SHIBORI GIRL MOONS

This past year I participated in

Glennis Dolce's Moon of the Month subscription

and received 2 Indigo dipped moons every month 

with a complete list of the fabrics used and any other tidbits she wanted us to know

about the making or significance of them.

She just started it up again and it's not to late to subscribe for 2023.

It was so much fun never knowing what size and shaped moons she'd create

 and what special fabrics she'd use,

oftentimes cutting into old kimonos she's brought back with her from Japan.

Glennis also has a tour guided trip to Japan this year that looks amazing.

I believe there are a few spots left too.

Glennis is a wealth of information on Japan and Shibori.

She also offers many other courses, cards and pieces she has made,

 several of them she has slow stitched into banners and bags.

Above are only a few of the 24 moons she sent out this past year.

With the December moons she also sent out six different rabbit silhouettes 

that she suggested we stitch onto a few of the moons 

since this is the year of the Rabbit.

I did a few and wasn't sure if I liked them,

 but when I saw this pix of them I think I might do a couple more 

before I sew them together in some type of banner.

My dear blogger friend Liz from I'm going to Texas

also participated in the monthly moons

 and has already started to sew hers onto a Quilt top.

Can't wait to see how it turns out!

TRYING TO COVER UP SOME STAINS

I thrifted this adorable child's top that had been stained in a few places.

So first I tried to Eco-dye it with leaves and flowers from garden.

It was a big fail.

Next I stitched a few Shibori designs into it that I had seen on Glennis Dolce's site,

and dipped into my indigo vat.

Better but still not perfect.

Not sure where I'll go next with this,

but I'm thinking to embroider around the designs to take one's eye off the stains.

Or just maybe put it aside for a couple of years.

I might be over it.

MORE SHIBORI SAMPLERS

    In the Tuesday Nite Fiber Arts class I've been teaching for about a year and a half now,

we tried out many samplers.

These are a few of mine I experimented with. 

A simple dandelion (note: I forgot to pull the string for the stem above),

thus the stem looks lighter in value then the leaves and flower after stitching was removed.

Also, 

that old thrifted sheeting must have had some oil spots that weren't removed in the cleaning.

I will probable stitch a few bugs over top them.

I believe I've mentioned several times that I love when things like that go wrong.

It forces me to think of more creative solutions.

In this next piece,

 I'm sorry I was too lazy to go back and rotate it to match the finish product below.

Here it is pulled tightly ready for the dip into the indigo bath.

And below after the stitches were removed.

Here is another that I didn't''t bother to rotate,

and it's pulled form below.

The result below.

For some reason I stopped taking photos at this point,

 but managed to get the end result which I really loved here.

It almost feels like a Native American Medicine Wheel.

I also want you to note that unlike the flag I posted the other day,

none of these pieces turned out as bright blue as the flag did.

That's because all of us were using the same vat with many experiments and it became a bit depleted.

So the blue is much more subdued in these samples.

The next time I use the indigo vat I will replenish it.

I was trying to remember the other day how long I've had this vat going

 so I actually went back and searched the blog.

I went back to June 30th, 2012 in a post titled "Shibori Workshop-Part I"

where Long Beach, Ca. artist Shibori Girl Glennis Dolce came to my home/studio

 to teach my students and I the art of Shibori and Indigo Dyeing.

Glennis is a wonderful teacher, 

a fountain of information, 

 and actually grew up in Japan speaking the language.

(I believe she was an army brat there)

Glennis is still teaching thru her website and also at the Japanese American Museum in Los Angeles.

She travels every year back to Japan,

usually leading a tour of Fiber Artists to shop and learn more.

If you ever get a chance I would at lest recommend a visit to her blog and shop.

(Address above)

 

MOONMATES

Shibori Girl Glennis Dolce

is one of my favorite go to Fiber Artists

 who specializes in several Japanese Textile traditions. 

I recently learned that Glennis grew up in Japan 

and tries to return at least once a year;

many times leading a tour group to her favorite haunts,

a trip that is definitely on my bucket list.

Two weeks ago I ordered several of her lovely moons that she creates.

If you visit her blogsite you will she makes video tutorials 

so you can learn from her and see her process.

And she is a patient, inspirational teacher.

She calls them Moonmate tutorials.

I love the moons she picked for me on all types of different fabrics above!

She also has Shibori and Sashiko dyed and stitched pieces to purchase

and other amazing textiles.

In one of her tutorials I watched her working on this banner and feel in love.

I am currently decorating a room in my son's new/old home because I send the night when I drive up. 

He and his wife Nicole recently purchased a single family home in the San Fernando Valley

(in the same neighborhood that actor Brian Cranston grew up in)

and because of the long trek there thru the bumper to bumper Los Angeles Fwy system 

it's not worth it to drive up and back on the same day.

So the kids gave me my own room.

How about that!!!!!!

So my plan has been to decorate it in a bit of a Japanese style 

with lots of  Shibori textiles, handmade ceramics, 

and handmade wood pieces.

The color scheme is complimentary blues and rusty oranges.

And this banner by Glennis is my most recent purchase for the room.

One of my favorite parts of the banner are the 3 small wool squares that are dyed and beaded.

Brilliant!

And her stitching flows so beautifully about piece in a very organic yet controlled  way,

which is right up my alley.

And check out her sweet little moons along the bottom.

In her tutorial when stitching this piece you can see how she uses her thimble.

It's a special one for Sashiko and is worn on the inside of the hand.

You've got to check it out.

Fascinating!

SHIBORI GIRL - GLENNIS DOLCE

A friend that I made thru blogging,

Glennis Dolce,

a local So.Cal. expert in the art of Shibori,

takes an eager group of students to Japan every year and always returns with treasures.

This year in her shop,

 I was able to purchase many of the pieces listed below in her letter. 

She bundled the letter around the precious remnants,

and they did not disappoint.

Below are shoots and close-ups of all that I bought.

I've been thinking about what to use them for.

 So far I have a favorite pair of jeans that the holes have become too large in,

 I think I might cut off a piece of each fabric to mend them with.

After that I'm not sure.

the family crest button a top an indigo dyed loosely woven fabric

a vintage piece of boro cloth

two different pieces of Ikat dyed and woven fabric

close up below

two more pieces of Ikat

Just a note.

I did learn the art of Ikat dyeing and weaving in college (1979),

and I remember how extremely time consuming and difficult it was 

so it is fabulous to see the real thing in person.

honestly, I'm not sure what this cloth is called.

got to do some research.

but isn't it lovely?

you can see how old it is where the two worn areas are.

This last one is my favorite because it's my go-to technique to do with my students

in the Beginning 3-D class.

The favorite of all the Shibori techniques that Glennis taught us.

This cloth was all all hand stitched, pulled tightly then dipped into the Indigo vat.

When dry the stitching was removed to reveal the design.

This piece was so expertly done,

so clear in it's design, and the dye so perfectly applied,

rich and dark.

When I saw it in the packet my eyes just popped with happiness!

And I already know the first thing I will do with snall pieces of each remnant,

I'm going to mend/patch a loved pair of holey jeans.

Anding it to my list right now!

Professional Shibori

Early in the school year one of my seniors, Phoebe Liu, brought in some incredible shibori work from Japan. She allowed me to display it for a couple of days and to photo it as well.

This is the smaller piece up close...

but my favorite was the larger one.  I especially liked how the artist couched down the white cording with a single piece of blue thread to make it look like a twisted rope.  So lovely.

Next week my Intermediate students will get a chance to try out some shibori techniques that I learned from pro fiber artist Glennis Dolce last school year.

Shibori Workshop - Part One

My 3-d students were extremely fortunate to have worked with renown Shibori/Indigo Dye Textile Artist, Glennis Dolce, also known as Shibori Girl.  See here blog and info here.  She found us thru my blog that is highlighted on Jude Hill's blog., and contacted me asking if my students and I would be interested in taking a workshop with her??  Are you serious???   YES!!!  So on June 16th, several of my most serious art students had their parents drive them out to my studio in Anaheim Hills for this all day workshop.  I think about 12 kids showed up and it was just the right amount for my studio space.

Glennis started by showing many beautiful examples of Shibori, and also discussing how indigo dye is made.  It was extremely interesting and I know we all learned so much from her vast knowledge.

Here Glennis is showing us the correct process for dyeing the fabric in the indigo vat.  She is also demonstrating how to dye in the ombre technique, from light to dark.

Our first project was to do some simple lines and shapes in the Shibori technique.  Here are Aman and Karisma working on their pieces.  I also got to participate.  My lines and shapes are below.  First we drew them with a pencil, then we stitched them with a basting stitch with a big knot at one end and a long tail at the other.

Next we dunked the cotton lawn cloth ( a tad thinner then regular cotton) in water, then pulled the tails as tightly as possible and knotted them, then submerged them in our first indigo dip (below).

Here are my second and third dips.  With each dunk the fiber gets a deeper blue after we take it out of the vat and it hits the air.  Oxygen turns the dye from a turquoise color to a brilliant blue.  We also rinsed the cloth between each dip in another vat of water.    

Finally my fourth dip and rinse.  Now the really fun part comes when you get to pull out all those stitches to reveal your design (below).

 

Here are Nikki and Phoebe with their first project, and then all the kids results below.

Our second project was to learn to make a dragonfly.  We where all so excited to do this.  Again we started by drawing our design, then using basting stitches for each shape.  But the tail was done in a very cool, different technique.  We made a pleat where the tail was then stitched thru the bottom of the pleat.  See below.

To see the results scroll down to Part Two.

Shibori Workshop - Part Two

I know I had as much fun as the kids did.  Here I'm taking out my dragonfly stitches, and am so excited to see my results (below)

Glennis was able to show us two more techniques before the day was over.  I had purchased silk scarfs for each student to do this next project with.  Glennis has made this really cool rolling devise to help in the process.  You tape your fabric to the pvc pipe, then roll lots of string around entire piece and tie it off.  Then Glennis shows us how to scrunch it down.  You leave it right on the pipe to do the dyeing.

Here are Pauline and Joan taking out their dragonfly stitches.

Below is the pipe that has been dipped several times for desired darkness of color.

This was our clothesline, the back of Glennis' car.

 Karisma is helping Pauline or Joan to unwrap her scarf.

My husband Jim got in the act and tyed this t-shirt, then dyed it.  I really like how it turned out.

The last technique you can see here with the 3 others.  We folded a piece of cloth many times on itself, then clamped shapes onto either side before dipping into the indigo.  The square piece right under the t-shirt was mine.  I fan folded both on the vertical and the diagonal then clamped circle shapes to each side.  After my first dip and rinse, I moved the circles half over then clamped and dyed again, just to see what would happen.  I think I got some really nice moon shapes.  Aman and Tiffany got some nicely clamped pieces as well. 

And here are many of the rolled and scrunched works, each one so unique.  I know the kids really enjoyed themselves.  I hope to host many more workshops throughout this next year.  Let me know if any of you are interested out there in attending a workshop here in my home/studio.  I'd love to set something up.  In can be in any of the art/craft forms that I teach.