A New Line Of Printed Silks

Layers and layers of color and print.

Dyed scarves ready for the next step- distress printing.

Scarves spread out to dry as they are distressed.

Symbols in Turquoise and Chocolate.

Studio Work

Hand drawn screens drying before beginning to print.

Printed silks on the drying rack- before rinsing. The dark brown birds and feathers lighten after a final rinse.

Prints

These were two pieces of greige cloth I dyed green (ages ago.) I wasn't happy with the color so I used the peices as practice sheets as I played around one day with leaf prints.
The leaves are Tansy, Yarrow, Queen Anne's Lace, and a few other bits from around the garden- all printed with textile paints.

I wasn't really happy with that result, so I added a faint monoprint over each using MX dyes with diamond shape bubble wrap on a piece of plexiglass. Better, but they still kicked around in the studio. Recently I was printing blocks for a quilt with a set of silk screens I made up. I decided to add just two prints, each in chocolate brown (MX dye.)
These two pieces seem to be complete at last...

Roses in Bloom

When I need something to cheer me up, I usually need to look no farther than my own backyard.
When I visited the "David Austin Roses" booth at the Philadelphia Flower Show this spring I treated myself to two new roses.
This first soft pink beauty is an English Rose called "Eglantyne." It is named after Eglantyne Jebb, the woman who founded the 'Save The Children Fund.' The blooms are large and have a sweet Old Rose scent.
I almost didn't purchase the second rose here, "Carding Mill." In photos it looked quite orange but I was assured the blooms were apricot. 'Apricot' doesn't begin to describe the beautiful blend of pink, yellow and apricot that make up the color of this flower. And it has that wonderful Myhrr fragrance.

Back In The Studio

Here I am working at my big drafting table in my studio. I'm printing a series of bird blocks for Baby Quilts I'm making in chocolate brown and pink.
Next I'm going to print the same set in teal and chocolate.

Intentions

My brother passed away on August 5th.

There's a little post about him here:

 http://jumpinmillville.blogspot.com/2010/08/remembrances.html

I had planned a vacation at the beginning of August, intending to update my blog when I returned.

I've taken lots of photos and I've gotten back to work in the studio, so I'll be following through and keeping my 'on-line journal' here up dated more often.

Baltimore Herb Festival 2010

For us this is the official beginning of Summer. Leakin Park is filled with vendors offering plants for sale.

There are lots and lots of people and some great music.

Bluegrass Band Durham Station performed during the event.

And new to Leakin Park this year is the Hopi Labyrinth. This was added as part of three sacred sites that are now a permanent installation, along with the Sacred Magnolia Grove and the Navajo Ceremonial Circle.

I've been reading up on Walking The Labyrinth as a meditaion and this was my first opportunity to do just that. It was interesting to watch adults walking it, some carrying their newly purchased plants with them, then came the children- their only thought was to run through the maze as fast as they possibly could....