Silk Painting for June 2013 Hospice Silent Auction

Frog A Jumpin'

Specifications:
acid dye on silk fabric with gutta resists in colors
original size:10.5" x13.5"
matted and framed under glass; 19" x 23.5" framed

Background

Silk painting originated in China going back to 2600 BC.  Long before paper was invented/made, silk was a medium on which to paint. Silk was durable, portable, and readily rolled for travel.  Silk was chosen as an artistic surface not only because of its soft, luxurious feel, but also for its practicality. Silk is light, easy to cut into any desired shape and size and is convenient to carry. Chinese artisans prepared the silk for painting by beating it on a stone slab until the surface became very smooth. After the silk was prepared, the color pigments or ink tones were applied slowly and carefully. 

The Frog A Jumpin' Picture Process

A resist product similar to glue was applied, dried, and then Jacquard silk paints were used to created this picture. Both paintbrushes and rags were used to blend colors. Paints were allowed to air dry thoroughly. The silk painting was then rolled in newsprint, coiled into a snake, set in a pressure cooker over hot water and steamed for three hours. After steaming, the painting was air dried, carefully ironed and stretched over canvas. A matt was applied and then the silk picture was framed under glass.

Here's hoping this brings in a buck or two for our local Hospice of Western Colorado!

Tote Bags - Easy!

Thanks to Abbi, I came across her tutorial on how to make a simple double sided tote bag.  How serendipitous that just yesterday I purchased two fat quarters of fabric to make such a tote!

Here are the fabric pieces.

 

This is Mrs. Pfaff.  She came home yesterday after cleaning and repairs at her spa: Adams Vacuum & Sewing Machine Sales and Repair.

 

Mrs. Pfaff says to hurry up and get her settled into her cabinet home so she can get back to work.

 

And also for Works in Progress Wednesday, I am starting my second repeat on the Creature Comforts Cardigan. 

 

 



Visit others' blogs at Tami's for WIP Wednesday.

Musicians of Bremen & Knitting

Do you recall the Grimm Brothers' fairytale of  "The Musicians of Bremen"?  Need a refresher on the story?  Go here to read yourself a little bedtime story if you are so inclined.

Found this novelty and placed it in the bath to give visitors a laugh, or else wonder what in the world this was doing on top of the toilet!

 

According to most renditions of the Musicians of Bremen story, there was a cock, a hound, a cat and a donkey.  So a bit of literary license was taken by the crafter who put together the animals doing service as the musicians.  You could say there were several morals to the story, but I'll go with the one that speaks of not letting your imagination get away with the facts of the situation.

 



These alstroemeria are beauties that last two weeks if you regularly change their water.  The hub brought them home from the grocery store the other day.  He did a good job!

This ground cover is coming up in the back right now.  Aren't the little blue flowers pretty?  And grape hyacinths too!

 One of our first daffodils:

 

 

And finally, I finished that cowl called Leafy Wreath Cowl (pattern found here on Ravelry).

 

Looks like I was asking the husband a question, or scolding him.  Anyway, here is a close up of the cowl:

It hides a multitude of sins on that double chin!  It was a bit of a challenge knitting this up (cables and lace), but it feels soft on the skin and is warm to boot.  Yarn is by Quince & Co.  Details here.