Sky Candy - Kim Conover 2

This was the first piece I ever applied for entry into a national fiber art juried show. It wasn't chosen but I really enjoyed working on the project- it's all about the process for me. I started with white cotton muslin and fiber reactive dye. I manipulate small panels of cotton before applying the dye- sometimes wet- sometimes dry- attempting to get textures, movement and deep, rich color. I use a regular sewing machine's utility stitches, machine embroidery thread to draw details and texture on the fabric. Building out the frame and building up the layers is part of the challenge. The grasses and cattails are created simply by satin stitching onto a water dissolvable foundation- leaving the dense stitches to stand alone. My inspiration comes from watching the colorful sunsets on the local marshes located near my home.