In this economy, I suspect I'll do better in the $50-$100 range than I'm likely to do in the $200-and-up range. So, for the past few days - along with twisting fringes on the Water Series scarves - I've been making some lower-priced pieces, not handwoven, but still handmade.
First, I retrieved from the stash some nylon organdy ribbon, skeined it, then dip-dyed parts of each skein in a different color. Then it's an evening of tying knots to make boa-type scarves about 60 inches long, nothing but air and color. The first was dyed in electric blue and teal, the second in two shades of red - but the photo doesn't really distinguish between the two reds :(
They're constructed very much like the paper chains we all made as kids, but instead of a single row, they have 6 or 7 links in each row, all chained together to make a long rectangle. Each link takes a 12-inch piece of ribbon; the tails of the knots hang out about 1.5 inches. It doesn't have to be organdy, any ribbon would do, but I like the airy effect.
Then a series of rayon/silk velvet scarf blanks from Exotic Silks, some dyed solid colors, some LWI. Most of them will get embossed over the next few days (pictures to follow).
My favorite is a PRO-Chem MX color called Crystal Brown, which looks brown when you mix it, but the resisted areas take a blue-green color. I understand that it discharges in thiox in reverse. That is, if you dye a solid brown with it, then discharge, the discharged areas are blue-green while the resisted areas stay brown. I'm planning to use it to dye some bamboo knit yardage for a nightshirt (aka very long t-shirt), and someday would like to weave some ikat scarves using this dye.
Unfortunately, the camera doesn't do a very good job capturing LWI effects in the velvet, because its luster almost disguises the color.
Anyway, that's what's going on in the studio, no more weaving before the show but lots of other show-related tasks.
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