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.

Red Hearts

Base heart is started using silk dupioni, dyed with cochineal, wool quilt batting and cochineal dyed cotton backing fabric.  I machine stitched the edging and am now set to start embellishing the heart with natural dyed vintage trims, lace, yoyo's etc.  I enjoy the hand stitching portion of heart making it's a very nice respite between projects.

Purple Easter Eggs

If your wanting a natural purple for your easter eggs I suggest using beets or cabbage.

HOWEVER, there is a catch to getting the purple color and getting it to stay purple and not turn grey.

Beets or Purple Cabbage chopped fine
Place in a stainless steel sauce pan
Cover twice as deep with Vinegar and add one cup of sugar to the mix.
Bring to a boil.
Strain the vegetation out of the liquer.
Return the dye juice to the sauce pan.
Bring back to a boil and then remove heat source.
Place your eggs in the hot liquid and roll around in the liquid.
Do this for about 15 minutes.



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Avocado Dye Baths

Pits to the left, peels to the right, my not so solar solar vats.  They have been sitting on my table in my wet studio for some time now.

Live Stream - Cancelled

I won't be able to live stream today, I have a stomach bug of some sort - most probably picked up from the place I ate lunch at yesterday.  Took my best friend out for lunch, to celebrate her birthday, and unfortunately gave her the gift of turning icky green!!! :-(  Well we're both sick now and have both decided that it's time to find someplace else to celebrate!