A lovely day at a sale...

The pop-up art show known as Calyx is over for another year. I set up my clothing racks and hung the shirts and oversized scarves on it. I also had the table beside, and my regular sized scarves on a rack by it.

Lots of people were really taken with the EcoPrinting and I was very happy with the reception the process received and comments I heard. Thanks to everyone for shopping local and supporting YYC artists. I have two more sales at the end of November:

Contextural Christmas Artisan Sale - SATURDAY - November 19
10am - 6pm

Christ Church Elbow Park
3602-8th Street SW CALGARY

 

click for info

and
Christmas Market Sale - SAT/SUN - November 26/27
11am - 5pm
TBA - details are being finalized
NW CALGARY

EcoPrinting ... Natural Dyes... Botanical Prints...

Whatever you call it, I love doing it!
I spent the entire month of July at the Artist Residency printing clothing. After bundling them around different plant material and cooking them, the best part is opening up the packages and seeing what surprises there are for you.

At the end of the summer I have a rack of 70 pieces of clothing and the hardest part is picking 50 out to take to the Calyx Distinctive Arts show and sale on Saturday. (Good thing I have two more sales in November.)

I bought some display equipment and have been planning how to do a layout on it. This is the first stab at it. I will post from the sale tomorrow what the final display looked like.

Also on these racks I will have the oversized shawl scarves I dyed/printed.

In silk:

Silk Fleece:

Silk and cotton:

Silk and Cashmere:

Cashmere:

And then there are the 50 regular-sized Devore silk-rayon blend scarves + solid silks scarves + velvet scarves. I am ready!

More EcoPrinted clothing

By using up-cycled clothing that I scour second hand shops for, spending hours searching for natural fibres (silks, linens, cashmere, cottons, wool, modal) in natural colours, I am always impressed with the amazing 'finds' I can uncover.

Here are three silk garments, but each with very different properties.

This is a very fine KNITTED fabric in 100% silk, in a turtleneck style:

This is a sleeveless, light-weight habotai 100% silk blouse:

And this is a heavier 100% silk blouse that drapes very nicely. It has a glossy finish to the fabric and quite a substantial hand to it:

Scarves for sale!

Once all the actual dyeing is completed I spend weeks washing, ironing, then labeling every piece in my studio. I usually only do this for the Calyx show in the spring and the fall but this year I have three different sales in the next two months. Seems to make it a little more worthwhile!

Washed and ironed now hanging nicely on hangars:

 

Labelled with what plants are used in printing, and care instructions:

 

Starting to pack (softly folded into a large bag):

I always have a huge inventory in my studio, so if you're ever looking for a gift for yourself or someone else, or just interested in the process, come and visit me!

Other items for Calyx

I have been busy over the summer in the ACAD Fibre Studio doing lots of dyeing and printing.

Along with the EcoPrinted clothing I will also have these items at Calyx:

Velvet Devore silk-rayon small bags (~5" x 7")

Baby toques in 100% cotton, in newborn and infant sizes. Super cute when knotted on the end!

Pyrography.

CALYX DISTINCTIVE ARTS - SHOW AND SALE

After a very busy summer, spent in a 3-month residency in the Fibre Art Department at the Art College, then a couple of exhibits around town (I will post about these later)...

It's that time again - fall sales! I am going to be in three different ones this year. This first one is next weekend and the other two are at the end of November (more about them later).

I am taking part in the Calyx Distinctive Arts Show and Sale on SATURDAY, October 22 from 10am -4pm. This show is a classic and it's classy! Paintings, sculptures, ceramics and more. The best time is to arrive early. This is not a play! Really. Early is better as many people are in-the-know about this show and arrive to collect new work from their favourite artists.

I have a massive amount of silk scarves that I Eco-Dyed over the summer, as well as Eco-Printed up-cycled clothing. I have added a line of oversized scarves, out of some gorgeous fibres like cashmere, pashmina, superfine silk and fine linens.

Hope you can make it for a visit...

Clothing:

And the oversize scarves:

More necklaces for Calyx

During my travels last fall I have been stitching the bodies of my KEEPSAKE POUCHES and their 2000 stitches done with needle and a waxed linen thread. I have now decorated them with buttons and beads in preparation for Calyx this weekend. Here are shots of them with the semi-precious stones that are contained within and the spiritual properties of each. What can you add to yours?

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Red Jasper

Red jasper is a stone of fairness and justice. It decreases unjustness and helps in unfair situations. It enhances responsibility, choice, and compassion. It can enhance dream recall and assist in protection and rescue from danger. It is also a stone that helps in all areas of survival, and is a very protective stone.

Quartz

Clear quartz crystal is a power stone that harmonizes and balances. It enhances energy and thoughts, and purifies the spiritual, mental, and physical. It is also a powerfully protective stone, bringing the purified energy in. Due to its ability to balance, quartz is excellent for harmonizing and balancing one's environment. Quartz is also good for energizing other crystals.

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Carnelian

Carnelian is a healing stone that counteracts feelings of apathy, fear and rage. It fosters a feeling of peace within and without. It also imparts self-confidence and inspired verbal and written communication.

Red Jasper

Red jasper is a stone of fairness and justice. It decreases unjustness and helps in unfair situations. It enhances responsibility, choice, and compassion. It can enhance dream recall and assist in protection and rescue from danger. It is also a stone that helps in all areas of survival, and is a very protective stone.

Leopardskin Jasper

Leopardskin is a stone that aids in service to others – it helps to discover and connect. It makes it easier for one to take responsibility properly and it helps with creative visualization. As with all jaspers, this is a protective stone.

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Blue Lace Agate
Blue Lace Agate is a great choice for self-expression; it makes it much easier to express oneself, it helps one to speak their truth and makes it easier to convey your thoughts while speaking. This stone also works directly with the nervous system to alleviate physical tension, it is very calming and people who are agitated are drawn to its energy.

Amethyst
Promotes inner calm & peace, initiates wisdom & understanding. It works in the emotional, spiritual, and physical planes to provide calm, balance, patience, and peace. It engenders courage and inner strength.

Amazonite
Amazonite is an extremely soothing stone. It calms the brain and nervous system. It is a stone that helps you to see both sides of a problem or different points of view. It soothes emotional trauma, alleviates worry and fear; it dispels negative energy and aggravation.

 

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Pillows, pillows, pillows!

While I was dyeing with neighbourhood plant material last fall for my clothing line (see earlier posts) I would also throw some upholstery fabrics in that I had been gifted. First I culled the pile for only natural fibres (100% silk, linen, cotton were the most common) and added them to various simmering pots.

I have spent the past month making pillows - boy, are they a lot of work!

The sizes range from 14"x14" up to 20"x20". The silk has the most amazing shimmer and the patterning on some are great. I am very happy with how they turned out. And finally got outside today (on our 27c day) to do some photography. Here they are...

Here are most of them lined up for front and back pics:

Wrap around - 2 different silks front and back:

100% silk bolster:

Cotton printed front with black cotton back for contrast:

Close ups of two patterned silks:

CALYX DISTINCTIVE ART - SHOW AND SALE

It's that time again!

I will be showing on SATURDAY, April 23th only.

This is a juried art show and sale where 30 different artists show separately on each day!

I have many different types of silk scarves that I dye over the summer.
Plus I will have jewellery (brooches and necklaces) and lots of wall art.

All of my art is TEXTILE based, whether it is paper, natural fibres - animal (silk or wool) or plant (cotton, rayon), synthetic fibres - nylon, polyester (all the better for burning!) and all with a component of STITCH.

I will also have some eco-printed pillows made from silk, linen, or cotton upholstery fabrics I dyed with my clothing last fall.

CALYX time again - 30th annual

I will be showing on SATURDAY, October 24th only.

This is a juried art show and sale where 30 different artists show separately on each day!

I have many different types of silk scarves that I dye over the summer.
Plus I will have jewellery (brooches and necklaces) and lots of wall art.

All of my art is TEXTILE based, whether it is paper, natural fibres - animal (silk or wool) or plant (cotton, rayon), synthetic fibres - nylon, polyester (all the better for burning!) and all with a component of STITCH.

Calyx 2

I have been working on small things for this year's "new" pieces because of the on-going kitchen renovation and the plaster dust in my studio!

But I managed to make some butterfly and moose...

The moose are so cute, with lots of personality and I have framed then a couple of different ways:

 burlap wrapped canvases (love them!)

 and shadow boxes

 

And the butterfly are in two different shapes with most of them brooches, and a couple that I put into frames:

 

Hope to see anyone who lives in the Calgary area on Saturday at the Crescent Heights Community Centre at 1101 - 2nd Street NW from 10am to 4pm.

 

Bi-annual CALYX show and sale in Calgary!

I will be showing on SATURDAY, May 2nd only.

This is a juried art show and sale where 30 different artists show separately on each day!

I have many different types of silk scarves that I dye over the summer along with my version of up-cycled cotton ones that I create.
Plus I will have jewellery (brooches and necklaces) and lots of wall art.

All of my art is TEXTILE based, whether it is paper, natural fibres - animal (silk or wool) or plant (cotton, rayon), synthetic fibres - nylon, polyester (all the better for burning!) and all with a component of STITCH.

Life after Calyx

Calyx was a great day on Saturday, visiting with lots of people and discussing textiles with everyone. I sold lots of art pieces, silk scarves, and jewellery. But now that that rush is over it is time to hit the mountains!

Today we headed out to Grassi Lakes, just outside of Canmore. I can't believe that I have lived in Calgary for 30 years and have never done this super popular hike. A weekday in late October is a perfect time to do it as it is usually packed with locals and tourists.

Yesterday was an amazing fall day of 21c and sun. Today was overcast and quite a bit cooler but that was okay for hiking.
Heading west, out of town... The skies to the NW had hints of blue sky and sun peeking through but looking SW it was pretty dark over the mountains!

We took the "difficult trail" up, much more scenic through the trees heading towards the waterfalls. It started spitting rain so I had to borrow Dave's hat (he had a hood) - it was not too bad as anyone who knows me knows how difficult it is for me to find one that looks half-decent on me!

Then above the waterfalls it got interesting with lots of scree and rundlestone steps - lots of vertical covered!

But the lakes make it worthwhile!
There are two, the Lower Grassi

and the Upper Grassi, and they are famous for their colours. Keep in mind this was a dull day and look at how the colours still shine!

And the shadows of the mountain above made for great reflections from some other people who showed up just in time to be photographed across the lake!

Then we climbed above the Upper Lake to the pictographs and the canyon that goes further on to another dam. (Note the rock climbers over Dave's head.)

 

Turning back and heading down the mountain. Here is the view of the two lakes, the reservoir below them, and the town of Canmore on the valley floor.

And Dave ran into a little friendly chipmunk.

For the hike down, we took the "easy trail" (a service road), just to check out the different option. Quite boring in comparison to the hike up through the woods.

As we left the sun broke out from behind the clouds...

And the sunset this evening was quite lovely back in town. Nice soft fall colours...