My Process Update

I'm behind the 8 ball, actually the truth is closer to I'm behind the 95F and I have NO central air or air conditioning 8 ball and in reality just didn't feel like posting an update today.  See everyone tomorrow!

My Creative Process Part 1 of 4

I recieved an email from a follower earlier in the week asking me about my creative process, how do I get started, etc.  The email contained all sorts of questions, images of her very lovely work, etc., but the gist of the story is how to start the creative process for a piece.  The more I thought about it, and wrote to her, the more I realized that I there was a blog post(s) in the anwser.

For my latest series of stitched stories, Corn, I started out by looking at images in my photo library.

And I start thinking about the theme, what in the photos captures my eye design wise?

I also spend thousands of hours staring at fields, ditches, corn plants, grain bins, silos, etc., in varying light and seasons studying how the light moves and bounces across the objects, studying how they change shape and form in different lighting.

The next thing I do, and this can be days, weeks, months, or even years later, is decide if I want to work in fabric/fiber, encaustic, or with paint.  I admit sometimes I work in all of those mediums just to see how it'll turn out in the end, what I thought might be a great idea for fabric bombs and turns out to be exquisite when worked up in wax!

 More tomorrow!

Sorting Fabric

Sorting fabrics for future projects, and more specifically looking for a piece of pigment painted fabric that I've been really wanting to work with in a new project.

Rust dyed commercial fabrics from 2005/06 sitting atop a pile of hand painted fabrics from 2003-2006.  The log cabin block piece I made back in 1994 when I took a hand dyeing class from Priscilla Sage at Iowa State University.

Bound Resist fabrics, top, from 1994 and screen printed hand dyed fabrics from 2005.

Some of my older hand dyed and hand painted fabrics that I've been sorting through for various projects.

A pink piece I made from my screen printing squeegie scrapings, from a class I took with Tim McIllrath in 1994.

Studio Newsletter

I changed my newsletter service today to one that would be way easier for me to use, and the upside is that it's also free!!!

Subscribe to our mailing list

New Work Studio

Almost done!!!

Studio - Update June 12, 2011

Whilest I wait upon dye pots, summer storms (looking a whole lot like another flood year here) and fleeces to dry I will be rearranging my 1905 grand Victorian home.  I am moving my studio, combining my two studios actually, into the living and dining rooms of my house and turning the library, a room that has become a glorified closet some how, into a family room.  My current design studio will then become a dedicated office and my wet studio... well I'll have space once again for dyeing, painting, and printing fabrics, etc.

Photos of the progress coming and soon.

Live Stream

Am planning to live stream tomorrow and anything goes I'll be playing with natural dyes, fibers and fabric.  Stop by at 3pm central time! http://www.ustream.tv/channel/mark-making-with-nature

Excited!!!

Well I've finally made the decision I'm moving my studio out of it's current space, a second story bedroom, into the living and dining room, these two rooms are open to each other.  What the casual obsevery doesn't know is that my "design studio" has bled over into three other rooms, four rooms if I count all of the mixed media items that are hogging space in my wet studio, of the house and well most of the time I have no idea what I have as far as supplies are concerned.

With John's blessing we have been pouring over various studio organization books, and magazines, and will over the next 2-3 months move my studio into the living and dining rooms, thus consolidating everything so that I can work more effectiently.  I will also be working towards divesting of 'stuff' that I am no longer using and/or interested in using in my artwork. 

The upside is I will have a guest bedroom again AND my current studio space will officially become my office space/library for all of those books I have bought over the years for my studio.  Thank you Alyson for that encouragement!

Studio Live Stream

Made my debut today on Ustream with my first live test and all went well, thank you to Dale Anne and Diana for stopping by and critiquing!  I will be adjusting the cameras tonight and will be streaming live tomorrow from my studio 3-5pm Central Time.  Pre-Chat will begin at about 2:30ish PM Central Time.

Encaustic - Playing with Wax

I will be live streaming from my studio this coming Wednesday 3-5pm.  Will be working on some encaustic collage pieces and maybe some other stuff as well. Check it out!

Live Streaming from My Studio

I created a Ustream channel and will be streaming live from my studio starting next week. I'll be working on various natural dye, rust dyeing, composting, pigment painting, etc. in addition to a lot of collage mix media. I won't be able to particiapte in the chat unfortunately, my monitor and key board are across the room from me but will have a fix for that and soon.
You can find me at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/kbaxterpackwood and search for kbaxterpackwood.

Studio Update

I'm working on some new dye zines and a brand new dye book that is meant to answer many of the questions I recieve daily via email.   As you can see from the previous post I also acquired a new Flip Camera and am shooting How-To videos as well, this will also be available shortly.

Studio Shots

Fabrics dyed, compost dyed, and or screen printed with natural dyes from five or six years ago and soon again later this week!  I'm off to clean and reorganize the studio time to for some surface design!

Studio Newsletter

Just catching up to let everyone know that I now have a newsletter once again. If you were a subscriber in the past you will have to sign up for the newsletter again as the previous subscriber's listed vanished into thin air.

The subscription box is in the right hand column.

Basic Natural Dyeing Safety

Dye Safety
Copyright 2003
Kimberly Baxter Packwood

Never assume that because it’s a natural dye that it’s safe!

Many people have allergies to grasses, weeds, flowers and trees.

IF you are a highly sensitive/allergic person then be sure of what you are dyeing WITH before dyeing.

IF you have severe allergies consult with your doctor prior to dyeing with grasses, flowers, tree parts, or any unknown or known weed.

Always work in an area that is designated for studio/dye work.

Never use dye materials, mordants or other dyestuffs in your designated cooking areas!

Use only dedicated dye equipment that is used for dyeing/surface design only. Never use this equipment for cooking food for human consumption.

Use a high quality respirator when handling dye extracts and mordants.

Work in an adequately ventilated area.

Indigo Dyeing Safety Instructions

Indigo Vat Safety Instructions

DO NOT TOUCH YOUR FACE OR EYES WHEN HANDLING LYE, SODA ASH, THIOX, OR ANY CHEMICAL!!!

Lye Handling Instructions
NEVER add water to Lye (Sodium hydroxide). You will create a dangerous reaction doing so. ALWAYS add your Lye (Sodium hydroxide) to “cold” water.

Once the Lye is added to the “cold” water the water will become very hot from the chemical reaction! This reaction will cause your utensils and vat container to become hot. Have hot pads or insulated gloves for handling hot equipment.

Make sure that your container can withstand high temperatures.

Read safety instructions that came with your Lye (Sodium hydroxide).

Lye (Sodium Hydroxide) is dangerous! Extreme caution must be used when handling lye (Sodium hydroxide). Lye (Sodium hydroxide) will cause serious burns to the skin, eyes and mucous membranes.

A respirator is required when handling lye(Sodium hydroxide) products as inhalation of the fumes can cause serious burns to the nose and mouth (mucous membranes)

Wear protective gloves, such as latex or nitrile gloves, when handling lye (Sodium hydroxide). Lye (Sodium hydroxide) can cause serious burns to the skin, especially if your skin is moist! The lye (Sodium hydroxide) will start reacting with the moisture on your skin immediately, causing serious burns.

NOTE: Make sure that your gloves are proper fitting, and not too lose, as an ill fitted glove can lead to accidents.

Wear safety goggles/glasses when handling lye (Sodium hydroxide)! This is to prevent any of the lye liquid/fumes from entering the eyes.

NOTE: Do not touch your face, eyes, or ears when handling lye (Sodium hydroxide) products!

Wash your hands thoroughly for five minutes, and upper arms, after working with lye (Sodium hydroxide). You want to make sure that your hands are completely free of chemical before touching any other parts of your body to prevent burns.

Do NOT use with aluminum or cheap stainless steel containers or utensils. Do NOT put lye into an a cast iron pot!

FIRST AID: wash burned area with cool water for 15-20 minutes. Call or seek emergency help for burns. Seek medical attention immediately.

If swallowed seek medical attention immediately. Do NOT induce vomiting!!!

Keep Lye (Sodium hydroxide) away from children and small pets.

IF a spill should occur sweep of lye and dispose of down the sink drain with copious amounts of cold water.

This ALSO applies to Thiox, Indigo extract, Soda Ash or any mordant, assist, or chemical when you are working in the studio.

Thiox will burn your skin wash immediately with water.

Work in a well ventilated area, I prefer to work out of doors with the wind blowing away from me.

Wear a respirator when working with Natural Dye Extracts, Mordants, and Dye Assists

DO NOT PUT WATER INTO YOUR THIOX POWDER AS THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS CREATING A TOXIC CLOUD OF GAS!!!

Rather using a studio dedicated teaspoon place your thiox into the indigo vat.