Saturday, December 28, 2013

January 2014


There WILL be some of this happening in my wet studio next week!  Natural dye extracts painted onto silk fabrics.

Upcoming Challenges at the Academy!!!

Upcoming Challenges at the Academy

Marigold 30-Day Cold Dye Challenge Begins January 1st


Extreme Embroidery Extreme Hearts Challenge Begins January 11th
Join us at the Natural Surface Academy for Extreme Hearts Challenge for Valentines Day!!!  In this challenge we will be using our Natural and eco Dyed fibers, threads, ribbons, and fabrics to create constructed cloth for a one-of-a-kind heart for that special someone!



Constructed Cuff Challenge Begins January 18th
Join us at the Natural Surface Academy for Constructed Cloth Cuff Challenge for Valentines Day!!!  In this challenge we will be using our Natural and eco Dyed fibers, threads, ribbons, and fabrics to create constructed cloth for a one-of-a-kind wearable art for that special occassion!


To learn more about the Natural Surface Academy and how to join, click here.

Friday, December 27, 2013

Academy Membership Special Pricing Ends Soon!!!

The Natural Surface Academy
Membership Special
 
Natural dye painted cotton fabric. 
Cochineal, osage orange, and charcoal.


 
Offer Ends January 1st, 2014!!!
Learn more here
 
Madder root, cochineal, and logwood
on silk charmuse and silk crepe de chine fabrics.
 
Deconstructed screen printing with newsprint and ink on cotton.

 
 

Thursday, December 05, 2013

Holiday Sale ~ Academy Memberships and More!!!

Holiday Sale ~ 2013!!!
 
 
Holiday Sale in my BigCartel Shop!!!
 
10% Off
All Orders $50 or More!!!
Enter "Ten" Into the Discount Box.
 
30% Off
All Orders of $300 or More!!! 
Enter "Thirty" into the Discount Box.

Monday, December 02, 2013

Friday, November 29, 2013

The Natural Surface Academy Black Friday Special!!!

 
 
 
Tired of your Natural Dyed Fabrics looking like everyone else's??? 

Then join me at the Natural Surface Academy in 2014 where we will push the rubicon in Surface Design with Natural Dyes, Rust, Fabric Paints, PaintStiks, Gutta, Shibori, Ink, and More, to create work that is unique to you!!!

The Natural Surface Academy

Wanted to join the Academy to learn about producing all of this yummy fabric, but was afraid to do so because of the price?  Today's your chance to join us in 2014 at HUGE discount!  49% off the regular price to be exact! ($599.00)
 

 

As part of your membership you will have access to my DVD's, videos, eBooks, online classes (self-paced)  and workshops (scheduled), and most importantly to ME!!!  I will help you take your Natural Dyed Fabrics to the next level be it surface design techniques or stitching, I can help you obtain your goals.
HandsCompost, Rust, and Natural Dyed Silk Organza Net.

Learn More Here!!!

Corn Head Girl
Natural Dyed Cotton and Silk Fabrics.  Machine Stitched.
 
 

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Black Friday Sale!!! eBooks, DVD's, Academy, and More!


Black Friday Sale 2013!!!
 
DVD Set $69.95
Digital Download $39.95
eBook Combo $19.95
 

Black Friday Membership Sale!!!
$299.00 (non-refundable)
Join me and other artists in 2014! 
We will be taking fabric from ordinary to extraordinary!!!
 

Stitched Stories, Mix Media Prints,
Fabric Bundles and More!!!
 
 
 


Thursday, November 21, 2013

Marigolds and More!!!


 My first ever newsletter went out this afternoon!  I will be sending one out once a week from here on out, now that I've spent some time learning how to use MailChimp.

Here are a few of the things discussed in my newsletter in case you missed it!

 
I am inviting you to join me at the Natural Surface Academy in 2014 to participate not only in the Marigold Project BUT to also unleash that creative prowess you know is lurking deep inside of you!
 
  • 2014 will start off with a Splash as we work on our 30-Day Cold Dyeing Project, I will be using both marigolds AND madder root with Wool, Silk, and Cotton Fibers.
  •  
  • We will go to extremes with our natural dyed fabrics, fibers, yarns, and more in my Extreme Embroidery class! 
  •  
  • Get down and get gellied when we print fabric and paper with natural dyes using a Gelatine Plate for printing!
  •  
  • And this is only the beginning! 

Saturday, November 09, 2013

30 Day Challenge Samples


Samples from 1998 from previous 30 Day Cold water trials.  These will be  used for the 30 Day Challenge I'm holding at the Natural Surface Academy this winter.  I will put my notes into an eBook for Academy members, along with scans of the samples.

Sunday, November 03, 2013

The Natural Surface

Making some major changes at the Natural Surface!!! 
 
 

Red Oak Leaves


The leaves on my red oak are especially brilliant this year, I suspect it is due to the late season rains after a long hot drought this summer.  I will make some bundles using the bright yellow leaves this week and will report back on the colors achieved.

Mark Making with Nature DVD Pre-Sale


Mark Making with Nature DVD Pre-Sale!!!
 
$39.95

Not Permanent


Hostas do not provide a permanent color but they certainly inspiring!



Thursday, October 31, 2013

Gelatine Plate Printing with Natural Dyes


This is from several years ago, I have a geliplate my best friend Brenda got me for xmas last year that I really, really need to use! I'm thinking some earth pigments and my Black Birds in Tree stencil onto fabric for starters.  The plate in the above photo I made myself, here I'm using lace and trims as resists for the print which I made onto fabric.


Cotton fabric, that I do believe I compost dyed, osage orange on the gelatin plate with some lace trims gave a nice resist pattern.  After curing and washing the osage orange color is about 30% of it's orignal brightness on cotton fabric.  Now to find this piece of fabric in my stash and audition some threads for stitching.

Mark Making with Nature Super SALE!!!

Mark Making with Nature DVD & eBook 
Super Sale!!!
 
Ends at Midnight!!!
 

Click here to find out more!
 
 
Learn how to screenprint, mono-print and so much more with Natural Dyes!

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Sunday, October 13, 2013

MMWN DVD Coming Soon!!!

 
Am pleased to announce that my DVD
Mark Making with Nature
will available as a digital download and soon!

Monday, September 23, 2013

Fall Colours


September is drawing to an end, so thought I would post some fall colours!


Rust on hand dyed cotton fabric.
 
I do believe I dyed this with MX dyes back around 1994,  before I became allergic.  Anyway, I love the colors of this piece, as the leaves start to change I will take some photos, do some color studies and use some of this fabric as it's wanting to be stitched and oh so badly.

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Studio Rag


The colors are a deep camel and pale yellow, the yellow doesn't show up well in this image due to the poor lighting in my office.  Natural dyes on cotton.

Friday, August 30, 2013

Thursday, August 29, 2013

How does a Blog Crawl Work?

???

How does a blog crawl work?  What happens is come late Friday night I put up a list on my blog of all of the participating blogs in the blog crawl.  Then those participants copy that list from my blog and post it to their blogs.  This allows for the blog crawl, featuring Woad and Indigo, to go viral!  There are many artists working with Woad and Indigo this month so I'm hoping that those who are will participate so that we can show the world the beautiful fabrics and fibers being dyed with woad an indigo!

Hope you participate as well.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Woad and Indigo Blog Crawl

I will be hosting and blog crawl for Woad and Indigo this coming weekend, August 30th!  If you'd like to participate just let me know via the comments section.


Indigo and rust on cotton fabric.

Common Phlox


Common Phlox Phlox divaricata

Not worth my time collecting to use in a dye pot, any color it would yeild would fade in a matter of days, if not hours.  The stems would yeild a weak yellow at best.  But given the current extreme heat Iowa is experiencing it is one of the few plants that has survived in my garden without needing watering.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

Compost Dyeing and Other Fermentation Dyeing Techniques eBook



If you purchased a copy of my eBook "Compost Dyeing and Other Fermentation Dyeing Techniques" last year through Kindle and it is corrupted please let me know and I will send you a replacement copy!

This eBook is Currently ON SALE
for $3.99

Monday, August 12, 2013

Indigo Blog Crawl Continues!


This month's particpants will be listed over several posts since it's easier to list them this way than to keep updating an older post.

Diana de Souza http://dyeing2weave.wordpress.com  - Diana will be starting a Garcia vat this week so check back often to watch her progress!

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

August Natural Dye Blog Crawl and a Challenge

I will be posting Augusts blog crawl list on the 17th, and I'm adding a challenge for those that want to participate - Indigo. 


Dye something with indgo, but just don't stop there dye something with indigo and then overydye it with yet another dye.

Monday, July 29, 2013

Dog Transport eBook Special!!!

Dog Transport eBook Special!!! 
 
I've marked all four of my Natural Dyeing eBooks to the special price of $3.99 to help raise transport funds for Junior the labradoodle from Texas to Iowa!!! 

He also needs to be neutered once we get him here to Iowa, he's eight months old and the cute wore offso now he's coming to live with me, we will  have many years of happy walks together! http://www.kbaxterpackwood.com/e-Books.htm


I will post a photo of the new pooch as soon as I have permission to do so, not everyone wants their images out on the net!

Saturday, July 27, 2013

French Pearl Cotton Thread


Some vintage french pearl cotton thread I purchased at a local haunt today!  I am thinking of dyeing with indigo and then overdyeing with walnut hulls and leaves!

Saturday, July 20, 2013

Natural Dye Blog Crawl


 
I'm putting together a natural dye blog crawl for next weekend, if you'd like to participate let me know @ prairiefibers@hotmail.com   I will list all participating blogs here on my blog starting Midnight (Iowa Central Time) July 27th!