A Slippery Slope...and Derby Hats!

My excursion into fabric dying has been a slippery slope!  And, it has turned out to be more than an excursion – I’ve been here a little while!  It has led to deconstructed screen printing (and yes, now I’ve now accumulated supplies and accessories for that), creating my own rubber stamps for use with thickened dyes, and actually painting on fabric with thickened dyes and acrylic inks.

Hand-stamped on Hand-dyed

I’ve enjoyed learning through experimentation with fabric dying, etc., but there seems to be a notion out there that art quilting must include (if not be limited to entirely)  hand-dyed fabrics.  Further, to be seen as “art” it ought to include many other techniques as well, such a painting, printing, collage of non-traditional materials, etc., and have that “messy” look.  Somehow this is meant to elevate and differentiate art quilting from traditional quilting, which is to be considered as “craft”, as well as legitimize art quilting as “art.”

Deconstructed Screenprinting



Painting with Thickened Dyes

I don’t discount the artistry in the “messy” approach to art quilting, but I also don’t see the need to make such a distinction from regular quilting and/or art quilting utilizing commercial fabrics.  In a wider sense, even from my time in college, I’ve never been one to find the merit of clearly delineating art from craft (although some around me were vocal about it).  I see art and craft as a continuum with the essence being that someone is taking action to make or do something.  Craft may be defined as being less creative because it often involves following directions or a pattern from another source, but I just see that as part of the learning curve of getting to know techniques and materials…and hopefully using that knowledge as the springboard into greater creativity and being able to produce something of one’s own design utilizing that learning.  Perhaps I came into that notion because I had done so much crafting in my youth…so it really had to do with my perspective.

Having received training in fine arts at the college level, I eventually came to art quilting from the “art side.”  As I moved into art quilting, already secure in my artistry, I focused on use of commercial fabrics as part of the challenge of the medium.  Further, when I joined an art quilt group at my local fabric shop, I found myself among many who would have labeled themselves as “traditional quilters” who wanted to experiment with and move more in the direction of art quilting (and there were some who already considered themselves art quilters).  Also, in the time I’ve been in the group, there have been a courageous few who have had no quilting, sewing, or artistic background who have joined.  I find these later individuals particularly inspirational, and I greatly appreciate their desire to learn and grow in the area of art quilting.  They are the epitome of I-can’t-draw-a-stick-figure people bolstering their own courage to try – very admirable in my book.

I’ve expressed to my group on more than one occasion that I truly see the artistry in a well executed quilt, and I recognize there is still much I can learn from traditional quilters.  That’s what the journey is for me – learning where I can, being my best to inspire others to be their best, and staying creative.  Part of that journey has been tackling the learning curve of hand-dyed fabrics after one of our members had a dying party (and I wasn’t satisfied with my own results…).  Next thing I knew I was purchasing dyes and books, researching processes on-line, and trying it out.


Hand-dyed and Sun-dried

I had a moment of concern when one thing led to another and I found myself painting on fabric with acrylic inks after a particularly inspiring edition of Quilting Arts Magazine (April/May 2011).  It seemed too much like painting on canvas, as if I were going back to a time when my focus had been on painting with acrylics, so I felt I had drifted too far to the “art” side of things until another of my members encouraged me that I shouldn’t exclude this experimentation if I had the ability and inclination.  As I thought about it, setting parameters of what I would and wouldn’t do as an art quilter was artificial and limiting…and too much like making those distinctions about what is art and what is not.  It’s like I’m in some circular thought pattern, and maybe that’s what it’s like on a slippery slope.  To that end, I’m giving the benefit of the doubt to those “messy” ones and choosing to believe they’re working from the same perspective and not in some elitist vane.  We’ll just say we’re each on our own journey…and let no one throw up a barrier or apply a label to anyone else in his/her creative pursuit.  To the contrary, encouragement is key among all who create.  Think “inclusion” not “exclusion” – this isn’t specific to art, but to life.  Play nice, please! 

Painting with Acrylic Inks (Daler Rowney FW)


And now, changing the channel, in the name of diversifying my journey, here are two more Derby hats.  These were created for the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft where one of my art quilter friends volunteers.  Maybe they’ll sell and I’ll be able to add “milliner” to my artist resume!