Doris Aymar's "Onion Skin Dyeing" workshop

Several guild members attended Doris's recent "Onion Skin" workshop, and we had a mighty fine time! I never realized just how many ways onion skins can be used, or how many different effects you can get from them!

• Casserole Dyeing
• Stocking Dyeing
• Open Kettle Dyeing
• Jar Dyeing

Doris showed us all of these, and explained what different mordants were used, and what effect these mordants alone had on the wool.

And - we all got samples to take home and play with!

Doris has a tremendous wealth of knowledge, and some amazing stories! It was a great way to spend a Saturday! 

I have to apologize for my camera work. These colors are absolutely stunning up close, but don't show up as well as I'd have liked:

This piece was casserole dyed with different pieces and colors of wool + a bleeder, and onion skins, in layers. This photo does NOT do this beautiful piece justice!

These two pieces are called "Paisley Substitute" and are amazing!

More pieces of various colors overdyed by the onion skin casserole method. I think the piece on the right is absolutely luscious!

Onion skin dyeing using alum as the mordant.

The same pieces, showing the bottoms.

Stocking dyeing method; a very rich combination -- would make a super background!

"Petals and Leaves" a Pearl McGown pattern, ALL the wool in this rug is onion skin dyed!

Doris uses paisley sparingly, but to great effect... here, in the veins of some of the leaves...

...and, here, in a couple of rows inside the outer border.

One of my favorite of Doris's rugs, "To Market" (probably not the actual title). This is a real charmer!

Look at those cute little piggy faces! And the great combination of colors in the road they're trotting on.

One of my favorite close-ups, mostly for the great variety of greens in the grass... but also for the look on The Mister's face!!

Love the chickens!

And have you ever seen a prouder cow?

A close up of the sky

More of the sky

Great rooster tail... I love the way it just trails off at the bottom.

This is the wool Doris used for her sky. Delicious!!

That's all I've got for now! We just had so much fun, and learned so much in this class... I couldn't wait to share!

Have a great week! Those who are going to the Sheep and Wool Festival - have a wonderful time! I hope to see the rest of you Saturday!

TTFN!

Sunny

Margaret Wenger's "Alternative Materials" class was so much fun! I felt like a little kid again... remember that feeling, when you don't think, you just do? 

Margaret's class affected me that same way, opening up a creative vein and helping me see - really see - our form of fiber artistry in a new, beguiling light.

Margaret Wenger and her "Dragonfly" piece

It doesn't show up well, but the cattail is sculpted. The whole piece is gorgeous!

Supplies...

...supplies...

...and more supplies!

The room is cozy, and bright

And was full of eager, creative students and lots of laughter.

I took pictures of each of the dragonfly patterns (some students brought other patterns to play with). Hopefully, as we finish them we'll bring them to a guild meeting and I'll take pix, and the name of the hooker. I know Margaret would love to see our finished pieces, too!

This class was a load of fun! 

Hopefully, we can have another one in the future... Several of us fell in love with another of Margaret's patterns - "The Cottage." The pattern and wool (except for, if I remember correctly, the sky and the browns. Please check with Margaret though, 'cause I'm not sure I'm remembering that part correctly. The "Cottage" kit is only $95!!

TTFN!

Sunny

Wool & Watercolors workshop in Frostburg

Looking for a way to spread your creative wings this spring? 

Diana Kerns is teaching a workshop this month in Frostburg, MD. It will introduce you to a new rug hooking technique - a mixed media approach, combining watercolors with traditional rug hooking.

Diana says:

This workshop will introduce you to Traditional Rug Hooking as a medium combined with watercolor backgrounds. We will cover the basics of rug hooking as well as watercolor work as we work on connecting with our creative energy to allow an opportunity to reshape your vision of yourself as artist and creative spirit; & you will have 2 works of art in 2 days! 

Experienced rug hookers will also find this workshop of value. 

Join in this adventure into new realms of creativity! 

Register today – only 5 students accepted.      

$50 includes all materials! 

The phone number to call to register is: 

301-687-8040.

Wool & Watercolors

April 20th and 21st, 2013 

1 pm to 5 pm both days 

Taught by Diana Kerns, 3rd generation rug maker and creator of the Watercolor Hooking Technique. 

If you have questions, write Diana:

Mountain City Traditional Arts 

25 E. Main St., Frostburg, MD  

301-687-8040

Diana Kerns,

Artist, Massage Therapist, 
Rug Maker, Woodworker

Our Rug drawing and Ramona Cann's Show and Tell, April 6, 2013

Here's Doris, picking the winning ticket...

And Doris reading the winner's name... Lucky Tracie Grim!!!

Then it was "Show and Tell" time...

It was so wonderful to see Ramona again, and to get a good look at some of her rugs!

Ramona and her Quilters (Church of the Brethren.
Ramona's Mom and Ramona are the two in the lower left corner. The background of the quilt is "Ecru"

Close up of Quilters, the Amish version

Ramona Cann and her cows. The sky formula may be M16 in her new book.

Close up of Quilters, the Amish version

Ramona and "Eat More Crow" - she did no dyeing at all on this rug! The berries and binding are the same wool, which Ramona used on a bias for binding. 

Ramona was kept steadily busy, sighing her books!

Close up of Eat More Crow

Close up of Quilters, The Church of the Brethren

Close up of Cows 

Close up of the binding on Eat More Crows