Big Girl Dreams In Motion

The launch of my “Lifestyle Textiles" collection! 

I have had this dream for a couple of years now to have my own brand of textile designs based on my eco prints and hand-dyed fabrics.  It has been a journey to learn the process of turning the original designs on the fabric into digital surface pattern designs that can be printed and licensed for things like stationery, home décor textiles, quilting fabric, and merchandise. 

On this journey, I have followed a ton of surface pattern designers, taken a bunch of free courses, watched a million YouTube videos, and worked on manifesting my dream.  It has been a fantastic learning curve and I have really been challenged.  As usual, I don’t want to do things the way most people do, and I want it to look soft and natural with the texture of the leaves and the beautiful background of the fabric in the design.  I have been very motivated to figure out how to get the results I want.    

The original core fabrics of this collection were created in the beautiful studio at Artisan Woodworking & Design Gallery. This big vision warehouse/woodworking shop kind of space had enormous and colorfully paned windows that brought in the natural light and great vibes.  Each day I would mordant a big batch of cotton fabric in Aluminum Acetate for the next day of production and haul in miscellaneous branches and leaves to the studio. 

Most all these leaves were gathered from around my neighborhood where they are plentiful and abundant.  I found that my favorite leaves for printing this time of year were Grapevine, Oak, Blackberry, and some Lemon Eucalyptus I had harvested from my garden last year.  I was amazed by the print from the curls of the Grapevine and the pretty dotted lines from the Blackberry leaves.  I loved using the enormous tables where I could spread out my treasures and get lost in the creation process.   

I wanted to experiment with some tannins that I had never used before and it was very interesting to see the differences in the color of the fabrics when using Logwood, Madder and Sandalwood as my tannin bath.  The final bundle was processed in an iron dye bath which enhances the fabric with beautiful black, brown, and purple hints.     

After working on learning surface pattern design for two years I feel like I am finally getting my head around it.  I have come full circle to the point that I have always had what I needed to get where I wanted to go, but just didn't know it then.  Does that make sense?  I have been trying to learn repeat pattern design and cut out the images from my scans when all along it might be the best thing to just put them out there as a whole piece.  Who knows, but I’m going to try it.  Stay tuned. 

Now I am quite content ironing and photographing these pieces and noticing treasures in each one of them.  I quite enjoy that there’s very little color and love the flowing textures created in the dye bath.  Each piece will be photographed and turned into a digital file for printing and will be available for sale through Spoonflower, my website and via my Etsy shop.

If you are part of my online community, I will be sharing info on pre-launch shopping opportunities and information on how to be the first to view this collection. If you are not, please sign up to be on my VIP email list for more info, see more on Instagram and Facebook   Thank you so much for following me on my art journey.  I appreciate you! 

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Eco Printing in Harrison Bay State Park

Everywhere I go I am inspired by nature and the numerous options for experimenting with the eco print process.  The possibilities are literally endless. Since I became a full-time artist I have been able to travel more and I have been eco printing with new plant materials grown in different environments.  Usually my husband, Bo, and I take off on our adventures with our Keystone camper, our G3 fishing boat and our hiking gear. I throw in my "Eco Print Road Trip Kit" and we are off to the woods, lake, or mountains.   It is such a joy to be able to have these great environments as my outdoor eco printing studio.  

In case you don't know what I am referring to when I say "Eco printing", here is a description.  This particular eco-printing process includes sandwiching plant material between layers of fiber/paper, stacked between ceramic tiles that are bound with rubber bands. These bundles are placed in a hot water/dye bath that contains iron and simmered for about an hour and a half.  This process causes the tannins in the plant material to react to the heat, water and iron and release the tannin to transfer the image to the fiber/paper.  I lovingly call it backyard science and I never get tired of peeling back the paper to reveal the image that has been created in the dye bath.

 Eco Print Road Trip Kit

That is why I love taking my simple eco-printing tools along with me on road trips so I can experiment with botanicals in all kinds of natural settings. Regardless of my surroundings, I can always find ways of creating with what the universe has made available to me.  Eco printing can be done with simple ingredients that you can find locally, and you can get started very inexpensively.  I am proud to say that I put together my "Eco Print Road Trip Kit” for around $30.  Here is what I'm using to create in the wild with electricity: my $3.99 stew pot with lid and $5.99 hotplate purchased from Goodwill, tongs, 6" ceramic tiles (4 of these), rubber bands, iron pills (Flintstones+Iron in this case), towels, water, a tray to collect plant material, and paper.  These simple ingredients are all I need for my instant outdoor eco-printing studio with a view and this simple tool kit has been part of creating art in Wyoming, Texas, and various places in Tennessee.

A couple of weeks ago my husband and I loaded up our camper and our fishing boat and headed out to Harrison Bay State Park to spend a few days camping and fishing on Lake Chickamauga. We love going down there to fish because the bass are big and we have had success catching them.  My life fish "the one that got away" is still in that lake and I am on a mission to find it.  A couple of years ago I lost about a 7 pound largemouth bass right at the boat and that has kept me coming back for more!

We enjoy camping in our favorite spot overlooking the marina with a nice view of the lake in this 1200 acre park on the shores of Chickamauga Lake.  There are many beautiful hardwoods that are native to the Southeast in this park and the trees and flowers were beginning to blossom and bud out.  There were hickory blooms, baby blackberry leaves, wildflowers in bright yellow and dogwoods everywhere.  Much to choose from for eco-prints. 

There is usually plenty of fodder and plant material around the campsite to collect and use for printing. I like the challenge of using leaves and blossoms I have found on the ground.  It makes me think of my grandmother’s saying "do the best you can with what you've got".  I enjoy the process and it is especially exciting when something spectacular occurs with found objects and simple ingredients.

Eco-printing this time of year produces very vivid greens and yellows most of the time.  There is simply no tannin in these baby leaves. However, there is such beauty in their simplistic and small details when they print on paper.  I wanted to share the process I followed with you - kind of like my recipe, in hopes that you might want to try it for yourself.  I can't wait to see what results you get in the wild. 

I filled my stew pot about 3/4 full of hot water and 6 Flintstone vitamins +iron, placed it on my hotplate and turned it on high. I allowed the water to boil and stirred the water to ensure the vitamins were dissolved.  I layered plant materials between layers of card stock and stacked them between two 6" ceramic tiles and then bound them with rubber bands on all four sides and around the middle.  I placed this bundle in the stew pot and put the lid on to boil for 60 minutes.  I removed the bundle with my tongs and placed it on the towel to drain for a few minutes.  Once it was cool enough to handle I put my gloves on and carefully dismantled the bundle one layer at a time.  I removed the rubber bands from the bundle while keeping the stack intact between the ceramic tiles and placed this stack on the table.  I removed the top ceramic tile carefully and slowly peeled back each layer of paper to reveal the print beneath. It was magical!   

Please let me know if you try this method and send me pictures of your results!  I will be sharing more recipes and techniques via my online community and would love for you to be a part of it.  Please sign up for my newsletter to receive the info and to learn more about eco-printing in the wild!   

Our tour of the Kendrick Arboretum was such a great jumping-off point for me.  I was inspired and excited as I left there with new knowledge of some of Wyoming’s native trees.  

We made our way from Sheridan, Wyoming to Dayton where we would check into the Tongue River Artist in Residency Program for two weeks. 

I anticipated grand results through eco printing with new plant materials in this very different environment.  I knew the climate, elevation, amount of rainfall and access to water would be very different from my surroundings in Tennessee.  I expected different results just because of the difference in the environment and looked forward to the experiments.

Hey!  I'm so glad you stopped by!  Let me catch you up on what's been going on. 

I am a fiber artist and I specialize in fine art images made from plant materials using\the eco print process.  My husband and I have been on a road trip to Dayton, Wyoming where I spent two weeks at the Tongue River Artist in Residency program. Two weeks of blissful art creation using native western plant materials in my eco printing while under the influence of the culture and beauty of the land in this beautiful area. I had a gallery space to share my art with the community and was given the opportunity to deliver a presentation and share the story of my work with the local community.  It was an inspirational adventure that allowed me to immerse myself in my work and experiment to my heart's content.

Are we there yet?

If you are just now following this adventure, my husband and I are on a road trip to Dayton, Wyoming where I will spend two weeks at the Tongue River Artist in Residency program. Two weeks of blissful art creation using native western plant materials while under the influence of the culture and the beauty of the land in this beautiful area. I will have gallery space to share my art with the community and will be giving a short presentation about my work and how it is created. I am so grateful for this opportunity. 

I

I am honored and proud to announce that I have been accepted to the Tongue River Artist Residency in Dayton, Wyoming!

I look forward to going to the Cowboy state for two weeks to experience the beauty and magnificence of the Bighorn Mountains.  The beautiful town of Dayton (population ~1000) will be a fantastic opportunity for me to step away from the day-to-day here at home and immerse myself in the beauty of northern Wyoming.

Sharing good vibes only!  

Indulge in the luxurious comfort and exquisite feel of my 100% silk scarves. Each scarf in my collection is meticulously designed and handcrafted, making it a true work of art.

Drawing from my expertise in various textile techniques, including quilting, fabric dyeing, silk painting, and eco printing, I have created scarves that are as unique as they are beautiful. No two scarves are exactly alike, ensuring that you have a one-of-a-kind accessory that sets you apart from the rest.

I take great care in every step of the creation process. Each scarf begins with thoughtfully selected materials, ensuring the highest quality and durability.

To enhance the visual appeal, I utilize fabric dyeing techniques that allow me to achieve a wide range of vibrant and harmonious colors. Whether you prefer rich jewel tones, earthy naturals, or soft pastels, our scarf collection offers an array of options to suit your individual style and taste.

Silk painting, a meticulous art form in itself, is also incorporated into my scarves. This technique allows me to create stunning, hand-painted designs that showcase the beauty of the silk and add a personal touch to each piece.

Lastly, I incorporate the eco printing technique, which involves pressing leaves and flowers between layers the fabric, resulting in delicate and intricate imprints of nature's beauty. This process adds a touch of organic charm to our scarves, creating a connection to the natural world that is both captivating and sustainable.

Wrapped in my luxurious silk scarves, you will not only experience the utmost comfort and sophistication but also the pride of owning a truly unique and handcrafted accessory. Elevate your style and allow your individuality to shine with a scarf that reflects the passion and creativity poured into its creation and wear it because it gives you peace and joy.