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!

BAGSTORIES

Towards the end of last school year 

I signed up for my first online workshop with superstar eco-dyer India Flint.

It was called Bagstories and we were hand stitching a Bento type bag (Japanese)

that India calls a Wanderbeutel.

She had us pull together and use an assortment of odds and ends from our fabric stashes.

I used the pieces below;

Eco-Bundled, Shibori w/ Rust, & Solar Printed.

Part One was to cut 50 squares of fabric, 

that I cut to 3" by 3".

If I ever make another bag I will go bigger to 4" by 4". 

Part Two was to sew them together into little pillows.

Then Part Three was to sew each pillow closed

and if you wanted to add some embroidery stitching.

Part Four,

 to arrange them in a certain pleasing pattern

and then to sew them all together.

I also added buttons to give mine a bit of a snazzy spark.

Some close=ups.

And tah-dah!

The finished bag!

Part Five was to sew it together like a Bento Bag,

which was super tricky and a secret not to be revealed!

Ha!

Other side.

And Part Six was to add a shoulder strap out of fabric.

But I wanted something different then the others in the class,

so I pulled out all my eco-bundling strings I had saved,

choose the ones that had the flavor of the squares and crocheted 2 straps,

tying them together into a top knot.

I also used the string to wrap around two "D" shaped metal rings,

then sewed the straps to the rings.

  To connect the whole enchilada I sewed the rings onto the corners of the bag.

The closure was the trickiest part.

It was optional but I did it because I wanted my bag to stay closed.

So again back to the strings where I messed around 

and figured out how to crochet two triangles

 that I sewed into the "V" shaped openings in the middle of both sides.

But there was a revolting development.

The bag wouldn't close right and looked funny so back to the drawing board,

and 3 triangles later I had a closure that actually looked good and worked.

And the perfect antique button finished it off.

Except,

one more problemo,

It wouldn't sit right.

So I found some plastic needlepoint stuff,

cut it to fit into the bottom just right,

then surrounded it with the most beautiful piece of silk eco-printed fabric 

from my friend and fellow fiber artist extraordinaire Michelle Hoffee.

And there it was, 

finally finished almost 7-8 months later.

I know,

I'm really slow.

All the other Bagsters have made at least 3 to my 1 but I'm just thrilled I even finished one.

YES!!!