Sundancers, Wild Women and DreamWeavers

San Franciso Bay area fiber scene

I find the neatest sites tracing my stats! When Google finds this site, I look up the search words and see what else is out there... Today someone used keywords: folk+art+fiber+art. It mystifies me how I got on the search list! However I found Fiberscene.com. An "Eye Site" (i.e good for eye and soul) with a large gallery of fiberarts from weaving to fiber sculpture.

There are approx. 45 artists listed (many established names), a brief bio on each, and a large gallery of work. All is from the San Francisco Bay Area. The site was conceived by Myra Goodall Block, textiles curator and collector. One of the most interesting things I found was the research deparment. There 5 types of ethnic textiles being studies and preserved there. Of course, living in the Southwest, I found the Navajo rugs irresitable. There's a gorgeous contemporary (1990) Navajo rug weaving that is beautifully dyed with indigo and vegetable dyes indigenous to the Navajo reservation located in New Mexico/Arizona. The dye plants are listed, but unfortunately not displayed.

If you do natural dying, or just curious, drop me a note or comment I think I can likely look them up. I have cottonbrush in the front yard - it produces a nice dye. Would anyone like to see the results of a Southwestern desert/prairie dyepot?

Images of Ancient Women

Today's entry is a bit off the beaten path. Images of Women in Ancient Art is a site was written as a requirement for the honors seminar in art history of the same title.

This not the sort of thing I go looking for, but I may in the future. Though a scholarly site, the information is fascinating and quite readable. The images include a multitude of archeological gems that are large and clear... some I've only seen as tiny bits in a textbook. They begin to mean something at the size and clarity shown.

Areas studied include women in: (1) Prehistory, (2) Egypt, (3) the Aegean, (4) Palestine, (5) Greece, and (6) Barbarian Women. This last includes Wild Women: The Amazons. Each entry includes links to other sites and many links to references. Author of the site is Chris Witcombe, Professor of Art History, Sweet Briar College in Virginia.

Image optimizing software, design tips

In addition to fiber art and printmaking, I'm a graphics artist and owner of several websites - all of which use quantities of images. One of my main concerns is image download time. I'm also "software frugel"!! I'd rather spend my $$ on threads than computer toys when possible.

There's a list of great freeware graphics programs and resources on my Links page at Art 4 the Web.. You may find a numer of useful items there.

Among them is an unliscensed "freeware" version of JPeg Wizard... an astounding small program that will "optimize" a .jpg image without compromising quality. It's reputed to be the only optimizing software that accomplishes this. Note, however, that this is true only if you don't get greedy - I recommend it be left at default settings. I've been merrily using it for years - it usually improves download time by 20-45%. All of the images on this site have been "wized."

While I'm busy beating my own drum, here's a list of design tips I've picked up over the years from some eminent teachers including Constance Howard and Wilcke Smith. Others I've come up with by necessity by living far from a major shopping area.

Sharon b, artist - embroidery meets computer

Sharon Boggins is a remarkable, prolific fiberartist in Canberra, Austraila. Her contributions to the world of textile arts and textile arts on the internet are both impressive and important. A tour of her sites will take more than one afternoon of complete self-indulgence... and return trips to savor her artisty. The image above is entitled "Digits Count" from a series she did on the importance of handwork.

Sharon b's personal site holds an archive of her  5 major exhibitions studying "the connections between digital technology and textiles".   She combines computer and embroidery into works that are warm, personal, & beautiful. The detail shots are exquisite.

Each of the 5 exhibitions present her theme in a different way. Her "Shareware Project" and "Playing False" utilize objects from people on the internet. The result is very like a "www.friendship crazy quilt", stitching together very personal "patches" of people who are, otherwise, merely a visitor or homepage design.

In a minute ago is Sharon's weblog. It focuses on contemporary and historical textiles, embroidery, fiber and paper arts, networked art, and textile practice. Sharon b's online Collection of Stitches for Hand Embroidery is thorough, crossed referenced and beautifully illustrated by her own hand.

Her influence encourageded me to begin my this weblog after featuring my stitchery in her weblog here. Be sure to visit Sharon's Links, a huge resource.

Break an old Gestalt today

I find myself returning again and again to danny gregory's weblog Everyday Matters. It makes me chuckle in the most unladylike fashion, and, even worse, muse for 15 minutes and think.

I get all too comfortable with a theme, techniques that I know work, colors I like, using them over and over. "Like" is fine, but at some point, my "likes" become walls. How comfy and safe! It's time to break a few of my Gestalts - those patterns of perceiving that have become so automatic that I really don't see creatively at all.

Everyday Matters nudges me gently to get on with it. I haven't discovered all the fabulous fabrics, threads, colors of the world yet. Yesterday, after reading February 22 - "Counting Blessings", I went on a small journey of discovery to hardware and craft shop, and came home with a fistful of new toys! Pencils that change color, interesting bits of paper & materials to actually start that experimental ideas journel I've been going to start for years.

Elsa Wachs, ecclesiastical textiles

Elsa Wachs has been creating fiberart since the 70's. Her creations encompass the whole range of fiber techniques from hand stitching to thermography & handmade paper.


Her portfolio centers on Judaic ritual garments, traditional ritual items - Torah mantles, bridal canopies - and personal expressions in the form of soft books and family heirlooms.


At right is a tallit (prayer shawl), "Hear, O Israel", honoring the 50th Anniversary of the State of Israel. The "High Holy Day Shulchan Cover", here, is embroidered with the Hebrew verse and translates : "Mercy and truth are met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other." I especially was delighted with her explanations of Judaic tradition, design sources & technique that accompanied each work shown.


Family memorabila, Hebrew verse, traditions and history are combined to make each creation a unique treasure. She incorporates family names, bits of family vintage garments, and a wealth of scanned objects applied via thermography.


On rare occasions, I've been lucky enough to see a piece of work so right that I am utterly lost in it. This woman's creative spirit and soul shines & reaches out. I wish there were links to larger photos... textile details deserve to be seen.

Let's talk color - #1

I took a trip to Pantone, Inc. last night to see what they had of interest. For 40 years, Pantone has been recognized as the global authority on color. They (not Martha) dictate what colors the cars, carpet, & pillowslips will be this year, and 10 yrs. from now. As I understand it, the whole thing is based on what used to be a big book of enameled color chips - each with a number, and the fact that it allowed a company in Alaska to send that number to a company in Tasmania and order colorant for their product.


Times are fancier now, but the idea and the color chip system is still as grand. Eons ago, I took Wilcke Smith's color workship twice! Once to do the intensive 3 day color exercises and again to sit and take notes on the gems she dropped while participants slaved. It was worth it.


Among the projects we did was a series of color runs that make a mini color chip system. It's 1 of the 2 most valuable things I ever learned. To have a tool for smooth color transitions that I can actually hold yarns over is worth every bit of sweat & tears. Since Wilcke is no longer teaching, I'll share some of the exercises. You may want to brush-up on basic color terms.


What you need: 1)  1 large pkg. of really good quality white uncoated sticky labels about 1 1/2" by 1/2", 2)  a set of gouache or student quality tempra paints in the 3 primary & secondary colors plus black and white. Life is easier if you can also add tertiary colors. You will need about 4 fl. oz. each for tempra, less for gouache. 3)  A little white mixing palette, 4)  1-3 medium brushes - sturdy enough to intensely mix thick tempra. 5)  Good lighting... preferably indirect daylight. 6)  black paper and clear page protectors, 7)  compass, ruler, pencil.


Exercise 1:   Paint 12 colors on labels to make a 12 step color wheel. Don't thin the tempra, it causes problems later on - it's should be thick like honey. Mix intesively, it sharpens color sensitivity. Then choose one color hue straight from the bottle and paint it evenly from white to black in 15 to 20 even steps, using a seperate label for each set. See color terms: color wheel, grey scale, value.


You will never want to do this again, so get out the compass & ruler. "Neatness counts." When the chips are completely dry, mount the 1st 12 around the wheel with violet on top. Rule a line down the page side & choose your value scale chips. Overlap them just a tad.    Stand. Take a bow. End of Exercise 1!


In the famous words of soaps: to be continued. Upon completion of these exercises you'll own a tool similiar to the Pantone color chip system. By visiting Pantone, Inc. and joining their "myPantone", you can access a small library of color information.

For some insightful comments on color, visit Danny Gregory's weblog "Everyday Matters". He's witty and well-versed.

*Note: I will get back to this! Health intervenes just now.

Silk felting, handmade lace

Lovely day in Colorado! I have the urge to plant green stuff and sew new domestic stuff. Since our frost-free date is May 15, I'll just water the houseplants & then head for the studio.

By way of resources for how-to's / information for some "hole in the wall" fiberart techniques, have a look at the following if your interests flow in that direction:

Trennway Silks Company for step-by-step illustrated silk fusion directions, i.e. silk felt - it looks like a usable technique with possibilies.

Also mouse on over to the Chicago Area Lace Guild. They have a vast site of Handmade and Needlemade Lace with basic directions, resources, and lace identification. They say "Some kinds of lace practiced and collected by our members include: bobbin lace, crochet, filet lacis, knitted lace, needle lace, tatting, Teneriffe, Hardanger, pulled thread work, and many others. devoted to making, studying, and collecting all kinds of hand made lace..." Worth a look!

Contemporary quilts, handmade soft dolls

I got to spend a lovely couple of hours searching out sites this morning over coffee. The internet is a way to travel and see all the people & places far, far from Pueblo, Colorado, (and my pocketbook).


I was lucky today. Amongst the thousands of wonderful art quilt sites, I actually found a contemporary needlework designer, Elsa Wachs, who is not afraid to pick up a needle! She is obviously well known as a designer of Judaic ecclesiastic and liturgical fiberworks. Her work is very specialized and new to me. Do go see the Elsa Wachs Studio for a bit of inspiration.


Following links from The Contemporary Quilt Art Assoc. I found Caryl Bryer Fallert is an amazing, prolific quilt designer. This a link to his "Feather Study series." This gallery and large site also features a Faq about products, techniques and finishing touches. His links are extensive.


From Caryl's links I found another bright spot: Small-Expressions, fiberart by David K. Small, original character dolls with nice large stage-by-stage photos. His "Dumpster Lady" is a hoot!


I took an absolutely fun workshop from elinor peace bailey about 4 years ago. Soft handmade dolls with slightly unladylike and pizazz characters are on my list of things to do. The immediate results of elinor's workshop can be found here. I have plans laid and most of the materials for 2 "Ladies of the Evening".

Fonting around

A hugh number of "dingbat" art fonts are available as freeware or inexpensive shareware. These are simply fonts that are patterns instead of "abc's". Most people have at least a "gazillion" of them.


The main problem for the ardent "bat collector" is remembering what they look like and which design belongs to each letter. Ahh... There's a nifty little freeware program that solves the problem utterly. "The Font Thing" is the child of Sue Fisher (of About.com). You can read about it and download it  here. I rate it as a 10.


Some of the best dingbats I've found for use in creating virtual fabric and fiber looks are: "Dementia" A and B Regular, "Bit Blocks", "Soen Squares", and "Knot Maker BRK". What I look for are small motifs with a heavy face so that they will produce a good displacement map or texture.



There is also a class of ding fonts that are "alien" or mythical scripts. The names of some of these are a bit wierd and fun: "Babylonian Centuar", "Borg", and "Drazi". I wonder what their quilts look like! Below is "Babylonian Centuar".





I used one of the above Centuar designs, as a small displacement map, to change this graphic to this.


The strange ding scripts are worth checking into as a source of unusual patterns. There seem to be 25 or more easily found. The following are sites that have large collections of "dingbat" art fonts:

Moss Valley Dingbat Links - a huge assortment

Font Garden many "unusual scripts" & many conventional designs

Font Freak nice selection of all font categories