Silkworm Magazine, Volume 22, Issue No. 4, Winter 2015

In the final issue of this year we investigate multi-dimensional silk. Pamela Glose showcases artists from the silk painting community who use various elements to make their art multi-dimensional.  Karen Rose shares some of her fashions while Karen Sistek shares her instructions for making a silk lamp/lampshade.  And a digital chapter of SPIN decides to meet and teach in an off-festival year.


 

Silkworm Cover - V22 No. 4

 

 

In This Issue

Diane Lawrence

Using Karen Sistek's instructions, Diane Lawrence
made this Oriental Peony lamp

Make a Silk Lamp with Karen Sistek
by Karen Sistek

(Karen has learned that the lamps she uses for her lamp project are no longer being sold.  However, the instructions are useful for anyone who may want to take a similar lamp and cover it in silk.  There are several lamps which are similar in structure to the ones Karen created.)

Rick and I (mostly Rick) have spent many hours creating detailed instructions for assembling a hand painted silk lamp.  We have tried to think of everything to help you along the way to a successful adventure. I have been wanting to create a silk covered shade for more than eight years. I am so very thrilled with the project that I created, and am happy to share it with you.

The instructions and directions that Rick and I have prepared for you are the way that we assemble the lamp shades, and how I have taught this process in my studio.

I have my lamps for sale in high-end galleries, so I want them to look as professional as possible, so we have gone to great lengths to accomplish this.

Through the years, I have gradually chosen a heavier momme of silk for my projects. I currently use 16mm Habotai for most of my mounted silks and I am happy with the results. The lighter weight Habotai seems to show unevenly applied dyes, and can result in “splotches” when the lamp is lit. The 16.5mm Crepe de Chine worked fine, although I have found that the crepe can stretch when attaching it to the styrene backing. (Next, I will experiment with 19mm Charmeuse.)

(To read more, go to Vol. 22, Issue No. 4.)


Karen Rose - Chiffon Shibori vest

Chiffon Shibori Vest by Karen Rose

Karen Rose Designing Life
by Tunizia Abdur-Raheem

Karen Rose is a member of SPIN who resides in Oklahoma.  She’s fashioned a career in textile design, taking classes, trying and erring and finding her way into a small design company.  She’s a fan of Carter Smith and has studied with him in the past.  We caught up with her for a little conversation about her journey.

Silkworm: How did you discover SPIN?


Karen Rose: I believe it was my silk painting teacher at the Cleveland Institute of Art that introduced me to SPIN. She was great at educating you on sources. Now that we have a Silk Painters Guild of Oklahoma, I’m more involved, (in the role of Secretary) in SPIN and have really enjoyed our group. We support each other, inspire and work as a group to show our work. Our group represents so many types of silk painting techniques and forms. It’s great.

SW: You describe yourself as a textile designer. Do you have any artistic background? Did you ever do this in a capacity for a company (or your own company)? How did you find your way into this profession?

KR: I’ve been creating different types of art and designing clothing most of my life. My mother was a great inspiration. I was designing clothes for my Barbie as a child. Her first dress was a stylish cowl neck, sleeveless dress made from that lonely sock that lived in our laundry. I remember feeling so ripped off when Calvin Klein introduced the same design years later. Oh well, that’s the biz.

(To read more, go to Vol. 22, Issue No. 4.)

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