More wicking projects

I blogged about the first attempt at organizing chaos using batik methods with wicking dyes on silk. That went well with a lot of things learned. Here is how it looks finished. I like the pooling silk on the floor which went well and I like the agitation lines where the wax was intentionally left thin to absorb color.

I did NOT like the fact that the dyed backing could be seen from the front so I opened up the whole thing, inserted two layers of cotton so that it would be less opaque and that worked fine.

I'm still not happy with the way it is hung on the clear plastic rod I had made for another fiber art piece called "Layers", which you may remember me posting awhile back.

I'm still thinking about this piece. Not 100% happy yet.

Had to try it again. This time I applied different dyes to 8 mm habotai silk. This one is very subtle and lovely with only very small hints of red here and there. This piece is very much smaller but is begging for some machine stitching. I will be working on this some more so you will see it again.

And one more time (at least). This time on dupion silk -45" x 108". I did a LOT of manipulating this time using wads of fabric under the plastic and plastic garbage cans as hills to keep dye from traveling too far.

The color on this one is smashing. I will show you a finished photo next week. No backing this time but a rod in sleeve system to hang. So far so good.

For my QU students- I tried using a mini crock pot to melt the soy wax and it worked fine except that it took FOREVER to melt the stuff. I think it should also work just fine with regular waxes. It never smoked. Temp was just right. Live and learn.

I am feeling the pinch as I have several deadlines ahead of me that I am fighting to beat. While I do best under pressure, sometimes I sure wish I was better organized so that I wouldn't get so goofed up and lose my peace. I have a chuppah to dye, several silk custom orders to dye and mail, 2 fiber art projects to finish and currently, 15 things on my "to do" list. What I really want to do is take a nap. The neighbor's dog barked at 5 a.m. and then 6 a.m. I have visions of just opening up their backyard gate and saying, "BE FREE! GO! SEE THE WORLD! START RUNNING NORTH AND YOU'LL SOON FIND DOGGY NIRVANA." But...alas...I do know that what goes 'round, come 'round.....