Happy Thursday everyone!  I just realized I haven’t been posting my Project QUITLING Sponsor posts very regularly – I’ll definitely have to change that!

Tonight, I’m going to introduce you to Chris Daly of Dye Candy Fabrics

What is your crafting style?  I am a fabric dyeing junkie obsessed with bright bold colors! I am also an art quilter, modern quilter, jewelry maker and stained glass artist. My favorite medium is fabric.  I love how easily fabric can be adapted to create art and quilts. Cut it up, sew it back together, dye it, paint it, thread sketch and quilt it.  The possibilities are endless!

How did you get started creating?  All my life I have been sewing and working in the needle arts. I tried quilting in the 1970’s but found cutting the pieces out so tedious…enter the rotary cutter and I was hooked.

I started dyeing clothing since I was a teenager. In 2006 when I was working on my first art quilt I couldn’t find the color fabrics I had envisioned.  My thoughts went to dyeing but I wanted to be sure I could create fabrics that were colorfast.  I asked one of the ladies from our local quilt guild if she knew anyone that taught fabric dyeing classes.  She suggested I contact Barb Raisbeck.  That very same night at our meeting Marcia Wachuta mentioned she would be teaching at a retreat hosted by Barb and there would be fabric dyeing classes too.  It was fate!

When I attended the retreat I met Kim and Diane Lapacek who were instructing the dye classes.  I was hooked.  In fact I found fabric dyeing so exciting I could hardly sleep the first night.  All I wanted to do for the rest of the weekend was dye.  I still have that problem to this day.  I can’t dye fabric during the weekdays because my mind won’t settle down long enough to allow me a good night sleep for work the next day.

Do you have a favorite piece?

My favorite art quilt is called “Tropical”.  It was made for the Art Quilts Around the World blog “Different” Challenge.  We were supposed to work in colors we don’t typically use.  My favorite colors are purple and green. I moved one shift to the left on the color wheel combining red and aquamarine to create this piece.  I never would have thought to put these colors together and I love the results.  But what I love the most is the thread work on this quilt.  I spent 14 hours quilting and thread sketching  on this little 14”x14” piece.

What is your favorite crafty blog to follow/read? - I subscribe to at least 300 blogs.  It is really hard to pick just one but I think it would have to be www.Playswithneedles.blogspot.com.  I love the artistry of Susan Elliott.  She crafts her words and pictures as exquisitely as her embroidery and bead work.  I love to read her high fashion reviews too.

Which part of the creating process does you like the most? -  I like the process itself.  I usually have a concrete idea in mind when I start a project.  I love to see the vision change and become something completely different by the end of the project.

Which part of the creating process do you dislike the most? - The clean up!

Favorite Adhesive:  Steam a Seam

Favorite Movie:  Fried Green Tomatoes

Beverage of Choice:  Celestial Seasonings Bengal Spice Tea

Sweet or Salty? Sweet

Number 1 on your Bucket List: Travel to Europe.

Keep up with Chris on the Web!

Dyecandy.blogspot.com – Find links to my Etsy Shop for hand dyed fabrics and quilters jewelry. There are also links to the quilts shows I will be vending at and my current teaching schedule.

I curate an art quilt blog. It is a collaborative blog site for contemporary art quilters to meet, share work, techniques and promote their art quilts. Find us at: theartquiltblog.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DyeCandy

Twitter: dyecandy

Email: dyecandy {at} gmail {dot} com

Thanks Chris for being a wonderful sponsor!  I’m sure everyone who wins your fabric will soon know why it’s SO AMAZING!