Soy Painting and Watercolor Pigment

Thank you so much Charlotte for presenting to us how she uses how soy and watercolor pigment to create some of her art.  If you missed the meeting ask Charlotte for her handout.  It will be more in depth on some topics than I will cover here.

Is anyone besides me fascinated by what people come up with when creating?  Never would I have thought to process soybeans to use as a binder or medium for pigment to be applied to paper or fabric.  But that is what happens when you wisely ignore convention.  Let loose the imagination ladies!

Let's start with an example of Charlotte's work to whet your creative appetite for soy watercolor painting.

Beautiful example of painting with watercolors using the soy milk as the medium. So impressive in person.  It is titled 'Sunset at Falls Park'  She is pointing to a place on the ridge she had to change the fabric in order to achieve the right shading for the sun.  The tree is done with tulle. It really made it pop.  The quilting done on the water really expressed the wild flow.

So how is it done?  I am going to include some references she made in her presentation at the bottom of this post.  They are primarily linking to Fiber Artist John Marshall who is a pioneer of this method and to Subversive Stitches which covers some things John Marshall does not. If ou can find the quilting arts magazine in which they cover him and this method it is worth trying to find and purchase.  Charlotte says it is quite comprehensive.  I also included a link to a woman - a gross woman - who also uses soy and pigment in her art.  Funny and disgusting.  She is the hit of NYC.

Charlotte basically discussed the two applications for soy milk and fabric.
1)  As A whole fabric pretreat:  Briefly, apply soy milk to the fabric before you paint it, let it cure anywhere from 2 to 30 days flat or hung taughtly  (so it stretches it) on a quasi hammock.  The result is a fabric that really allows pigment to embed into the fabric and keeps it from wicking.
2)  Use soy milk instead of water to thin watercolor pigment that will then be painted onto the fabric.

She really went into #2. which is the method she uses.  She does not pretreat. She does note that if you don't use PDF (which I think means pre-dyed fabric) that you should pre-wash the fabric to get the sizing out of it before you start painting with the soy and pigment.

What she does is she uses the soy milk instead of water and applies the (watercolor) pigment/soy to the fabric.  It really makes the pigment soak into the fabric and fixes it into it.  She keeps water available only to clean the brushes.  So she keeps it out of reach so she doesn't accidentally dip into water instead of milk.

She said she has a separate pallet for the paints she uses with soy.  Why?  It can get funky.
Cindy O. noted that soy milk can turn white fabric slightly yellow.

OK onto more eye candy. I think you can click on the pic to enlarge it for detailed examination.

Soy milk watercolor and thread painting of Oregon Coast

Early work.  Oregon Coast

Horseshoe Bend.   It is totally painted, then thread painted. The bush on the front was created separately and then appliquéd with a sewing machine and clear thread.  To make the bush she used strips of batik which she knotted, bunched up and sewed to a piece of netting she had stretched in an embroidery hoop.

 Be sure to click on this pic to see the quilting.  I didn't take notes on this because I was picture taking but I think she said this is inspired by her sister.  Her sister being the menacing bird getting ready to grab a big hunk of her hair.  Oh wait - I am projecting.  Her sister - I am sure - is a lovebird.

 Another scene from the diverse and beautiful Moab.  I went up to have a look at it during the break.  Very intricate placement of fabric in the trunk on the foreground.  Raw edge appliqued with bits of little pieces of fabric to make that look so good.   Same for the background shrubs and foreground grasses.  Excuse that overly technical description...😏.  A few of us enjoyed talking about how our mountains would look if we attempted those shadows.  Well done Char.  Your work is very appreciated by our group.

Charlotte said that she draws the scene a few times on paper before she puts it down on the cloth.  She uses all sorts of fabric including simple muslin.  In the pic right above there is a piece right under the landscape - it is tulips.  It was done on muslin.  The tulips were inspired from her neighbors tulips that bloomed underneath a tree.  I think I may have been envisioning it and forgot to snap a pic.

Finally here she has sunflowers and demure bird.  Thread painting and some terrific bead work in the flowers.  She had a companion piece to this, but I didn't snap it.

Gigantic thank you Char for sharing your work and methods plus you really kept us all enthralled and had us laughing over the mold (you had to be there) and were very sporting when you gave us a live example of how to apply it to a pre painted piece (which you decided to do on the fly).  It is no small thing to get up in front of us IMO.

If you live in Hurricane Nickie Heying is offering to share some newly purchased soybeans.  She bought them at Natural Grocer off of Green Springs.  2lbs bag for 2.98.
Bob's Red Mill also sells them so you might find them right there in the regular grocery.  You can also try Dixie Nutrition if you live in STG.




Links:

John Marshall's Making & Basics of Soy Milk
Vid Applying Soymilk Sizing to Whole Cloth
Subversive Stitchers' Post on Marshall and his methods
Slightly related but wholly disgusting video. Made me laugh

Group Name Change

Did you miss the meeting?  Bummer.... because we voted to change the name of our group.  Thankfully the vast majority of us agreed on the new name: "Southern Utah Fiber Artists (SUFA)".  Thank you to everyone who submitted ideas.  Some of them were so clever and others really funny and apt, but we oped for a more professional name because as Barbara Nilsson stated in her last minute campaign for SUFA "When we submit our work for show or review (and win) it is best to have a more professional name".  I shouldn't have put quotes around that since I can't remember her exact words, but that was the gist.

About the blog.  If you are just reading this in your mail, consider clicking thru to the blog and reading there.  Why?  Because there are pictures there!

OK, blog post on all the other stuff we did in the meeting and all the fabulous show and tells to come later this week.

And for grins:

Show and Tell for October 2017

You know what struck me during October's Show and Tell?  Not just the wide variety of work, but how many good ideas people have.  Did everyone leave the meeting inspired? 

So what did the ladies bring in for us to see? 

 Barbara kicked things off with her Bodacious Bloomers.  I believe she raw edge appliqued the fussy cut flowers to fabric and then mounted it to a frame.

Here Barbara had a focus fabric which she framed with fabric, ribbons and other things onto washout stabilizer, sewed it down with interesting thread and washed it out, then embellished.

 

Her second piece is a flower and leaf appliqued table runner.  So pretty!

Next up is Patty VanOrt.  She brought in her Christmas tree which was a print which she colored in with crayon. How pretty it turned out.

 Patty also brought in another print she colored in and I think she added a bit of patchwork.  A nice effect.

Now.  I wasn't quick enough to catch Jan Kalian with both of her glasses perched on her nose.  You godda be quick!  She was working on this millifiore.  It is going to be something!  She has a lot of patience.

Melanie Wilson brought in numerous hand copied coloring blocks.  I was wondering if she was wishing Margaret Abramshe had given her presentation about photocopying onto fabric before her family reunion.  She handed them out to the children at the reunion to create their own art.

 Here is what one child came up with.  She is going to take all their work. make a quilt and auction it off to a family member. 

 Nickie Heying brought in her first prize winning piece she entered into the Peach Day Challenge - via the Zion Piecemakers.  There is a lot going on here!  I think I see that she used the selvedges as a background, applique, painting, various quilting methods and a bloom in relief.  Nice work Nickie and congratulations!

Charm Crumrine brought in a photo of her granddaughter that she had transferred to fabric on Spooflower.  How prescient was she to bring this in that evening!  I bet she left with some good ideas for what to do with Regan.  I think she mentioned having her walk on clouds, but don't hold her to that.  Cute idea though!

Darlend Mann brought in a crayon watercolor of Fall leaves.  I think someone asked how permanent the crayons are...

Sue Gilgen offered a definitive answer.   At least 70 years.  Her father drew this in 1947 and colored it with crayons.  Later Sue finished it and quilted it.

Sue also brought in an award winning (first place) quilt she did after a long hiatus from quilting (she was living overseas for a while).  She didn't know if she still had it in her to create beautiful things.  Turns out she still had it. I can't remember the show she entered, but I do recall that she said it was a more traditional leaning group and those traditional ladies chose her quilt as their favorite.  Never box in a quilter, much less a big group of them.

Sharon Friedman brought in a long labor of love she is calling “Metamorphosis” .  She changed up the pattern by making a standout medallion on point for her center.  The quilting and applique on this quilt is gorgeous.  She will be entering this in a show and we all wish her luck!

Caroll Lee Stoltz brought in two watercolor landscapes which she thread painted.

Last but not least Cheryl Styler brought in a work in progress Barbara Olsen inspired bloom.  Starting was the hardest part, but she had a ruthless taskmaster spurring her on.  It is coming together Cheryl!

See ya in November ladies!

The Metaphysical Quilter - Margaret Abramshe

Margaret - a self portrait

Hi ladies,

I know everyone got Margaret's email with the PDF of her presentation (thank you Margaret), but I thought a little recap to memorialize it would be nice.

 First, BIG thank you to Margaret for such an excellent presentation that was so interesting, informative and entertaining.  There was a general sense in the room that we need to broaden our minds about what exactly an art quilt can be.

To refresh your memory, she showed her art's progression and how she found her "voice" in her work.  Currently she is doing some really fascinating work thru manipulating photos, having that image put onto fabric and then really bringing it to life and making it unique through artistic embellishment.

I am going to include a couple pictures and the links she provided for the tools she uses and to her website. 

*Do I need to say I am no photographer?

Spoonflower (commercial fabric printed from your image.) 

Spray Adhesive  (to spray on paper for printing on your home printer)

Definition of an Art Quilt (from SAQA, the organization that defined art quilting)

Margaret's Website (You can read her blog, check out quilts, and find out more about what she does!)

Selections of her work on Pinterest  (why not follow her?)

It was delightful getting to know you through your work Margaret!

Meeting Minutes for October

Hello Ladies,
Hope the week since we met has been a fruitful one in craft and in life.
Until I can sort out linking PDF's from Googledocs to our blog, I am going to simply going to post the meeting minutes.  Hope that's OK.

So without further ado (Thank you Sharon for taking such terrific notes and sending them out not on a PDF):

Fiber Arts Rebels

October 3, 2017 Minutes 

6:00 - Welcome by Cheryl

• Sign-up Sheet for “Teaching Opportunities”.  If you would like to teach a class at our upcoming meetings, please sign up.  This form was passed around during class.
• Pot luck dinner will be in December.
• November meeting will be taught by either Char or Carol Lee.  TBD
• January meeting will be Thread Painting, taught by Sue Gilgen
• Carol Lee Stolz volunteered to by Cheryl Styler’s assistant

6:10 - 7:00  -  Presentation on Art Quilts by Margaret Abramshe (the Metaphysical Quilter)

Margaret shared some of her award-winning quilts, and did a power-point presentation that took us through her creative process.  Her resume is extensive and includes her work being featured in many quilt shows nationally, her teaching background, as well as her authoring a book on the subject of art quilts.  This presentation will be sent out to all via e-mail, but the highlights of the presentation include:

Definition of art quilts:  A creative visual work that is layered and stitched.  (Emphasis:  No batting necessary.)

Reasons for creating:

• Exploring stories starting with a photograph
• Documenting one’s life in an art quilt
• Allowing deeper thinking about life, as well as finding joy

Process:

• Sent to Spoon Flower, who prints your photo on Kona Cotton, or other selected fabric, for a fee of approx. $15. - $20., depending on size
• Use dyes, pencils, acrylics, your choice of mediums, and “paint” then “stitch the heck out of it!”
• Use unstaged, photos, not portraits
• Use Photoshop to “clear your foundations,” add color, etc.

Tips: 

• Thread adds texture, color, value, so don’t be afraid to use it
• Write down tension for every kind of thread you use
• Bottom-line thread by Superior is always used as bobbin thread.
• “Champagne” Bottom-line thread best color to use in bobbin.
• Paper is cotton, can be sewn into quilt
• DIVE IN!  Don’t be afraid to try anything
• Quilting Arts magazine an excellent source of inspiration and examples
• Best way to get a project into a show:  A great photograph (might want it professionally photographed) 

How to Make a Project at Home:  Directions for process will be e-mailed

7:00 - 7:10  Break

7:10 - 7:15  Announcements and Concerns

• Shannan Shaw would like to put information, ideas, etc., on blog, so please sent information to her.  No one has sent anything yet!  If you see something interesting, send it to her.  Also, if you have not received an invite to be on the blog, let her know and she will send it to you and help get you on.  Her e-mail address is deleted from the blog (😇)
• There is a request to change the name of our group.  Sue Gilgen pointed out that a group name should reflect what we do and who we are.  After a brief discussion, Cheryl asked that we e-mail suggested names for the group to her before Oct. 17.
• An embroidery class will be taught by Carol Lee Stolz.

 7:25 - 7:55 - Show and Tell - That is for an upcoming blog post.

7:55 - 8:00:  Closing remarks by Cheryl Styler

• Reminder about Mesquite Contest
• Joe the Quilter.com—please go online, and check out his web site.  We’re considering bringing him to St. George to teach a class.

Looking for Entries Mesquite Fine Arts "Lucky 13" Exhibition

From our member Carroll Lee Stolz:

At the Dixie Quilt Guild meeting last Saturday, I was approached by Doreen Kincaid, quilter and artist from Mesquite, NV. She asked me to invite fiber artists to apply to the Mesquite Fine Arts Gallery for an exhibit to take place beginning November 6, 2017.  The exhibition is called "Lucky Thirteen", and requisites for submission include a small finished size; "Maximum size 13" x 13" x 5" deep, including frame. (Please see the information page for the entire requirements for submission).  There are nice cash awards, too!

In our quest for Fiber Art and Quilted Art to be recognized and exhibited as fine art, it would be wonderful to have members of our club submit to this event. Doreen is encouraging that particular gallery to include "FABRIC" art in their exhibits, and now is our opportunity!

Competition information can be found on line at:MesquiteFineArtsCenter.com,  (We will try to include the PDF below.  If not head on over via the link.

I am sure many of us already have pieces of the small required size. If not, the size allows for quick design and execution. We could maybe even think of finishing the piece you made in our last workshop meeting with the water-soluble crayons!! 

-Carroll Lee S

info and entry form link

ABFAR. In Pictures.

ABFAR.  Art Before Fiber Artist Rebels.

Some ladies brought in some examples of the fiber art they have worked on before joining the group.  What an interesting and varied group we have.  Thank you brave ladies!  It will be fun to see the evolution and progression of one another's art plus it gives the rest of us inspiration for our own work!

OK without further ado...

A mystery artist with her beautiful "Baltimore Harvest" by Pearl Periera she created in applique.
                                                  

Ah it is Cheryl back behind there.  Good to know that face.  She is the lady leading our rabble. Thank you Cheryl!

Next up - our photographer for this post.  Barbara.  My camera gave her some problems, but saved the day and took the pics on her phone.  Thank you my sweet friend.  She brought three pieces.
To the left here we have her self portrait.  I think she captured herself pretty well.  She fancies herself with red hair.  Hey its her piece.  I draw myself thin. So... Anyway back to the art.  It is an applique.  I love that she is sporting a scarf in her art and IRL.  To the right is her Fall scene in applique including raw edge, thread painting and Angelina leaves done in relief. 

Barbara also brought this abstract made by reverse appliqueing. It was a table runner but she cut it down to a wall hanging.

Here we have Judy's (hands) holding up a bevy of children's appliqued quilts depicting a dinosaur with flowers, a puppy and a pig (the pig was distracted by a plate of bacon and ran from the picture frame apparently).  So cute.  She creates these cuties for a business.

On to Charm's (her parents just knew) "Abandoned Irish Cottage".  She took a photo, had it printed to fabric and then embellished it with paint (watercolor and acrylic), thread painting, stab stitching and felted sheep.  She is still working on it as a challenge project for using multiple fiber manipulations on one piece.  Well done!

 

Here we have Cindy's "Sunshine".  Fitting.  A lady who is always the picture of sunshine!  She did it in applique and then slathered it with beads and Swarovski crystals.

Carroll Lee brought in a few pieces.  Up first is a coneflower.  It is done on 4 layers.  Two cotton, 1 batting and then.... hand died dryer sheets.  Yep.  Bounce. That's one of the reasons we are here ladies.  What a fun and interesting technique!  Then she beaded it.

 Here is Carroll Lee's "Midnight Snack".  OK the Robin's snack.  For the record Carroll Lee does not eat worms. It was created in multiple steps of masking and discharging with bleach.  She will be explaining how she does it in an upcoming meeting.  Stay tuned.

 This is a closeup photo of a mexican petunia that lives in her front yard. She sent it into Spoonflower (like Charm did) to be printed on a yard of fabric.  The only thing she knows for sure is there will be some undulating zigzig stitching going on.  But the possibilities are endless... if you have the skills.  

Here we have Ann showing one of her darling purses.  She makes quite a few and all are completely different.  She is going to be selling some of her gems in an upcoming craft sale at Sun River.

 Last but not least we have Cathie and Charlotte.  They took a newfangled (a technical artist like term) crazy quilting class from Judith Baker Monsanto.  These are their works of art in progress from that class.  They had photos laid on silk, water colored over them and then crazy quilted.

Wasn't that an interesting sampling?  So much to learn and appreciate.  I think there is equal passion to teach and to learn in our group.  Lots of new techniques to share and what fun we will have seeing how each of us applies them and maybe some of the more experienced ladies will find inspiration from those of us (coughmecough) for whom this is all new.  What will we come up with?  Ut oh... the pressure's on!

Thank you to those brave ones who brought in their work.