There’s not nearly enough painting and dyeing going on around here.  I picked out this fabric to use for the doll’s dress.  I don’t like the pattern in the book, so I’m creating my own design.    

When my Art Quilt Group decided to make journal covers as the July challenge, I envisioned endless possibilities. After making one and letting the second one drag out through the whole month, I decided I do not like making them.  Those endless p

My machine quilter outdid herself and finished quilting my son’s quilt in less than a week.  One yard of extra backing fabric came back into stash.  I used a half-yard of fabric to make the binding.  I didn’t buy any fabric

Do you sew over pins?  I’ve done it for years, but I’m trying to stop.  I broke two sewing machine needles this week by hitting pins.   You have to hit those pins dead on, but it does happen.  Last fall I broke a

We marbled fabric as the program at the June quilt group meeting.  The sample size is six inches square.              I also tried this last year at a vendor booth at the NQA show. 

Most the salt stayed in the stripes where I put it.              What little salt migrated to the silver metallic section did not cause dark spots like it did with the gold metallic paint.&n

The first attempt to salt specific areas gave some unexpected results.                Small scale did not work.  I need more room to spread the salt and more space betwee

Odd shaped fabric painted to go in odd shaped piecing.  Indecision leads to rainbow colors.         The salt erased the stamped images, leaving only the memory of mice and roses.    &nb

I just finished reading (OK, skimming) the book Blue and Yellow Don’t Make Green by Michael Wilcox.  I had this book on my “to read” list for years.    If you are interested the science of how light creates color, the

I added the last layer of paint to the darker cheesecloth piece today.  The green piece will stay as is.  I wanted the piece to have a deeper color, so I switched to opaque paints.  First I added some carmine red.  Still not dark

Beth (no blog) asked if I knew of a purse pattern similar to the purse shown in my last post.  A favorite pattern around here is the City Bag by Lazy Girl Designs.  It has lots of pockets and I hear it’s easy to put together.  Th

Did you think I forgot about painting the cheesecloth?  I kept looking at it while I packed to go out of town.  When I finally stayed home for a few days I added another layer of paint.  I darker piece has black added to it.  I di

I printed out the instructions for month two and picked my fabrics in five minutes flat.  It definitely set a new fabric picking record for me.  My favorite fabric is the light, a splotchy blue, purple and white number.    The mor

Quilt labels are a great place to try out new paint colors and different stenciling or stamping techniques.  The small size makes for a limited time and material commitment.  If I hate it or mess it up I don’t feel bad about throwing

Beth left a comment and asked what kind of paint I’m using.  I’m using Pebeo Setacolor and Lumiere fabric paints.  Maybe later I’ll try some inks, paintstiks, etc., but for now I’ll stick with paint.  I took ano

I decided weeks ago to use painted cheesecloth in the Jaen quilt. Then my Art Quilt Group chose working cheesecloth into a small project as the February assignment.  Yeah, I’m a little behind.  In my mind I want it to look like camouf

I cleaned and pressed the four samples.  Sample one used mashed potato flakes.  The flakes absorbed a lot of paint and lightened the piece.  The fabric smelled like potato chips when I washed it out.  I don’t think I’l

I painted four more samples with lots of water.  I mixed red, brown and purple paints and tried a different absorbent on each one.  From right to left you see table salt, canning salt, urea and instant potato flakes.  I don’t kno

I reviewed Creating With Paint by Sherrill Kahn yesterday for help with the salting technique.  After reading what she included in the book, I think I need to use even more water and I’m going to try multiple kinds of salt.  Watch for

I wet the fabric more this time and used lighter colors.  I didn’t get the grainy mottled look I was going for, but got this veiny look instead.  It reminds me of marble.  I’ve had similar results adding salt to dyed fabric

Here are the results from my first salt experiment painted in the house.  I mentioned I’m painting inside because it makes a big difference.  The fabric has less of the mottled blending except at the edges and on the ends.  I thi

Whenever I take my painted fabric to show and tell everyone loves this piece the most.  The combination of salt and sun printing has some nice texture.  I even got brave and cut a piece to use as the sea floor in this journal size quil

I decided the current project needed painted sheer fabric as part of the design and this is what I came up with.  I never painted sheers before.  I may never do it again unless the project begs for it.  Painting sheer fabric is like tr

I use a lot of Moda Marbles as backgrounds and neutrals in my quilts.  I like the mottling and the fact that they read solid.  But sometimes I want a little more texture to add interest.  That thought inspired me to paint a fat quarter

I finished the project using the white on white (WOW) fabric painted with the darker blues.  I couldn’t find my husband’s Christmas stocking.  Didn't it fall apart last year?  I don’t remember throwing it away, bu