Snow Dyeing

Over the last couple of days we've gotten nearly a foot of snow here in the Missouri Ozarks. I've seen several posts on QuiltArt about art quilters using the snow as part of a fabric dyeing process. So I decided to give it a try. My main resource for how to do this came from http://quiltersstitchtogether.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-version-of-snow-dye-process.html. Rhoda Forbes at http://artbyrhodaforbes.blogspot.com/ has tried snow dyeing a couple of times this winter and her work inspired me to give it a shot.

My favorite hand-dyes have what Ellen Anne Eddy calls a light-source. This method of dyeing does a great job of producing that type of fabric. All five of my fabrics came out with an inner glow that I find very attractive and useful. This dyeing seemed much easier than the fabric dyeing I've done in the past. So if you've been thinking about trying it - go for it!

FIRELINE

FIRELINE

This small piece (10" x 11") has been hanging around for a while waiting on me to finish it. I had a 12" x 16" mounted canvas and decided to cover it in black fabric and attach the little quilt. I'm rather pleased with the finished piece since the canvas gives it enough presence to stand on its own. I also got to play with the electric staple gun which I haven't used for years. I'm a sucker for any kind of tool! Now perhaps I will hit the garage and make some frames using the chop saw - another of my favorites. But, since its hovering around 0, perhaps I should go back up to my warm studio and find some other bits and pieces to finish.

Mya

My brother, Jim (Jimmy the Shoe) Hoover, asked me to do a portrait of his sweet Sheltie, Mya. She was a beloved pet and our whole family enjoyed her. A few years ago, she fell over in Jim's yard and died in an instant. She had the prettiest little face and a beautiful coat. When Jim took her to the groomer she would come home with a little red bandana and I was tempted to add one to her picture. This is my tribute to a sweet little dog.

Wine Time

27" x 35"

I have finally finished some new work. I started Grapes in early December and painted the grapes and tacked them together then added the leaves. Then I couldn't find any background that pleased me. Along came this month's Fast Friday Fabric Challenge: use a color scheme from a label or box to inspire a still life. Rhoda Forbes was the challenge host and listed excellent references to check out on the web about the use of color in advertising and the meaning(s) of various colors. As I searched around, I came to a Froot Loops box which used some colors similar to my grapes. I used the red and black from the box as inspiration for the background for the grapes. So thanks to FFFC and Rhoda I've actually made something other than a pet for the first time in ages!