| Author | Content |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
April 21, 2008
08:59 PM Post #4843506
| As a quilter I've had good success selling at art fairs, through architects & word of mouth. But I've always wanted to come up with a piece that felt sufficiently artsy to me yet could be partly subcontracted or mass produced.
For years I've mulled over an idea for baby quilts made of my painted silk. The painting is just abstract dyeing, really, and what I've thought is that I could take a 45" square of this & embellish it slightly with a complementary square plus some ribbon and quilting. The labor in this would be minimal but the look is pretty big bang for the buck. I've sold these as art quilts for $375 & upward, and they represent only a couple of hours' labor.
So I'd like anyone here to weigh in with an opinion. Here is a prototype. Right now it's just the main 2 pieces of silk fused to batting & backed with heavy flannel, plus I've draped some silk ribbon over it that could be sewn on randomly or around the little square or not at all. The quilting would be done in heavy silk thread on my longarm in a meander pattern.
I'm going for the heirloom rather than cute look. So these quilts might retail for, say, $150. I figure the baby market will never go away. I also don't need to sell a million, but ideally I'd like to find a catalog outlet.
I'm desperate for the reaction & eyes of someone other than myself when it comes to style, pricing, whatever. If you tell me that no one in a million years would buy these, that only quilts with kittens on them sell, I need to hear that.
So please weigh in! I'm tired of being an artisanal lurker in this forum.
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
roybird
Santa Fe, NM
April 22, 2008
08:37 PM Post #4849216
| Hi, summerkid. I would like to see more. At one time I did original block prints on hand-dyed baby clothes. It was a lot of work and not enough profit. I think the "baby market" is a good choice, though. The people who buy the most high end baby clothes are Grandma's! Probably not too surprising. It can be hard to find the right venues for this sort of art and I wish you luck on that. |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
April 22, 2008
08:43 PM Post #4849253
| Yeah, profit is certainly an issue because I'm not a natural-born saleswoman. Nor do I like sitting at a hot art fair on summer weekends. So I'll need a retailer of some sort. At the same time, I have no interest in creating something so dull or cookie-cutter that it robs me of my artistic expression.
I'll put together some more silk combinations tonight. THANKS for weighing in. |
roybird
Santa Fe, NM
April 22, 2008
08:55 PM Post #4849307
| You are welcome. I can really relate to the hot art fair bit! One thing that worked well for me was to rent a "cart" or table kind of thing in a mall and sell retail from it on weekends. This was an upscale, boutiquey mall. I also tried wholesale to specialty children's shops. That worked out o.k. except I had to be open to changing my designs somewhat to suit the retailers. That was o.k. some times, depending. I stopped doing the clothing biz partly due to water shortages here and the toxicity of the dyes. I think you might as well keep your prices high because you need to look at your work as original, textile art - not just a baby blanket! |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
April 22, 2008
09:02 PM Post #4849342
| Roybird, I'll poke around the forum a bit, but what are you doing now? |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
April 22, 2008
09:06 PM Post #4849359
| Here's another in-progress silk creation, not intended as a baby quilt but in primary colors, that's for sure. What did you find sold best? The pastels or the brights? 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
roybird
Santa Fe, NM
April 23, 2008
02:25 PM Post #4852926
| I almost always went for brights. If I remember right, the best selling color was purple. Maybe because it is a safe gift choice if the baby's sex is unknown. I'm doing water colors these days and enjoying my first digital camera! |
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
April 28, 2008
12:45 AM Post #4875248
| I don't know beans about what would sell but I can tell you that personally, I would frame and hang the bright one in a heartbeat! |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
April 28, 2008
12:59 AM Post #4875292
| Oh Zany, so good to see you! I have LOTS & LOTS of that silk -- I buy it cheap from a woman who makes clothing from her yardage & is happy to unload her "scraps." Isn't that cool stuff? I like to let the shapes guide me. Do you want some? The only quilt I've sold from these fabrics was a rough-looking cross, with the browns/greens as the cross & the brights as the background. It was about 4x6 feet. I tell ya, the first Christian couple who came across my booth didn't say a word, just took it down & handed it to me, along with the cash. |
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
April 28, 2008
01:07 AM Post #4875313
| I would love it! But I am afraid the tax man has wiped me out and set me into the eating beans and rice for the next year mode. We have tightened our belts only to let them out again to relieve the pressure fron the bean bloat ***Grin** You know the old agage "I'm too broke right now to pay attention... "
|
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
April 28, 2008
01:23 AM Post #4875339
| No, no, I meant do you WANT some. Seriously, I buy this stuff for like $2 a pound. Well, now you have no choice but to graciously receive some. I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE. Kinda.
Watch yer mailbox. |
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
April 28, 2008
01:27 AM Post #4875344
| LOL you don't need to do that...but YES! |
UniQueTreasures
Beaumont, TX
(Zone 8b)
April 28, 2008
11:16 AM Post #4876681
| Summer,
Both of your fabrics posted appeal to me so I'd have a hard time choosing which would be the "best seller". I'd love the pastel colors for my grand babies, but those bold colors are incredible and I could imagine a quilt like that on my bed in a heartbeat!!! I love the slashes of color. They "scream" UNIQUE!!!
I'd be interested in getting some of that bold colored fabric. Can you tell me how wide it is?
Janet |
roybird
Santa Fe, NM
April 28, 2008
02:14 PM Post #4877539
| You know, I just had an idea about something you could make...pillows or pillow covers! Very pretty and perhaps somewhat less expensive than a quilt? Plus they could go with a quilt. |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
April 28, 2008
05:11 PM Post #4878380
| Janet, the pieces are "scraps," though I use that term loosely, so the shapes vary wildly according to what she's making that year. That piece posted above is 22x51 inches, if that's a gauge. Sometimes I get square-ish pieces that are a foot wide. She also has yardage but it's probably pricey.
This piece I just fused together one night while watching TV because I used to sell 2-lb boxes of the silk on ebay but didn't have any pix to show how to use it. And I REALLY need to get back on ebay before I suffocate under kimonos.
I'd put you in touch with Silk Lady directly but I can't even remember her name right now -- it's probably on a return address label on a box somewhere, and she took down her Web site because she didn't really know how to maintain it. She's a little tough to catch -- heck, she's an artist, not a businesswoman, but she knows to keep a box at the end of the cutting tables for me, and then when she catches her breath at the end of an art fair season, we negotiate.
I just grabbed a bunch of it for rubyw, bbrookrd & Zany, so i'll throw a 4th packet in the mail today for Janet.
As for pillows, I DO make lots of them (or DID back when I did art fairs) because they were relatively quick & mindless, not to mention cheaper. I often found that people LOVED my work but couldn't afford a $1200 quilt so I always tried to keep something small & affordable on hand. Plus, I could choose a color theme, say black & brown, and make half-a-dozen pillows to decide which might be worth exploring in a full-blown quilt. I also have dozens of futon samples that a shopkeeper dumped on my doorstep while vacating his premises in the middle of the night, and they make fun pillows too. But I never thought about doing them with the silk stuff. I wonder about durability -- you'd probably want to fuse it to something that retained a soft hand?
|
UniQueTreasures
Beaumont, TX
(Zone 8b)
April 28, 2008
07:40 PM Post #4879066
| Thank you so much!
Oh Boy! Oh Boy! Oh Boy!!!!!!
As soon as I get something made, I'll post a picture for you.
Janet |
roybird
Santa Fe, NM
April 29, 2008
08:36 PM Post #4884236
| As you know, silk is pretty strong. I'm not sure you would need a liner: plus that is more work! I'm a slacker. |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
April 30, 2008
12:31 AM Post #4885443
| the seams don't give way under stress?
it's probably a moot point anyway -- just as i was gearing up to spend a summer unemployed & exploring artistic avenues, i got 2 job offers in the last week, another one today AND i have one more interview tomorrow.
i'm a confident AutoCAD drafter & happy to remain a freelancer, but suddenly people are offering jobs that carry the kind of pay i earned after 25 years in newspapers -- i think i gotta start wearing longer skirts to interviews.
soooooo ... if anybody's looking for a career change, drafting seems pretty hot right now. plus you can use it for garden design.
i'm trying to figure out how to make flower shapes out of that dyed silk (not my painted stuff), which has such a linear design. any ideas? |
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
April 30, 2008
01:11 AM Post #4885547
| I wonder how well it would work to dye it a light color and then lay flowers or ferns on it, spray it with a darker color then remove the fern/flowers...
Are you wanting to create your own silk flowers? I had a book on it years ago but I am sure it has moved on to someone else over the years. |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
April 30, 2008
01:15 AM Post #4885554
| Hey, Zany! I'm too lazy and/or set in my ways to create 3D pieces. I just want to lay out something that's not quite so geometric. Except that now I'm counting on you to make something & show us how it's done -- I mailed yer silk on the way to the interview.
Maybe just use really thin, long pieces & radiate them? The very nature of the silk probably would create a look that's asymmetrical & shaded.
This is fun! I need to make more friends on the West Coast since I seldom fall asleep before 4 a.m. lately ... |
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
April 30, 2008
01:33 AM Post #4885576
| LOL I use to be on until 4:00 my time but lately I have managed to get to bed about 1:00
I am on here off and on from about 9:00 in the morning til bed time either from home or from work ;~)
Are you sending dyed silk or raw? |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
April 30, 2008
02:44 AM Post #4885652
| The dyed stuff that I used in the bright piece. Do you need something else? I buy plain silk by the bolt -- mostly fuji broadcloth but also shantung, habotai, taffeta & pongee ... not to mention the body parts of the thousands of kimono & obi that i've dismantled over the years. for some reason, antique silk is unduplicatable (another word that i don't want you to bother yer pretty little head looking up just take my word for it) ...
i looooooove to share ... |
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
April 30, 2008
02:52 AM Post #4885657
| Great! I love the rich deep colors bestest of alls! LOL as for my pretty lill head...it isn't very pretty and it isn't very little either...but it make a handy container for my pea brain. lots of room in there for real words and newly coined ones too. |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
April 30, 2008
02:58 AM Post #4885665
| thank goodness my head ain't the size of my brain -- it would scare the children.
i've been trying not to overdose on the fantastic stuff both here & in Garden Art. sometimes it's so much more fun to ogle the creative juices of others rather than turn my iron & sewing machine, or miter saw & nailgun, and get to work myself. |
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
April 30, 2008
03:02 AM Post #4885667
| LOL I am afraid my creative juices dried up years ago. But I do enjoy hanging out and admiring the truly artistic people here. |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
July 04, 2008
12:27 AM Post #5201722
| I know this thread is a couple months old but I don't get over here very often...have you looked into Etsy? It's sort of like Ebay for artists, except I think it's all fixed price stuff, not auctions. It's limited to handmade things, vintage stuff, and supplies for making the handmade stuff, so you won't run into all the loads of junk you'd find on Ebay. You can set up your own little online shop to sell your things. Of course you have to deal with getting them to the post office to mail, so maybe that's not along the lines of what you were looking for but I figured I'd mention it in case you weren't aware of the site. My sister has recently started on there to sell her papercut art and wood carvings, and I'm looking into it since I'm going to be taking up polymer clay (one of these days when I have spare time!) and also hope to get back to some colored pencil artwork one of these days. |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
July 04, 2008
10:34 AM Post #5202961
| Nice tip! I'm going to look right now. Funny, I dreamt about colored pencils last night. In the dream, I discovered a line of pencils you could scribble on fabric with, and the puffy result mimicked stitchery. Dream on, eh? |
ecrane3
Dublin, CA
(Zone 9a)
July 04, 2008
10:47 AM Post #5203029
| That would be really cool! If you ever find those in real life let me know :-) |
ge1836
Pittsford, NY
(Zone 6a)
August 08, 2008
12:31 PM Post #5386474
| Just a thought but your wanting to market the baby quilts is a good idea.
If your going to charge $200 range, go for the top end market. Suburbanites who don't care what it costs.
I looked at the sample with ribbons and would suggest a more controlled use of the ribbons and make the piece with a wide lighter color silk maybe with a ribbon border.
If you live near a big metro area go to fancy baby shops and scout out what high end blankets go for.,also google "silk baby quilts" and se what pops up. You might be under selling your piece.
Compare what you are doing to what you see out there.
Hope this isn't just sermonizing to the choire.
I would not take these expensive quilts to Craft Fairs.
Keep a line of "easy to buy ,easy priced "quilts or whatever for the stroller crowd. |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
August 08, 2008
01:20 PM Post #5386657
| Thanks, ge! One of these days I will actually FINISH one of those silk pieces. I don't get much quilting done during the gardening season, sorry to say. |
ge1836
Pittsford, NY
(Zone 6a)
August 08, 2008
02:34 PM Post #5386960
| Love the garden |
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
August 08, 2008
03:42 PM Post #5387299
| I have been playing with photo shop and several stained glass patterns to figure out what I want my wall hanging to look like. I think that the final design will look something like this. Of course it won't be exactly like it since I will be using those rich colored silk scraps for a lot of it. I will make it a collage using the silks primarily and adding in other things as needed. I may use some crumpled paper bags, dried leaves and twigs or bark to add dimension and texture and some paint.
Any suggestions on the design or materials to use will be appreciated. The finished piece will be about 48" wide by about 36" tall.
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
August 08, 2008
03:49 PM Post #5387327
| Here it is with the sun pattern added 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
ge1836
Pittsford, NY
(Zone 6a)
August 08, 2008
03:52 PM Post #5387332
| Is what you are showing the pattern for what you will do in silk?
I like the black outlines ,maybe stitching ,cant really say.
Nice image though. |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
August 08, 2008
04:20 PM Post #5387399
| Jo Ann, I think she's talking about a box of silk scraps that I sent her like the ones in my photo from 4/22. Zany, it looks as if you'll need more! I wonder whether we can get some to you quicker this time. |
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
August 08, 2008
04:21 PM Post #5387402
| Yes, that is the pattern. I am going to do this in a decoupage collage rather than sewing and I was thinking I might use black paint or maybe a black twine for the lines. The silks have lovely patterning in them that I know will make the piece much more interesting than the pattern shows and I may leave out some of the lines to show that off more. I am also going over to raid my Mother's fabric stash for silk and other bits she has saved for quilting over the years. Neither of us can sew much these days due to carpel tunnel and trouble holding or threading a needle so this will be a no sew project for me.
The silks summerkid sent are like the deep, rich ones in her post above and are the inspiration for this project.
|
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
August 08, 2008
04:26 PM Post #5387420
| More! I was afraid you might be offended that I plan to use them this way! I am really excited about this project and am busily collecting every piece I can find that will work with the ones you so generously shared with me. Thank you so much for the fabric and the inspiration to actually do something again! |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
August 08, 2008
04:30 PM Post #5387432
| Omigosh, we are all so silly. How on EARTH could I be offended that you are planning such a wildly creative adventure. (I've had customers ask, "Um, we plan to hang this in our bathroom, is that OK with you?" I'm like, "Pay me in cash & you can line a birdcage with it for all I care.")
In fact, if you are using it in small pieces like stained glass, I have a whole box of scraps that size. Interested? |
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
August 08, 2008
04:34 PM Post #5387444
| YES! Let me know what the postage will be on it though. I feel guilty letting you foot the bill for me.
I am off to the daily work grind. Have a great day. |
ge1836
Pittsford, NY
(Zone 6a)
August 08, 2008
04:37 PM Post #5387448
| Yes Green speaks.
I have had the same remarks over the least expensive piece in the booth you would think they were buying a potential Rubens.
I don't care ,just show me the money.
I vote for the black twine. |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
August 08, 2008
04:54 PM Post #5387517
| Zany, I go through mounds of Wonder Under & spray adhesive. 99% of my work is done on the machine. I had carpal tunnel before anyone knew what it was -- a combination of too many pushups, too much sewing & too much typing -- but was able to recover. Still mindful of that vulnerability though.
No need to give up sewing -- pound the stuff together with a hammer if need be! |
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
September 19, 2008
09:17 PM Post #5574255
| Hi! just wanted to update you on my project. I'll post a couple of pictures of the progress so far when I get home tonight. I got the background finished and have started adding some definition to it. You will notice it is a far far cry from what I posted above as a pattern. In fact, I let the silk tell me what it wanted to be and just went for it. LOL I like it so far but am nervous about it too. I have not done anything this creative in eons and had forgotten how much fun it can be!
Those silk scraps are more fun than a barrel of monkeys to play with! My mind is already racing with ideas for the remaining pieces... |
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
September 20, 2008
02:33 AM Post #5575205
| The beginning... 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
September 20, 2008
02:34 AM Post #5575206
| LOL...still beginning... 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
September 20, 2008
02:36 AM Post #5575208
| Progress! 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
September 20, 2008
03:01 AM Post #5575230
| end of day... 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
Kathleen
Panama, NY
(Zone 5a)
September 20, 2008
06:51 AM Post #5575345
| Zany, I love the way the silk is pushing you, but sleep is good!
summer, "Pay me in cash.. ." lol yes! My sewing machine is my best friend. I used to do a lot of hand work, but my hands aren't what they used to be - love a sewing machine that works when you want it to and does what you want it to do. |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
September 20, 2008
02:53 PM Post #5576881
| Kathleen, I also have a longarm machine for quilting king-size pieces. I'm a spoiled artist -- 5 sewing machines & 5,000 yards of fabric, at least.
Zany, YOU ARE MY INSPIRATION!!! You are coming up with something I never imagined doing, and I like it SO much better even than your original design. What's especially amazing to me is that you are taking those scraps that got color transfer when my basement flooded & making them work double time.
I'm so honored to be a part of this! Anyone else think they could use some scraps? Believe me, they are a delight to play with.
|
Kathleen
Panama, NY
(Zone 5a)
September 20, 2008
03:44 PM Post #5577062
| Well, now that you offer. . .
Actually, I'll probably pass. I'm working into silk gradually. I need to see how I react to it - I'm allergic to the darn stuff.
I was talking about getting another sewing machine and my DDH asked why would I ever need more than one? It didn't hit me until later that the man has 20 different saws! lol |
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
September 20, 2008
04:50 PM Post #5577288
| I am having a grand time! Here he is with wings.
Summerkid, You have no idea how thrilled I am to be able to play with your fabrics! I am going to be looking at yard sale clothes with a whole new mind set now...who cares if it is 10 sizes too small if the fabric is nice!
Kathleen, that is so funny about the saws! They need a different on for different jobs but think one sewing machine should do everything you need.
|
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
September 20, 2008
04:52 PM Post #5577294
| oops... forgot the picture :~P 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
September 20, 2008
06:29 PM Post #5577600
| Zany, I am so tickled to have brought any little bit of joy into yer life.
Kathleen, I always tell women to send their husbands for an overnight visit to my house. Trust me, they will view you as a saint, a clean freak & a bastion of sanity forever after and they will view themselves as the luckiest man on the planet. |
Kathleen
Panama, NY
(Zone 5a)
September 20, 2008
06:44 PM Post #5577669
|
LOL, NOT! Dear man that he is, he keeps asking what the fabric I'm painting is for. As if it had to be for anything. I have an entire closet full of fabric, lace, edgings, zippers, velcro, fiber fill, batts, painted dryer sheets, thread scraps, fusible web, buttons, embroidery floss, and more. I don't think he'd probably be too impressed. That's just the study. There's the back room where I do the painting and the studio where I plan to make wreaths if I ever have any time. But thanks for thinking of me!
Zany, I like it. |
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
September 20, 2008
11:47 PM Post #5578971
| Almost done! 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
September 21, 2008
06:00 PM Post #5581744
| Well, Any helpful hints on how to make it better? Comments / criticisms welcome! 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
September 21, 2008
07:30 PM Post #5582157
| Lovely! First off, I'm curious what the wings are made of. |
roybird
Santa Fe, NM
September 21, 2008
07:51 PM Post #5582222
| Zany, that is so pretty! I enjoyed watching your process/progress. Those silk scraps do look like fun to play with. I think I missed at the beginning, you glued them on to something? A canvas? What kind of glue? The wings seemed to change as you went along. |
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
September 21, 2008
08:55 PM Post #5582495
| I had one of those cheap poster frames in the closet and used it's back board to build on. I applied the silk using a paint brush and watered down Elmer's all purpose glue. They wings are a net type lace that I dry brushed with white and after it dried I gave them a wash of watery blue and green and dabbed it with a rag to bring the white back through. With the layers of clear glue and watery paint they almost look opalescent.
For this project I used fabric, acrylic paint ,felt tip pens and glue. So I guess it would be called a mixed media collage.
I'm thinking maybe the next one will be a long tailed rooster...the colors of the silks would really work well for a showy rooster...LOL maybe I better let this one dry first... |
Kathleen
Panama, NY
(Zone 5a)
September 22, 2008
07:11 AM Post #5583834
| Zany, it's lovely. I have only one thing to say, could you give him eyes? |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
September 22, 2008
10:10 AM Post #5584436
| oh, i love the thought of a rooster. you'll probably need more silk. kathleen, if you're in the addy i'll send you just a couple of pieces in a first-class envelope, see how you react. |
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
September 22, 2008
12:24 PM Post #5585022
| My guy is loosely based on this guys photo of a red percher... I can try reshaping his head by adding a bulge where the eyes are and see how it works out. http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.richard-se...
Well, the link doesn't want to work. Phooey!
Summerkid, the silk you sent in that box has all the colors of a rooster and then some! In fact, I can probably make a whole barnyard and still have leftovers to play with.
This message was edited Sep 22, 2008 9:35 AM |
roybird
Santa Fe, NM
September 22, 2008
05:12 PM Post #5586119
| Looking forward to seeing the next mixed media collage! |
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
September 23, 2008
01:37 AM Post #5587967
| Kathleen, Thank you! I gave him eyse and it looks so much better to me now.
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
Kathleen
Panama, NY
(Zone 5a)
September 23, 2008
07:07 AM Post #5588148
| BEAUTIFUL! it just seemed a bit unfinished without. |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
September 23, 2008
10:19 AM Post #5588767
| Oh, Kathleen was right. Like the eyes. How big is this piece, Zany? |
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
September 23, 2008
12:49 PM Post #5589311
| This piece measures 40" w by 27" h. I will be giving it an additional 4" all around with the frame. LOL nothing like starting small!
Thanks for your encouragement. After all these years of not using the imagination it has really been a lot of fun! |
roybird
Santa Fe, NM
September 23, 2008
12:59 PM Post #5589350
| I like it better with the eyes, too! |
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
October 17, 2008
03:34 AM Post #5682053
| Well, I did the next one...what do you think? 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
Kathleen
Panama, NY
(Zone 5a)
October 17, 2008
07:06 AM Post #5682219
| wow |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
October 17, 2008
11:53 AM Post #5683375
| Oh, love that, Zany. I've never had the courage to alter my pieces. Is the turtle also silk or did you bring in some other fabrics? |
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
October 17, 2008
12:14 PM Post #5683457
| The turtle started out as a yellow silk tie and a green silk tie. I ended up painting on them so much it is hard to tell they are fabric at all now though. I had wanted to make the turtle out of paper machet to give it a relief look but the stuff was so clumpy that I never could get it smooth and I was too cheap to drive 30 miles one way into town just for sculpy clay.
I still need to make his frame but I keep looking at him thinking something is wrong about him but can't put my finger on it. |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
October 17, 2008
12:43 PM Post #5683565
| maybe his back flippers should be visible? |
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
October 17, 2008
01:09 PM Post #5683669
| hmmm, you may be right. I'll play with that and see what happens :~) |
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
October 17, 2008
02:27 PM Post #5683925
| I photoshopped the back flippers and tail on just to try it before attacking the real thing. What do you think? Should I add them? 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
October 17, 2008
02:42 PM Post #5683983
| Oh, I think so. |
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
October 17, 2008
02:44 PM Post #5683992
| Yeah, me too. Thanks for the suggestion. I'll add them this weekend :~) |
katiebear
mulege
Mexico
October 17, 2008
07:28 PM Post #5684879
| I somehow missed getting back to this thread.
Zany, I love what you are doing with the silk.
Summerkid - do you have any more boxes of silk to share? I have to go to the US in about three weeks. My retirement association ignored three changes of address which I sent them and cancelled my medical coverage!! I need something to cheer me up and take my mid off the clowns who are running the circus.
katiebear |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
October 17, 2008
10:53 PM Post #5685684
| Katie, where do I send yer box? Or could you come visit & pick it up? |
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
October 17, 2008
11:34 PM Post #5685817
| OOH! Katie! please send pictures of whatever you do with the pieces. It is so fun seeing what other people come up with from the same basics.
LOL I haven't finished Oliver (that's the turtles name according to my 4 year old neighbor) and my mind is already churning away at what to do next! Summerkid has created a monster! |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
October 18, 2008
12:20 AM Post #5685935
| Lovin' my little monsters ... |
katiebear
mulege
Mexico
October 18, 2008
11:01 AM Post #5686850
| I'd love to visit but it's too long a drive from Mexico!!
I will be in Ca. in about three weeks. I'll dmail you the address.
Thanks a million.
katiebear |
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
October 18, 2008
11:49 AM Post #5687004
| OK, here is Oliver with back feet and a tail :~) 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
roybird
Santa Fe, NM
October 18, 2008
06:54 PM Post #5688060
| Zanymuse, Oliver is adorable! Very colorful. Katiebear, I hope your situation gets straightened out. |
ge1836
Pittsford, NY
(Zone 6a)
October 26, 2008
06:37 AM Post #5717524
| Very clever and well done.
I am a fan now.
Dont cha luv Photoshop?
Saves so much time and materials. |
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
October 26, 2008
11:21 AM Post #5718117
| ge1836, Photo shop is wonderful! I find it gets me past that staring at a blank canvas phase because I can experiment with things before I commit to anything and I can tweak a design on photoshop as much as I want and experiment with colors as well. LOL I even have a computer next to the easel so I can refer back to my design as I work.
|
ge1836
Pittsford, NY
(Zone 6a)
October 26, 2008
11:46 AM Post #5718195
| I do a preliminary small drawing for a larger work and then scan it into PS.
Tweak and then transfer to watercolor paper.
Then a light application of color and a photo,I put the photo thru PS to see where the values need changing and colors deeper,my computer is upstairs so I print out what I have tweaked again in PS and take the printout to the studio and make changes.
There are always additions toward the end as you know. Its a wonderful tool. |
Kathleen
Panama, NY
(Zone 5a)
October 26, 2008
12:22 PM Post #5718340
| hmmm |
ge1836
Pittsford, NY
(Zone 6a)
October 26, 2008
01:52 PM Post #5718632
| Now that I read what I wrote its confusing.
I have to take a picture of the watercolor I'm working on. My studio is in the basement so I bring my camera upstairs and load image into PS and treak from there. When I have what I want I print it and take print and camera back to the basement.
Its a job, what an I say. |
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
October 26, 2008
02:33 PM Post #5718748
| That makes sense to me. I just have it easy because there is a computer in my work area so I can use PS right there to preview my changes without the need to print them. I'm lazy and spoiled ;~) |
ge1836
Pittsford, NY
(Zone 6a)
October 26, 2008
02:46 PM Post #5718783
| Dont I wish. You are lucky, on the otherhand I have to plan well to minimize trips downstairs.I'm used to it now, shure miss my old studio in the old house.
When I'm in a painting mode I don't resent anything. |
Kathleen
Panama, NY
(Zone 5a)
October 26, 2008
04:42 PM Post #5719071
| Oh, I wasn't confused, just considering.
My computer and sewing machine are upstairs, my painting/dyeing area downstairs. I think its like putting the feed on one side of the pen and the water on the other side - keeps me moving. Keeping my errands up and down isn't a problem. Being upstairs when someone 'needs' me is. |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
October 26, 2008
05:32 PM Post #5719347
| I won't be happy until I live in a house that is one big room, where I can put everything. My current studio is a real hindrance because I don't have any vertical space on which to build my quilts. Of course, I also insist on jamming my piano, the TV, a couch for watching movies & other stuff in there. My front room overlooking the river is 20x20 with lots of wall space, but it also has a 7-foot ceiling, which stifles my creative spirit. |
amuckey
Robinson, KS
(Zone 5b)
October 26, 2008
06:03 PM Post #5719447
| summerkid,
Love you silks.!. Have you ever thought of a website to sell your items? You'd have a world wide audience. I have hosting through GoDaddy and it runs 4.99 per month, but we don't have a shopping cart where we sell etc.. Something to think about. I am in hopes someday to have my own art pottery site (possibly paintings, collage and mixed media also).
I really like the second piece you posted. I think you could make some awesome wall hangings out of these pieces! When I attended the local community college last year for an advanced studio class there was a woman who had a show in the gallery on campus... she came and talked about her work (which was all fabric pieces, or basically quilts) she sells her work all over the world. I will look around here and see if I can find the program from her exhibit and get her name. She might have a site online where you could look at her work. I'm not implying you should do her style of work, just that it might be encouraging to see her pieces. Fabric is a great medium to work with. |
ge1836
Pittsford, NY
(Zone 6a)
October 27, 2008
07:05 AM Post #5720970
| Hi amuckey
I have had a website for five years and will drop it this year, not going to renew registration of $100. per year because I have had 1 sale in five years.
I am linked to three other websites and still no responses, In five years my visiter counter is up to about 2500, lots of lookers nut never an email.
Stick to "Big Daddy" its a reasonable price, Just some advise. |
amuckey
Robinson, KS
(Zone 5b)
October 27, 2008
09:33 AM Post #5721359
| Hi ge1836,
That is too bad concerning your website and sales! What were you selling?
|
ge1836
Pittsford, NY
(Zone 6a)
October 27, 2008
11:07 AM Post #5721782
| http://www.joanngentle.com/?ref=jolaf
this is my website |
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
November 06, 2008
05:00 AM Post #5758063
| ge1836 your work is beautiful. I wish I could afford to buy art. I especially liked the " Two vessels"
|
ge1836
Pittsford, NY
(Zone 6a)
November 08, 2008
06:47 AM Post #5765591
| Just lurking here.
Wonderful art work everyone.
amucky! just had one sale of a small print of Crocosmia.
Most large paintings arent selling in these hard times.
I paint them anyway.
The sculpture was a period in the 80's loved making it. Not making claywork anymore. Too heavy. |
amuckey
Robinson, KS
(Zone 5b)
November 09, 2008
08:51 AM Post #5769504
| ge1836,
Yes I think the economy has a lot to do with sales of the art type. Also the rising cost of shipping. People are leery of purchasing items just for the sake of having them. They have become much more cautious with their money. It's a shame, but hopefully will improve.
We can't quit making the things we love to do just because people don't buy them. It is (for me anyway) an outlet. It lets what is on the inside be on the outside. I so enjoy working with clay, and love when I have an idea and then get to see the outcome. Truly rewarding! Keep painting and making prints. Have fun and enjoy it. |
ge1836
Pittsford, NY
(Zone 6a)
November 09, 2008
09:25 AM Post #5769578
| We also have to remember that sales dont necessarily mean sucess. It is an outlet just to paint for paintings sake. |
roybird
Santa Fe, NM
November 10, 2008
01:14 PM Post #5774153
| I agree with you. Artist friends here are either not selling much now or selling small paintings. My card business was just dismal in Sept.-Oct. though does seem to be picking up a little for the holidays. At least one local greeting card company has stopped doing wholesale and will only sell at retail from their own store. Interesting. I have not put out any new designs for cards since early spring. Just moving back stock. |
ge1836
Pittsford, NY
(Zone 6a)
November 10, 2008
01:23 PM Post #5774182
| The shops that stopped wholesaling are trying to sell off what they have before investing any more money in new inventory.
I am only selling small works ,and not many of them.
I havnt made what I spent on supplies last year. |
amuckey
Robinson, KS
(Zone 5b)
November 10, 2008
10:54 PM Post #5776343
| True ge, sales doesn't mean success.
roybird, what type of cards do you make? Sorry to hear that sales were slow. |
roybird
Santa Fe, NM
November 11, 2008
10:19 PM Post #5780579
| Amuckey, they are generally floral. The cards are commercially printed from scans of my water color paintings. Thank you for asking. I tend to have my best sales around Mother's Day. |
Sharran
Calvert City, KY
(Zone 6b)
December 22, 2008
06:10 PM Post #5919587
| Here is one of the "silk paintings" I did with silk scraps from Summer. I like this one so much that I will probably do an entire menagerie, well, until I run out of silk.
This is on stretched canvas, about 20 x 32 inches or so. I haven't added paint or any other medium yet, but might.
Thanks, again Summer...and Zany, too, for the inspiration. 
Click the image for an enlarged view.
|
ge1836
Pittsford, NY
(Zone 6a)
December 22, 2008
06:42 PM Post #5919670
| Verrrry nice Sharran.
Thats a talent I wish I had. |
Sharran
Calvert City, KY
(Zone 6b)
December 22, 2008
06:52 PM Post #5919696
| GE...You absolutely have so much talent with your watercolors you surely don't need anymore...and besides, this is truly easy to do. I think my next one will have an elephant.
I do like the strong color that is possible with silks. |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
December 22, 2008
07:07 PM Post #5919741
| I love that, Sharran! Yeah, isn't it something that they make a great background for desert scenes as well as sea creatures! |
ge1836
Pittsford, NY
(Zone 6a)
December 22, 2008
07:17 PM Post #5919763
| Thanks Sharran |
Sharran
Calvert City, KY
(Zone 6b)
December 22, 2008
07:18 PM Post #5919772
| Yep, I love playing with it.., and I love the textural quality, it's seen, but not felt.
Thanks, Summer.
edit: welcome, GE...I only speak the truth.
This message was edited Dec 22, 2008 5:19 PM |
ge1836
Pittsford, NY
(Zone 6a)
December 22, 2008
07:47 PM Post #5919865
| heh heh heh |
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
December 23, 2008
02:29 AM Post #5920954
| Wow! That is really great work Sharran. I love the idea of a menagerie. Some how the silk scraps just seem to take on a life of their own as you work with them. I don't remember ever working with anything other than clay that was so satisfying. |
Sharran
Calvert City, KY
(Zone 6b)
December 23, 2008
02:33 AM Post #5920958
| Me, too..Zany, I have started on an elephant tonight, more in blue tones, but will go nicely with the giraffe, I think.
I am so glad you had your project on this thread, otherwise I might have never thought of it. I had planned to sew the silk scraps into a shawl(s), but thought I needed a lining. I like this much better! I can use up all the tiny pieces this way. |
Zanymuse
Scotia, CA
(Zone 9b)
December 23, 2008
03:06 AM Post #5920976
| I still have a lot of pieces left and am eager to make another piece but time is short these days so it will have to wait until Bob is back on his feet and life settles down a bit. Iam looking forward to seeing your elephant. |
ge1836
Pittsford, NY
(Zone 6a)
December 23, 2008
06:11 AM Post #5921058
| Speaking of scraps.
DD#1 Knows someone online, who sells silk for knitting and crocheying. Its made from sarries from India.
I'm tempted to get some but when I see the colors I cant buy just one.
I'll try to get the address. |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
January 12, 2009
06:22 PM Post #5997777
| I have about a pound of muted, mottled, marbled & tie-dyed habutae silk pieces that won't fit into any of my projects. I dyed them, and some of them got "overdyed" or faded when my basement flooded; they would work really well for anyone who does collages.
Any takers? |
Sharran
Calvert City, KY
(Zone 6b)
January 12, 2009
07:07 PM Post #5998037
| Yep |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
January 12, 2009
07:08 PM Post #5998040
| You got it. Will be on the way tomorrow. |
Sharran
Calvert City, KY
(Zone 6b)
January 12, 2009
07:15 PM Post #5998072
| You are a sweetheart...
Somewhere I have a picture of the elephant that I did...will find and send soon.
Thank you so very much, Summer. |
Kathleen
Panama, NY
(Zone 5a)
January 12, 2009
08:34 PM Post #5998396
| Sharon, you are too fast for me - like I need any new projects!
Summer, what is the fabric that you start with? I have some sheer silk that I've been printing photos on, but want to do some painting. I usually get my stuff from Dharma, so if you tell me what I'll order some. |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
January 12, 2009
08:40 PM Post #5998431
| Oh, I probably have a bolt of every silk known to woman. My favorite is Fuji broadcloth or tussah, and my supplier is Rupert Gibbon & Spider, usually. |
Kathleen
Panama, NY
(Zone 5a)
January 12, 2009
08:43 PM Post #5998444
| I like the sounds of that - a bit more hand than what I've got. My biggest problem is that i'm allergic to silk. Maybe I'll just stick to cotton and linen. Ack! |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
January 12, 2009
08:44 PM Post #5998448
| There's also a stockpile in the closet of the very fine habutae that isn't made any more but that you find in very old kimono. It takes color beautifully but is fragile.
I've finally gotten motivated to make a living + pare down my belongings so have been selling kimonos, fabric & stuff on ebay but that's barely making a dent so far! The envelope headed for Sharon is one more baby step in the right direction. I'll look for more, Kathleen. |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
January 12, 2009
08:45 PM Post #5998451
| Allergic to silk! Even after it's washed? |
Kathleen
Panama, NY
(Zone 5a)
January 12, 2009
08:49 PM Post #5998471
| yep - can't wear it at all and sewing or working with it is always tricky |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
January 12, 2009
08:50 PM Post #5998479
| oh wow. i could always send you some of the wools or cottons from kimono & obi i've had to rip apart. |
Kathleen
Panama, NY
(Zone 5a)
January 13, 2009
08:13 AM Post #5999813
| Thanks for the offer. I think I'd better use some of the fabric I painted last summer! I have a 5 1/2 foot quilt rack totally draped in linen and cotton pieces that need to become other than what they are.
(I just like picking on Sharon!)
This message was edited Jan 13, 2009 7:13 AM |
Sharran
Calvert City, KY
(Zone 6b)
January 13, 2009
10:45 AM Post #6000209
| Thanks, Summer...wish we lived closer...
And please ignore Kathleen, when we take her to the fabric store in Paducah...sometimes we don't see her for days. |
Kathleen
Panama, NY
(Zone 5a)
January 13, 2009
11:42 AM Post #6000432
| well, maybe HOURS, but I don't know about DAYS. |
Sharran
Calvert City, KY
(Zone 6b)
January 13, 2009
11:56 AM Post #6000481
| Well, I dunno...I left you there on a Thursday, I think...and I have not seen you since...hmmmmmm. |
Kathleen
Panama, NY
(Zone 5a)
January 13, 2009
12:02 PM Post #6000515
| hmmm, oh, yeah, about that, um Kathleen in Fabric land. You saw that big mirror, right?
This message was edited Jan 13, 2009 11:03 AM |
Sharran
Calvert City, KY
(Zone 6b)
January 13, 2009
12:20 PM Post #6000600
| Ummmmm hmmmmmm...I did see that big mirror.
You were supposed to emerge sometime in October, I believe... |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
January 13, 2009
01:29 PM Post #6000858
| I've had quilts exhibited at Paducah but never been there myself. One of my friends, Caryl Bryer Fallert, moved there a few years ago & built a studio. |
Sharran
Calvert City, KY
(Zone 6b)
January 13, 2009
01:57 PM Post #6000997
| Yes, I know her work, and she is friends with Melody, I think. A great artist. |
Kathleen
Panama, NY
(Zone 5a)
January 13, 2009
02:35 PM Post #6001136
| got lost down a rabbit hole, I'm afraid.
Summer, you really need to go to Paducah. Next April would be perfect. It is a wonder.
Oh, she is very good. I've admired her stuff for a while now. |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
January 13, 2009
03:59 PM Post #6001440
| She used to admire how many disparate things I dabble in. She she had decided, long ago, that she could be world class at only one thing, and that is her quilting. I, in turn, envy such singlemindedness. |
Kathleen
Panama, NY
(Zone 5a)
January 13, 2009
05:23 PM Post #6001693
| Actually, going to Paducah was what convinced me that I'm not a quilter, I am (to borrow a phrase) an eclectic. In my case, it's fabric, photography and poetry, with some other stuff thrown in just for fun. I am so not singleminded that it is scary. |
summerkid
Rose Lodge, OR
(Zone 8b)
January 13, 2009
07:47 PM Post #6002273
| You are probably more suited to Quilt National, which used to be run by Nancy Crow out of the Dairy Barn. Some of those selections can't even go with the traveling exhibit on account of being unwieldy or fragile! |
