Seasons and Designs of Shibori – Guest Blogger – Nancy Pipenbring
Nancy Bayless Piepenbring
City and Guilds of London at Gail Harker Creative Studies Center, Wa.
Level 3 Certificate in Art and Design – September 2006
My finished book, entitled Seasons and Designs of Shibori: A handmade paper and fabric book, measures approximately 15” x 36”.
As a collector of vintage Japanese textiles and student of the resist-dyed textile techniques of Shibori, I was thrilled by the suggestion of my tutor, Gail Harker, that I explore it as the subject for a handmade paper book.
She suggested that it might be possible to create a sense of Shibori through manipulation of color, pattern and texture on paper. Already familiar with Procion MX fiber reactive dyes, I decided to use tints and shades of a few colors to dye the pages of my book. The papers were primarily Japanese scroll, Kojo, and Lokta papers. Komasu shibori (stitched resist) and Arashi shibori (pole wrapped) techniques were used to create the book’s cover in heavy artists’ canvas.
Because many Shibori techniques are too stressful for paper, other mediums were used to create a similar effect. For example batik wax was used as a resist instead of string, and hand carved stamps and acrylic printing ink were used to represent patterns normally created by folding, wrapping, or stitch.
A message from Gail – any other fellow students of Nancy’s are welcome to reconnect and write a blog – from the Camellias group that graduated in 2006.
Your book is beautiful; and your choice of tints and shades really speak to me. Japanese textiles, Sashiko embroidery and shibori dye techniques fascinate me.
So impressive and beautiful on so many levels!
What a gorgeous book – thanks for showing it to us.
So great to see that fabulous book from our Camelias days, Nancy. We do so miss you.
I miss you too, and think about you quite often.
Hi Nancy–It is so great to see your book. I never get tired of seeing it…and each time, I am so impressed with your work. Having seen your book in person, I know how spectacular it is….it is large and amazing!
Thanks Karen- so good to hear from you. I wish we could have a reunion!