Lillstreet Textiles Mention of Slow Cloth!

Thanks to Frances for letting me know that our department and blog just got a mention over on the Slow Cloth page at Facebook.  According to their facebook page, Slow Cloth is open to anyone working "in art, craft, design, fashion, or business. The Slow Cloth approach to textiles is process-based, honoring and protecting textile traditions while celebrating contemporary innovation, creativity, sustainability, and community."  It seems like a group that lots of our students and teachers might be interested in.  Perhaps Lillstreet Textiles will soon find ourselves with our very own Facebook page.

Print Luck/ Pot Luck is Back!

Please join us next week for the second installment of Print Luck/ Pot Luck.  We had a great time at the last one, and I for one can not wait for this second edition.  Bring all your misprints, smudges, and flops to trade and get ready to turn someone else's bad news into your next greatest print! 

Textile students of all levels are invited to participate. Stencil prints, in my opinion, are the most fun to print back in to. 

When:Wednesday, March 3rd, from 6-10pm. 
Where:The Lillstreet Textile Studios.
What to Bring: Cloth that you don't want anymore (1 yard or bigger preferred) and a dish to share.  If you bring something requiring plates and forks, please provide those as well. We've got napkins and wine cups.  BYOB.

Dyeing Red

I spent the day in my studio dyeing churro wool a deep dark madder red to use in my next rug. Madder, Rubia tinctorum, is an ancient red dyestuff used in many traditional rugs and tapestries. It is the only light-fast and wash-fast red dye that can be grown in the Chicago area. The plants need to stay in the ground for 3 to 5 seasons, after which the roots are dug up, washed, dried and ground to a powder. When you want to dye with madder, you soak the ground root for several days. It’s a long process, but well worth the effort to get beautiful warm red colors.

Pamela Feldman

Madder growing in my dye garden

at the North Park Village Community Gardens

Madder plant and roots

Ground madder soaking




Churro wool dyed with madder

For more information about natural dyeing, check out the online journal that Pamela publishes, called the Turkey Red Journal.  If you're interested in learning how to work with natural dyes, Pamela is teaching a great four day workshop coming up this Spring at Lillstreet.  Registration is open now.

Contemporary Artist Using Different Craft Processes

Gabion, Reconstituted Architecture.
Cotton twine, gravel. 2009

On January 30th I had the opportunity to visit the apartment gallery, “Open House” http://open-house-gallery.blogspot.com. I was very excited because this particular type of art space has become very prominent in Chicago’s art scene. The show, “Pile/Pillar”, was an excellent representation of how contemporary artist are using different craft processes like crocheting and materials such as lace. In this case Firat Erdim www.firaterdim.net used Crocheting and rocks in his sculptures. He learned to crotchet with Eric Mercer www.erickmercer.com, in his class “Crocheting for men” at Lillstreet Art Center. Olivia Valentine www.flickr.com/photos/61672735@N00/sets/72157623019596324/ also used lace in and unconventional way, creating a magical environment for the viewer. Be sure to check out the images in order to get a better idea of this exhibition.

Thread, Balloons, Helium, Pins
11 feet overall height as shown, dimensions variable.
2009

Inspiration

I'm blogging from beautiful but unseasonably cool Florida! When I'm in Chicago, my favorite place to go for inspiration in designing patterns is the Art Institute. I get inspired by the palettes of 19th Century painting, geometric patterns from thousand year old Asian ceramics and Navajo rugs. The Institute's collection is so diverse and deep there is always something new to discover.

Here on the island of North Captiva, I have been so inspired by the local flora and fauna. I cannot wait to get back to Lillstreet to make new screens based on all the beauty I have seen here. Pattern, texture, shape and color are what gets me super excited to print! Here are a few of my favorite shots from the island:

COLOR!

PATTERN & TEXTURE!

BEAUTY & SILHOUETTES!

LACY FELT

Akemi Nakano Cohn: Lacy Felt class just begin! Students made small samples to get familiar of felting. They experienced four layers of plain felt first. Then, made three layers of felt on silk gauze. Although nobody has done felt making before, they did really well!!! They will cut to make "lacy" felt soon.

These pictures are from previous classes. Felting contains a lot of possibilities for art making. I am very thrilled these students' development for the future.

Cone Thread

Do you all know about cone thread?  It's marketed at the fabric stores as serger thread.  However, it works just as well on your sewing machine, and is SO MUCH LESS EXPENSIVE!  I use it almost exclusively.  The kind featured below is widely available at Joann's and Hancock and is 100% polyester (read on if you like to use cotton).  It is almost always on sale, so it usually rings up at about $2-3 a cone, which is about the same as a spool of thread, but 3,000 yards is a lot more than your average 200 yard spool!  I would also argue that it's much more eco friendly since those little plastic spools are usually not recyclable and you'll certainly use 15 for every cone you could have used.

You're probably wondering how you use a giant cone of thread on your tiny little spool holder- and the answer is this little thing below which will set you back about $5 itself but pay for itself when you buy your first cone of thread.  The adapter sits next to your machine off to the right and regulates the cone thread tension, then you just thread your machine up normally and start sewing.

 

If you don't like to use polyester (or even if you do and you're looking for a wider array of colors), I recommend checking out an amazing store in Chicago called Leonard Adler.  They carry notions for the fashion industry, including an impressive array of thread, french curves, snaps, and an assortment of pins and needles that will make your head spin.  Three inch long 2mm thick pins?  You've got it.  Silamide for hand stitching and millinery?  Yep, and lots of colors.  Cone thread in a huge assortment of weights and fibers?  Yes, yes, yes.  Located on Montrose at Sacramento, this is a great stop to make before a class at Lillstreet!  Keep in mind that they are open business hours of 9-5 Monday- Friday.  Closed Weekends. 

The Swedish American Museum in Andersonville Chicago

Hi!
I would like to point out a museum that is very close to LillStreet. The Swedish American Museum is located at 5211 N. Clark St. Chicago, IL. in the Andersonville neighborhood. They have three floors with two exhibits running on the first and second floors and the Brunk Children's Museum of Immigration is located on the third floor.

On the first floor there is a temporary exhibit that is running until March 14, 2010 titled "Swedish Cows: Slow Art, An Audiovisual Journey in Stillness". The inspiration for this exhibit is a herd of cows that are the last remaining cows of a very old stock discovered on the Torsson Family Farm in Sweden called Väneko. This exhibit features the art work of Pia Sjölin and Patrik Gunnar Helin.


On the second floor is the museum's permanent exhibit titled "A Dream of America - Swedish Immigration to Chicago".




There is a lot to see and read about. There are also many lovely textiles scattered through out the two exhibits (particularly in the permanent exhibit). They also have a lovely gift store with many Swedish gift items (including textiles). If you have time this weekend you should hop over and take a look. If you wish for more information on the museum or it's exhibits before going you can check out the Swedish American Museum's website at http://www.swedishamericanmuseum.org .

First Time Sewing Student Work

The First Time Sewing class kicked off another first day by learning how the the Singer Confidence machines provided by Lill Street work. Everyone in the class had never sewn before tonight, and most are hoping after the five week class is over to be able to sew clothing for themselves or make items for their home. To get started, we learned everything you need to know about the mechanics of the machine, tension, threading, stitch selection, ect. In order for students to get an idea of how to control the machine, we practiced various seam samples that the students could take home with them to use as a future reference for their own projects in the future. By the end of the night, they were sewing curves and making professional french seams.

Amy's Studio

Spring is on the way, so I've been working hard trying to finish up my patterns for this summer. The designs for the summer incorporate rouching into several of the patterns so I just bought a gathering foot for my Bernina, it is amazing, I never knew gathering fabric could be so easy.
I try to keep my studio clean and surround myself with inspiration. If you haven't seen my work, check out my Etsy site:http://www.etsy.com/shop/amoebaswimwear?ga_search_query=amoeba&ga_search_type=seller_usernames

Thrifting

I suppose I consider myself a professional level thrift store shopper. It's more like an obsession. Or a sickness. After a while I get an overwhelming sense of crazy distribution of wealth in this world. The Haitian children are without basics and we are tripping over our excess. My strongest sense is to waste less. If making clothes out of peoples throw-aways accomplishes that , it makes me feel better.
Been thinking about a spring clothing line to sell at craft fairs or on my etsy sight. After browsing one of my favorite thrift stores, you know the one on Clybourn, Salvation Army (warning, the second floor is not for the faint of heart, it is so jumbled and disorganized and chaotic it could send you into an advanced state of hyper-ventilation) No kidding, you might think you've suddenly re-located to some place run by mental hospital patients. But I digress.Back on the first floor I ran into an artist friend and he commented that the mens shirt selection was exceptional. Bingo, there was my raw material for my clothing line. I bought several shirts and went home to sew. I copied a simple wrap around skirt in 2 lengths out of just 3 shirts each. I used the button and buttonhole sides for a small ruffle at the hem. No need for zippers, waistbands or hemming. I love mixing and matching stripes and checks. And the weight of the fabric is just right for warm weather.
Above is an example of my overdyed jeans jackets (I know, we've seen them before) but I always loved those weird colors that they turn into. Who knows what treasures I'll find to work with next. There's always a stack of something waiting to be turned into wearables. See you at the thrift store!

Drop In Studios!

Have you heard about the drop in studios?  We are offering special drop-in studios this term for sewing and embroidery.  Looking for someone to talk with while you stitch or have a question about how to finish the skirt you've been working on?   Come on over!  Click on the words Sewing or Embroidery to link to a sign up for both. 

LACY FELT

LACY FELT wksp will start from Feb. 13 (SAT) 10am-1pm (5 weeks). The process of felt making is sensuous! I love using hands to make something. There is a communication between my body and the material of wool (to make felt). Felt can be strong and fragile, bold and sensitive. We will explore "lacy felt" which is extremely light, with silk on backing. Also we will cut to make lacy like felt. Take a look some examples. Especially we will dye colors by ourselves, the piece will unique!!!

Camille Canales this Friday at Flat Iron Building in Wicker Park

This Friday I will be participating in Wicker Park's First Friday event.  I am one of the featured artists for the month of February at the Flat Iron Building's Gallery 214.  The opening is this Friday from 6-10 pm in the amazing Flat Iron Building.  Check the details out in the attached poster.

It is super easily accessible by public transit, as it is practically across the street from the Damen blue line el stop. (Next to the Bank of America)  You can also take North Ave, Damen, or Milwaukee buses.  I have only been in there once to drop off work, but the building is really amazing.  Some artist studios have glass walls so that you can look inside.  I am really excited to see the open artist studios in the building.  Tell your friends too.  And then tell them to tell their friends.

Best and hope to see you on Friday.

Camille Canales

www.camillecanales.com

Totally Vera

In our repeats class we've been fawning over the prints and patterns of Vera Neumann. Jackie Pogue started bringing in new Vera finds weekly. Her beautiful painterly prints have been inspiring us all. Here's some more!




The Spirit
of Vera's prints are their hand-drawn painterly qualities and the repeats students are totally getting in on it too. I wanted to share with you a print that James Matthews has been developing in class. He wants to develop this imagery into a large complex repeat but check it out! It is a beautiful work in progress: