Thursday, June 21, 2007

Speaking so I Can Speak Again or (the discharging of the power of divine flowers to decide about painting and birthday gifts)

Thanks to Cindy and Anna, commentors in the previous post, for identifying the flower.  There is even a North American Dianthus Society.  The plant sits in the pot next to my chair on the balcony and I think we're developing a relationship.  Its been talking to me...a couple of days ago I snapped it's picture and today I spoke back.  I'm not a gardener but is this some type of gardening spirituality?  I'm kinda half joking but its my way of expressing how I'm connecting with this flower, whose name translates to "divine flower" and the common name for the one I have is Sweet William.  (see, I know something today that I didn't know when I woke up this morning, pretty darn cool, eh?!)



Dscn2553 This is how I spent my afternoon...discharging with bleach pen and discharge paste oustide with a slight breeze (and low humidity) blowing.  The beach pen didn't bother me outside...the last time I tried it I was inside at MACA and couldn't use it.  The results with the bleach pen didn't wasn't satisfactory for the effort but I loved the discharge paste results last time and this time.  The piece that is waiting to be finished is the piece I'm using to work through exercise #1 in the back of Complex Cloth.



Also, I'm coming close to making a decision between keeping stock of "fabric paints" and using thickened dyes for painting fabric.  I'm keep looking at the sample I started with Hollis Chatlelain and I really prefer the richness of the dye paints.  It also would cut down on shelving supplies that I use with less frequency.  And this is solely an opinion formed by the not-so-deep layer of my brain but it seems cheaper to me to use dyes instead of fabric paints.



Oh my...this post has been interrupted by the content of the package my dd just handed me...I ordered this book for one of my oldest and dearest sistah friend's for her birthday...and I'm gasping...dammit, I think I'm going to have to get me one also! I first saw it at the home of Crystal Wilkinson and nearly caught the holy ghost.  Now that Mary's copy for her birthday is resting in my lap I can feel the spirit rising again...I betta go call her and let her know I have something for her birthday...decreases the chance that I will keep it for myself.



Ummm, all the content in this post is queing me that some Afrophysics is occuring close by...   



 



9 comments:

  1. I haven't tried discharging yet, but I've been itching to give it a go - I'll have to make time.

    ReplyDelete
  2. In my recent experiences I have to agree with you that it is so much cheaper to paint with thickened dyes than it is with fabric paints. My favorite of course, is using my acrylics, but I've been experimenting with the dyes for functional uses. I've never been much for functional, though. I can't wait to see the results you are getting.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Oh...I forgot...I am going to have to get that Hurston book. I am reading "Wrapped in Rainbows" right now, another book about her.

    ReplyDelete
  4. K - I worked through the dye vs. paint thing too. I like the totality of dye painted stuff but I use the fabric paints (transparent and metallic) to come back and alter the dyed colors after the fact often after an arm's length look tells me there are value or hue problems that could be corrected with a flick of the brush.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I like the ease of use with the paints, & I'm now a be fan of Dynaflo, for it's versitility, & realative cheapness. Dharma carries it, & it can come in large 16oz. bottles. It's always ready, I don't have to mix stuff, & I don't worry so much about inhaling it.
    Your grandbabies are adorable. Loved the fireworks & icecream. You're very funny!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I like the ease of use with the paints, & I'm now a be fan of Dynaflo, for it's versitility, & realative cheapness. Dharma carries it, & it can come in large 16oz. bottles. It's always ready, I don't have to mix stuff, & I don't worry so much about inhaling it.
    Your grandbabies are adorable. Loved the fireworks & icecream. You're very funny!

    ReplyDelete
  7. When I was growing up, my parents surrendered one small flower garden to me. I was thrilled and spent hours in the evenings weeding, fertilizing, and watering. Come to think of it, it was a win-win situation for them, as they had a pretty garden and they didn't have to maintain it! LOL I've digressed: my point was that I grew Sweet Williams and just loved them! I believe that in the north they bloom all summer, but here in the hot southland, they bloom only in the spring and then take the rest of the year off.
    Hope you'll post some discharge result pics. I am most interested in doing more of that.
    xo

    ReplyDelete
  8. So glad to find your blog again, from your comment on Deb H's blog. Looks like you are getting a lot done. Nice to see the display of your work.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Complex Cloth is my bible. Her second book too.

    ReplyDelete

Swatching it!

Well, well, well...look who is swatching!  The plan (here goes...) is to knit my grand daughter a sweater.  This will be my first knitted ...