and let it drive completely over night.

After it was dry, I washed it thoroughly, which took forever! I was very happy with the resulting design!

The last steps were to paint the design on to the body of the table runner. I used acrylic paint to do this. Then I embroidered some white designs around the painted portion and all along the border. As a finishing touch, I added tassels!

DIY- Ukranian Eggs

Each year, my art teacher friends and I do some egg dying. This year we dove in a little early due to scheduling. We use the traditional Ukrainian egg dying method of a wax-resist or batik, which is called pysanka. So for each egg, you start with the lightest color and then block out what we would like to remain that color using wax to cover it and protect it from the next color in which the egg will be dipped. This process takes forever, however after finger cramps, strained eyes, and an aching back, they look amazing! Check it out!

All the dyes with tongs set up and ready for the eggs.

Here's Rachel prepping her egg with a vinegar wipedown!

Dipping those eggs!

Chloe using a tea light candle to melt off the wax resist she put on her egg.

My egg in the process of having waxed placed on it

The same egg with all the wax on it and all the layers of dye done. 

The wax is ready to come off!

The same egg after the ax had been melted off and wiped away!

Another egg that I completed!

All my eggs I've done over the years.