What I Did This Week-End

No rust dyeing for me this week-end. My YD (Youngest Daughter) and two of her art school friends came here to learn something about fiber art from me. I am thrilled that the next generation is interested in fiber art and welcomed them warmly into my studio and by the end of the week-end into my heart. One of the young women was taking embroidery thread, a hoop and fabric to her figure drawing class as her drawing tools. The next two pictures are examples of what she did in class.

Very cool!!!

But hand stitching takes a very long time. I taught her free-motion machine embroidery and here is what she did with it.

She was talking about taking a sewing machine to class!!! They are students at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design so I am pretty sure she would be allowed use it.

The picture below is another piece by her that she wanted some advice on. I told her to join the Quiltart List and Studio Art Quilts Associates because I don't think she needs ANY advice on how to make fiber art.

Buttons, Buttons Everywhere!!!

Yesterday my studio assistant helped me finish sorting the loose buttons so I can bag them up to sell in my booth at International Quilt Festival, April 17-19, 2009.They are going into 3" x 3" bags. Here is one all finished up.
Here are 9 all finished up.

That makes 9 down and 9 zillion to go. Wish me luck.

A Gift

The husband, of a friend of mine, made the pen pictured above from an acrylic block. She thought it looked so much like my Rust-Tex fabric that she insisted he give it to me. I am very thankful to have a friend with a good visual memory and a talented husband! This picture shows the sparkles in the depth of the acrylic as the sun was shinning on it when I took it picture.

If you would like my friend's husband to make you a Rust-Tex pen you can contact Mary at this address: nonfiction43 at hotmail dot com

Tell them Lois sent you!

It Is Good To Be Back

I try to post as often as possible during the rust-dyeing season which here in Madison, WI is mid April to mid Oct. I did a rust dyeing activity this week I think you should know about. Through the store at Rust-Tex.Com someone ordered a packet of rust dust. It is used with tannin, rust flakes and a rusty pan to make what I call "Stormy Skies" fabric.

Stormy Skies Fabric

I had rust dust but it was not bagged up and ready for sale so I decided I would bag some up in the indoor Rust-Tex studio in the basement as it was too cold to work in the outdoor Rust-Tex studio on the deck. I put on a dusk mask as I usually do and started to process the rust dust. I noticed it settling on EVERYTHING. My laundry room is the next open space over from the Rust-Tex studio so I quit after I had enough rust dust to make a 1.5oz bag. When I blew my nose I knew it was time to invest in a respirator!!!

I did some research on what kind to buy. I went out that night and bought a particle respirator. I was able to work outside the next day. After fitting the respirator carefully to my face I made 7 bags of rust dust and 12 bags of rust flakes. When I blew my nose after an hour and a half the tissue was perfectly clean. Good investment!!!