Harmony Hand Dyes   hand-dyed Fabric MX Procion Dye Shiva Paintstiks  Tisdale SK Sask Saskatchewan Canada
Inspirations 3
Shiva Paintstiks and "Complex Cloth"
This page is devoted to "show and tell".  We will post fabrics using Shiva Paintstiks and other embellishment methods.
"Complex Cloth" generally describes fabric that has been revisited with one or more of many different forms of
painting, inking, discharging dye, screen printing, etc.  
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To purchase
SHIVA
Paintstiks,
click on this
link.
This sample shows a background sponged in Tsukineko inks mixed in aloe vera gel (2 T gel and 4
drops of ink then heatset with iron).  I used the ink/gel to paint on the dragon in the centre and I used a
stencil and Shiva Paintstiks to do the bamboo and letters.  I prefer the crispness of the Paintstiks so
decided I would make a stencil and try the Paintstiks in the stencil.  The red background with
blue/yellow/copper dragon is the result with the Paintstiks.
printed it and taped it on template plastic
(in this case, an old x-ray plastic.)  Then I
used my exacto knife and cut out the stencil.

The maple leaf stencil shown above was
made in the same manner.  

I do my tedious work such as stencil cutting
in the evening while watching tv or the
news!!
The background was a scrap of
hand-dyed red/orange fabric.

Iridescent paintstiks made the dragon
glow.
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The testing stamps on the border are
Tsukineko and gel using foam stamps
applied to the stamp with a foam paint
brush.
I made a "cardigan"
style jacket
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The fabrics to the right and below are in the
leaf-themed wall hanging. I incorporated various
stamps, rubbing plates and a home-made maple
leaf stencil.  The below centre black/rust leaf
designs were sprayed with a 50/50 bleach/water
ratio on Black Pimatex 100% cotton fabric using
various leaves from my yard.  

I try to incorporate a few colours and layers on
each piece of fabric.  All (except black) fabrics are
hand dyed rusts or blues.
I began this piece of fabric by discharging  
some of the dye from 2 meters of black
Pimatex.  This photo shows the results of
brushng a fern leaf with 50/50 bleach/water
then pressing it on the black fabric.  I repeated
this process sporadically over the 2 meters.  I
then went back and filled in spaces with a foam
stamp and the bleach mixture.  The foam was
just a chunk of left-over packing foam and I cut
a couple of grooves into .

I soaked the piece in "Bleach Stop" to stop the
process and ensure that the bleach would not
continue to destroy the fabric.  It was then
rinsed and hung to dry.  I pressed it to have
the surface as flat as possible.

The next step was to use SHIVA Paintstiks and
various wooden and rubber stamps that I have
collected to create another layer in the
"Complex Cloth"

I had a wooden stamp about 2" square that I
used for the copper and blue motif.  I placed
the stamp under the discharged fabric and
held the fabric as taunt and firm as I could then
I rubbed a little iridescent copper Paintstik
followed by iridescent dark blue.  I did the
entire 2 meters of fabric with the blue stamp.

Next I used a rubber stamp that I purchased at
Walmart years ago.  It has a lacy flower and is
about 3" x 4" at the widest and longest parts.  
Placing this stamp under the fabric, I began
going over the entire piece with this motif.  I
used the iridescent brown as the main colour
on most of the flowers and I incorporated a
few strokes of iridescent red, or iridescent
yellow, or iridescent orange, or iridescent
copper.  Usually I would put a couple of
strokes of colour on, then finish the flower
with the brown.  It blends in the edges of the
colours but adds variety and interest.  I found
holding the fabric and rubbing away from
myself caused less ripples and shifting of
fabric.
"Leaves" at left is based on the pattern by Nancy Kazlauckas
(from Cedar Canyon)  Hand dyed fabrics and Iridescent Shiva
Paintstiks showcase nature in all it's glory.

The scraps can be used for "Birches" below.  (See Birches
Instructions for my description.)
Santa and the Reindeer  an original pattern designed by
Kathy Tanner for use with Shiva Paintstiks.  
Butterflies - based on the pattern by
Nancy Kazlauckas (from Cedar
Canyon)  Hand dyed fabrics and
Iridescent Shiva Paintstiks.