Rust Dyed Silk Cocoons and Carrier Rods

Ideas for the newest zine!

Oak Leaf Cloth

I wasn't too thrilled about having our oak trees pruned in July but it needed to be done as I could no longer see to safely back out of the driveway, oak trees pick the darnest time to have a growth spurt.  So I pulled a bunch of the red oak and burr oak leaves aside in addition to some acorns and put them in a metal pan until I was ready to use them.  And then it rained, and rained, and rained, and rained.  The end result was an oak leaf acorn soup.  So today I will dye some cotton yardage and see what I come up with.

I added some rusted coffee tin lids in between the layers of fabric as I shoved it into a five gallon plastic bucket.

Final layer of oak leaves, branches, and acorns.

Topped off with rain water, that had been sitting for several days in another bucket, and a lid to keep the skeeters out.

Constructed Rusted Cloth

I had put together a zine sometime ago on how to make constructed cloth with silk carrier rods, and found it while cleaning up some folders on my computer.  This is one of the samples.

Dye Studio Update 080511

The blast furnace heat now seems to be behind us! This coming weekend I will be making bundles and posting information in my new pages section of this blog and over at The Natural Surface Network.

New Shop

I opened up a new shop yesterday with Big Cartel, and am love love loving the simplicity of the service they offer from set up to purchase!  You can check out my new digs here http://www.prairiefibers.bigcartel.com/   It'll take me a bit to get all of the inventory loaded.

New Dye Book

Am working on a new natural dye book.  I've learned a lot since I've written the first three, and one of those important things is that this town is crawling with editors and graphic designerse looking for freelance work!  That should, hopefully, make my life much much easier and the book that much more beautiful, and easy to use.  

The latest book will be available in digital format only i.e., an e-Book. I know, I know a physical book is so much nicer, but so much more to publish and therefore costs more to purchase.  More later with a few sneak peak photos.  Until then remeber that these books are still available http://www.kbaxterpackwood.com/e-Books.htm

Artistically Speaking

Rebecca Parson's will be interviewing me on Artistically Speaking 8/21/2011‏! I recieved my info packet today and cannot wait!!!  More details later this week.

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.

Mad about Madder Root e-Class

Mad about Madder Root e-Class Starts Tomorrow at the Natural Surface Network.

If the PP button doesn't take you to the payment page please email me prairiefibers@hotmail.com and I will send you an invoice for the class. ~ Kimberly

Pigment Painting

Today's live stream went well, here is one of the samples.

Pigment Painting on Silk Fabric - Live Stream

If you've ever wanted to know how to paint fabrics with raw pigments, I will be streaming live from my studio tomorrow afternoon at 3pm CST.  http://www.ustream.tv/channel/mark-making-with-nature

Mad About Madder Root e-Class

Available June 1st, 2011 a self directed e-Class dedicated to dyeing with Madder Root. Cost $30 USD

In this class students will learn how to use a traditional madder root vat to create a range of colors on silk and wool fabrics, ranging from deep scarlet to brilliant orange and everything in between. This class is self directed which allows students to work at their own pace.

Membership at the Natural Surface "IS" required and pre-payment is required before accessing class information.  Class will formally open June 1st, 2011 (12:00am CST that's Iowa)



Organic Soy Beans

Organic Soy Beans, I'll be demoing how to make soy milk in an upcoming online class via The Natural Surface Network  More information later this evening.

WIP - Hot Flash - Detail

Hot Flash in what I like to call the ugly duckling stage, but soon to become a swan!

WIP - Detail

Detail

WIP

Now with a little machine stitching, I still have a long way to go before this piece is finished.

Hmmmmmmmmmmm Lost and Found???

Or simply neglected?  I found this piece hiding in a corner, I started it back around 2004ish and it went AWOL.  This is what happens when you dig into the deep recesses of your studio closet, goodies are to be had back there, oh and spiders.

Silk crinkle crepe top fabric, wool batting, cotton backing.
Natural Dyed with Cochineal and then compost dyed as an overdye.
36 x 60 inches, an approximation.
Soon to be machine stitched.

Dyer's Garden

Am planting a dyer's garden this year.

So far I've planted coreopsis, will plant more coreopsis seed tomorrow, goldenrod, and marigolds.

Rusty Horse Shoes

Given to me by Norma for rust dyeing, she's my horse manure supplier, I can't wait to see what kinds of patterns I come up with.