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Serendipity and the Art of the Quilt

Serendipity and the Art of the Quilt

Creating with Brenda Gael Smith

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Mise en place?

25 January 2009 Filed Under: Technique:Dyeing 1 Comment

In professional kitchens, and those ubiquitous TV cooking shows, the concept of “mise en place” (everything in place) is paramount. In deference to invading the Laundry King’s orderly workshop, I try to apply the same approach when I am dyeing. I pre-cut and number the fabric pieces before soaking them in soda ash solution; I then wring them out and scrunch them into numbered plastic containers; and I have my selected primary dye powders and mixing implements ready to go. Generally I keep mess to a minimum. Alas yesterday, I doubled the amount of yardage but didn’t double the amount of dye powder used so the resulting fabrics are more gelato-toned than these photos would suggest.



Today I went back and tried for some more saturated colours. Did the new blender work with combating red-speckitis? Well that’s another story…

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Comments

  1. Helen Conway says

    27 January 2009 at 9:40 AM

    I tried that numbering be organised stuff. Still I managed to dye the fabric AND the front path!

    Reply

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Brenda Gael Smith
brenda@serendipitypatchwork.com.au

PO Box 131, Avoca Beach
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So happy to be at @themqg QuiltCon 2026 in Raleig
So happy to be at @themqg  QuiltCon 2026 in Raleigh North Carolina with my quilt “pent up”. 😍 

Edit: BTW, I will be sharing my technique for creating polygonal shapes in Logs & Ladders: Building with Improvisation at the Mid-Atlantic Quilt Festival on Thursday 26 February. 

#quiltcon2026 #brendagaelsmithart


Come along to the @quiltfest Mid Atlantic Quilt Fe
Come along to the @quiltfest Mid Atlantic Quilt Festival in Hampton Virginia from 26 February to 1 March! 

I will be there teaching a 1-day workshop Logs and Ladders Building with Improvisation and two half-day workshops: Geometricks and Bodacious Beads.
 
My artwork will also be on display in the @saqaart global exhibition - Minimalism.

#brendagaelsmithworkshop #saqaart #quiltfest #midatlanticquiltfestival