PeaceHeart2 -- Fun with School Glue!

So, I have been using hot wax in batik for over 35 years (OMG, that's a very long time)...but in the spirit of the very first post here (can this old hippie learn new tricks?) this is an experiment with school glue as a resist, thickened dyes painted in for flowers and foliage, then unthickened cerulean blue for the background, again painted on. We shall see...first pic is design drawn on unbleached muslin that has then been stretched in an embroidery hoop.

This shot is after dyes have been painted on.



After the dyes have set and the piece has been ironed and washed, there will undoubtedly be touch-ups with fabric crayons...this is very typical of my girly-girl style...watch this space for the final version...all feedback welcomed!

Real Goods, Hopland California

Wow! Real Goods, a wonderful store/learning center located in Hopland, California (just south of Ukiah) recently placed a small order of my hand-dyed organic baby clothes and youth tees in the store -- and enough have sold that it is time to restock, just 2 weeks later! I am giddy, this is so cool!

Here are a few pics of the baby goods, from the slideshow I posted a couple of weeks ago

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I am stoked, this connection to Real Goods means lots more folks will be seeing my stuff, and buying it! Yay!

Tee Art

Last week I submitted my entry for the Earthday Tee Shirt art contest at Mendo College...tadaa!

Derwent Inktense watercolor pencils on watercolor paper, Sharpie outlines and lettering, 12 x 18 inches.

The winner of the contest gets $100! So cross your fingers...in any case, it was fun, and ate up two days I should have been doing homework...

Organic Cotton Kids Stuff

Tomorrow I have a presentation for my Art Marketing class, so I have been working on that...Here is a movie I created featuring new all-organic cotton kid/baby items:

These goodies are being sold at Real Goods, in Hopland, California. Real Goods is a very green, solar-energy kind of place, and these seemed a good fit for their clientele! So soft, so colorful...and looks like I was able to insert the slideshow, even if I can't get it to center very well.

Glad You Is.

PeaceHeart

The basic design seen here is at least 20 years old...although details vary from one batik to another. I am currently incubating ideas for a new series of batik wall hangings, and they too will be anchored by my favorite icon, the peace sign.

PeaceHeart, Teri Johnson

Hot-Wax Batik w/Rit Dyes

Sign of Peace

This is a detail from my SweetPeace Design banner/sign:

This is a view of the whole sign...batik on heavy cotton drapery panel, Procion mx dyes and hot-wax resist applied with tjanting.

Pics of batik process:

Thickened dye has been applied, after background was waxed (tjanting tool). Next, dyed areas will be waxed, leaving spaces to create final outlines in the design. A trip into the freezer will chill the wax and help make the crackle sharp, then a deep black overdye will be applied, to create crackle and outlines (spaces left unwaxed).

Below, the black overdye has been applied and air-dried. After removing excess black dye on waxed areas with wet papertowelling, wax will be removed by ironing. I don't steam or boil out my wall hangings, as I like to leave a little wax to provide sheen, and added weight and body to a hanging. In this case, the combination of wax residue and the heavy nature of the fabric makes this sign hang well, even in outdoor venues, and store easily when rolled up (and no wrinkles if not squashed).

Batik by Teri, sign construction by Virginia.

Peace Witch

Detail from a batik I made some time ago, using Rit instead of Procion mx dyes...I have always loved to slide in a peace sign if at all possible, and since I draw the picture... .

Full view:

Witchy Woman

Teri 1991

Hot-wax batik, Rit dye, deep brown crackle and overdye