I’ve gotten accustomed to using a variety of techniques in my recent work, and steaming the silk between each step. I streamlined my process for Tulips, hoping to capture some spontaneity.
I created a line drawing on silk treated with Magic Sizing, then steamed it. Next I used gutta lines to block out my drawing, and added blocks of color. 
After this steaming, I’ve added details. And- I think it is done. I’ll get a final picture after I stretch it…
Here’s my salt resist recipe :
One cup Table Salt
Five Cups Boiling Water
I let the salt dissolve, took the pan off the heat, and submerged the painting. after a few minutes I removed the painting. Once it had drip dried a bit (and cooled), I hung it to finish drying.
The next day, when it was completely dry, I could see the salt crystals on the fabric. The photo shows how saturated the painting will be with the resist, with this salt recipe. So now I am ready to use my stencils and spray bottles with my dye.
Following last week’s setbacks, it was hard to tell how close these paintings were to completion. A few more steps on each, and I called them done.
I’m linking up to Nina Marie Sayer’s Off the Wall Friday here. I am ready to check it out for my weekly inspiration!
After the steamer disaster, I had to rework details on my three Winter Tree Series. Back came the Magic Sizing- and I drew in details in faded and blurred areas. Then steamed again…
Next, back came the stencils! At this point, they were pretty soggy, but I did my best. Also, I tried to keep pace with two other paintings, also at the stencil stage- so I did a lot of paper cutting. For one area, I wanted a soft misty effect. I tried to use cotton balls, pulled apart until wispy, to mask an area. And- it worked! 
I’ve used this steamer for years- it is coated in teflon, and the inside bottom is scratched and therefore compromised, so I took it from kitchen use and devoted it to studio use. However, if you let teflon pans boil dry they can release a toxic fume. Well, I let this one boil dry- it did smell TERRIBLE and I think it made some smoke. I quickly aired out the house, but decided then and there to get another steamer.
Here’s the new one! But- I found it doesn’t work as easily as my old one! And… found out the hard way…
After steaming my three Winter Tree Series paintings , I found that I had areas that washed out, faded areas, fugitive dyes,and dye transfers. Wow. I rarely had any of these problems before.
I think that the new steamer has more problems with condensation- and also the lighter inside of the pot may not keep the environment as hot. I’m working now to save these paintings…
After a redesign of some areas on my silk quilt, I have begun hand stitching. Momentum begins! While stumbling forward with no plan in place, I am starting to invent a bit of a visual vocabulary. 
Some sense of motion and coherence are starting to appear in this quilt- it has been a long time coming. I particularly like the stippling effect on the black silk- I plan to continue that in the black areas, while opening up the line in other spaces. I have linked up with Nina Marie Sayre’s Off the Wall Friday; check out the fabulous textile art there…
Posted in silk quilt, Uncategorized
Tagged hand dyed textiles, Hand stitching, quilting, silk qullt
