My Eclectic Style; don't pin me down

Mother Of Invention.

2009-01-12T00:51:00.011-06:00

This is 60 inches of haboti China silk. It was dyed using the Shibori method (Japanese folding techniques)along with grape colored acid dye, water conditioners and steam for setting the color. Once the fabric is folded and tied, it is then dyed using paint brushes to control the amount of dye that is actually absorbed into the silk. The fabric is allowed to dry, then wrapped in heavy paper and put into the steamer unit for at least an hour.
Sometimes during the steaming process, water spots are left on the silk. That is what happened to this fabric. It had several various sized, ugly water spots on it. After sizing up the damage, it came to me to stenciled flowers over the spots using a darker colored dye and to resteam the silk. Don't you just love the results. "Error is the Mother Of Invention" Click on image to see larger view.

Batiked Swirls

2009-01-12T00:33:00.010-06:00

This 36" X 36" silk, flat crepe scarf, is shown up close to highlight details. It was designed using batik method. To get a finely detailed design on silk, the silk must be stretched tauntly. One tiny drop of dye will spread so quickly that various resists must be used to create containment fields for the various colors. I painted the white areas free hand using hot parafin wax as the resist. Once applied and harden, the waxed silk was crumbled gently to create the crackled effect you see. The scarf was then hand painted using graduating shades of purple, and hot pink dye. When the dyeing process was completed, including the steam setting, I stamped & stenciled the scarf using gold paint.
Click on image for larger view.

Shimmer

2009-01-12T00:10:00.005-06:00

Shimmer

This original, flat crepe silk scarf is hand dyed & stenciled. It's size is 36" X 36". Although purple and black were the only colors used in the dyeing process, many shades and textures of color are visible. That is one of the things I love about working with silk. It's flowing, shimmery appearance allows the light to play on the colors so luxuriously. Flat crepe is specially soft and shimmery giving this scarf a light and floaty feel. The stenciled designs are done in silver metallic paint.

Click on the image to see a larger view.

2009-01-05T05:03:00.004-06:00

Garment Name: JOY

This 2 piece soft orange set is made from hand dyed and printed, silk/rayon fabric. It features a pull on top with a form flattering wrap skirt. Form flattering because the tie belt can be sinched tightly over the belly to flatten it. The medium weight, soft texture of the fabric, along with the soft and bright colors, compliment the easy wear design making this outfit truly a joy to wear. Click on the image to see larger view.

High School Pic/ 11th grade

2009-01-05T02:47:00.011-06:00

I'm number 4 of 13 siblings. Being from such a large family meant I had to learn how to sew if I ever wanted to wear anything besides "hand me downs". So, I started making my own clothing at the age of 11. Soon after, creating fashion became a passion. In high school, I designed all the costumes for the senior play and was also making clothing for other people. Today, if all the garments I have ever made could line up, they well might wrap around the earth at least once.
Fabric design was introduced to me later in life and has become my favorite art form. I'm currently developing marketable items made from my original textiles.
I am also developing an educational program to serve talented under served youth. Send me your email address if you are interested and would like to be kept up to date.

Connections

2009-01-05T02:18:00.012-06:00

Connections, which is the name of this "story" quilt, speaks a little about my family's history. The small ship you see is a whale boat carrying my Great Grandfather & his 3 brothers to America from the Cape Verde Islands (off the west coast of Africa). My Mom’s father & his 3 brothers are leaving Virginia, going north shortly after the end of slavery, to make a better life for themselves. My mom & dad are the 2 people in Rhode Island and the 12 stars at the top are their children (me & my siblings). The first star with the white dove attached, represents the oldest sybling who past away a few years ago. I am 4th in the pecking order. The turtle in the water represents me moving through life, working hard with mind, heart, and hands. I have missed placed this quilt somewhere along the way. Maybe someday soon it will show up.
I created this quilt while involved with a group of 8 women from Red Bird Kentucky and 8 women from Louisville, KY (my city at the time). We were such a diverse group of city & country women. Our cities are 200 miles apart so we met as a group once in Red Bird and once in Louisville to share techniques and inspire each other while we each quilted our stories. When we were finished with our pieces, we met again in Louisville for our Quilts & Stories exhibition at the main branch of the free public library. It was a good show and a good experience. Click on the image to see larger view.

On The Wings Of A Dove

2009-01-04T14:49:00.005-06:00

On the Wings of a Dove : Sept. 1993

Mother spirit weeps for the things she knows we, her children are going through. Drugs, war, poverty, disease, disaster. Maybe, just maybe if we lay aside our egos, our fears, our arms, our greed, and learn the ways of brotherhood, we could set ourselves free to fly on the wings of a dove. Medium: Crayon Batik , on paper "93".
Click on image to see a larger view.

https://www.artistsites.org/ashibey/
click above link to see more original work by Ashi.

Andrea

2009-01-04T02:22:00.011-06:00

This Shoulder Bag named "Andrea"
is in remembrance of Andrea Vance
who died from breast cancer Nov. 2009.

is made from

Hand Dyed Burlap &

purchased African Fabric

Front View and Back View

Click on the image to see larger view.