Friday, April 1, 2011

Swan Lake

Swan Lake: This 19 X 25, free form cut collage, came out of an experiment using snow dyed fabric. Fabric dye is mixed into snow and placed on top of scrunched fabric. It is left overnight to slowly melt down. The result is a marbled variation from dark to light. Fusible web is applied to the back of the fabric before cutting. An outline of the swan is made from a drawing, as I study a photo. (See "Projects of Interest") I transfer the drawing onto muslin. Using scissors, I cut feathered pieces from the marbled fabric and arrange them onto the muslin. When the arrangement looks right, I iron the pieces down. I treat the background in the same manner. The swan and it's background, was wrapped around a piece of foam board and glued to a pieced, rectangular, mini quilt. This makes a more dimensional relief. As with all my experiments, some turn into finished pieces and some are put away for future reference.

7 comments:

  1. Honestly Judy that swan looks just so beautiful!I have never heard of such a technique using snow to dye- that is something we could never try here! Snow has obvsiously so many positives!
    The swan looks so graceful and you have collaged and quilted her so beautifully.
    Gorgeous work - yet again.
    Hugs from Suzy,

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  2. What an absolute delight ! i so admire your creations always so well executed and beautifully quilted to perfection. I really enjoyed visiting your blog tonight Judy.

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  3. Hello Judy,
    What a wonderful mini quilt.The swan is a beautiful way of using your snow dyed fabric. Beautiful!
    Happy Birthday for this week.
    Best wishes,
    jane C

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  4. Hi Judy,
    This is so beautiful ... and I have never heard of snow dyeing before, although we are still getting our snow here as strange as that is for April.
    I am hoping all is well ... and look forward to seeing all your new pieces so much!
    Very best wishes,
    barbara

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  5. Snow dyeing sounds interesting but we never have snow here. your swan is lovely & congratulations on your shirt waste sculpture being accepted - it looks fantastic.

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  6. Hi Judy,
    I love the way you've handled the matting and framing on this piece. I'd like to branch out more into this type of presentation instead of my usual hanging sleeve. I haven't tried snow dying, but yours turned out beautifully.

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  7. Judy, it's lovely. Great combination of colors and I love the frame. Somehow I missed this post when you first published it so am glad to see it now. Given all the snow we had this winter, you'd be surprised to hear I haven't tried snow dyeing yet myself but someday! ;-)

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Thank you so much for your comments.