Today, I finally got my design wall up. Big hooray! It took me all day of climbing on a stepstool to get on this table - don't ask. Cheesh - I am too OLD to do all this climbing and stretching. Here is a picture of what it looked like halfway through the job. I didn't bother taking a picture of it all done because after all, who wants to look at a blank wall? The heavy white felt I spoke about yesterday did NOT, in fact, make a white design wall, The pink still shows through (as you can see) - but it is at least, softer. Some day when I get the energy (and 1000 more pins) I will redux and put a layer of batting on top of the felt. Felt doesn't really work all that well, anyway, if you just want to adhere fabric without pinning it. Nevertheless, I am happy. Do you see my grin?Going to the studio is the addictive part. Not just for me, but for all of us. I was talking to Kathryn in the next door studio and she was so happy to get out of her home studio! Yep. I understand. All seven of us feel the same way - and while we are still getting to know each other, we are kindred spirits. Kathryn is a painter who does dog portraits on commission. But her REAL work is nature-oriented. We all do what we have to do to earn a living, but our hearts are often someplace else. Not mine. My heart is everywhere. I love to teach. I love to print. I love to experiment. I love to work alone, and I love having neighbors I can talk to when I need company.
This morning, I was there by 11 and didn't get home till after 5:30. When I was working at a REAL job,I left the house at 8:20 am and didn't leave the office till 5:30 - was a single parent with 3 children under the age of 11,and actually served dinner every night. Was I nuts? No. I was 39 years old. You can do anything when you are 39 and in your 40's. This went on for many years, during which time my children got older and so did I (surprise!). But never mind all of that.
Remember that really ugly piece of fabric on yesterday's blog? I screened on top of it with thickened dyes and brought it home and steamed it. I'll post the before and after when I can...part of my continuing "Can this Fabric be Saved?" program.
Meantime, busy weekend. My husband's birhday is Sunday and tomorrow, after doing errands and going to visit my mother (who will not remember that I was there yesterday) it is my turn to treat him to dinner. The one time a year I pay and he gets to pick the restaurant. Tonight, he paid and I picked the place. LOL.
8 comments:
Hi Rayna- you need a flannel sheet for the top of your design wall. i get them at TJMaxx, king sized, for a few dollars and they hold errant scraps of fabric with no pins, or at least fewer pins. Oh how I envy you your new studio- can't wait to see what you will turn out from there. Sandy
Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, I too had a studio, away from home, with four other artists who where all painters. My fiber work because more painterly and theirs gained more texture. It was such a good period of growth. How I envy your new space. Wish I could do it again. Best wishes for much good art and joy.
Thanks, Emmie & Sandy. The painter next door has already asked me to show her how to do image transfer. But I'm not ready yet for painting lessons. And - king sized flannel sheet - hmmm -- I was going to put batting up. Either one is better than the felt.
Please come borrow my ladder next time! Oh!
My daughter in SF is moving in to her away from home studio today. She is so excited, but doesn't know what she will do when she is home. LOL!
I use gray and black for my design wall - no pink shows through.
I also envy you your new studio, and being able to work with a bunch of like-minded artists! I am sooooooo jealous!
When I had a design wall out of the blue insulation boards, I covered them with a flannel back plastic table cloth. The table cloth is dense enough that the color of the insulations sheets don't show through and the fabric sticks to the flannel perfectly. You have a great studio! Kay Moore
Hi Rayna.....wonderful space. I am thinking spray paint would help your design wall.
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