Artmagnet

Who or what this is, I don't really know, but they crack me up! Each one I make gives me a look. And that hair! (It's wolf scraps from an inherited collection of vintage pieces.)  I was also just gifted an old parka ruff that traveled across thousands of miles on the head of a musher on the back of a dogsled, and now it could yield hundreds of bits for useful purposes such as this magnet. ) Stay tuned for more hilarious adventures of the furry kind. 😊

3 1/2"x3 1/2", hand painted, printed cotton duck,
leather, fur, vintage steel cut beads
Photo/copyright Amy Mackinaw

Caribou Pillows

These felted wool with satin stitch caribou pillows were purchased to be used at a cabin in the mountains in caribou country. Happy landings!

18"x18" felted wool
Photo and Copyright Amy Mackinaw

Smooth Running

I made this piece last March for the "Art in the Arctic" show celebrating Alaska's National Wildlife Refuges and the opportunities they provide us for experiencing wilderness.  Yesterday a young couple  saw it at another show and stood looking at it a long time. I described the techniques used to make it and the experience of being in that country north of the Brooks Range during the bright sunny days of March and April, the patterns of the drifted snow and the vastness of the place. To my surprise and delight they purchased the piece, and I am so happy it has found a good home.

"Smooth Running" 16"x20", hand dyed cotton, gelatin plate printed, collage pieced,
organza overlay, free motion  quilted

Thank You, Anchorage!

Wow! Just returned from the Polar Bazaar at the Anchorage Museum. What a wonderful experience all around--so many nice people, such a beautiful venue and so much creativity and craftsmanship--plus Alaska authors and a lively zine scene on site. Thank you, Anchorage! I hope to see you again next year-- 😊

Quilt Cuffs

Alaska inspired and delicious to make and bead. The final touch: a moose antler button clasp.

2 1/2"x8", hand dyed fabric collage,
free motion quilted, beaded
Photo/copyright Amy Mackinaw

Spirit of Alaska flags

What a gorgeous fall day to be set up at the Tanana Valley Farmers Market. A beautiful way to spend the day--munching some carrots, too-- 😊

Spirit of Alaska Flag Set, each flag 6"x 8"
Caribou, Raven, Mountains, Salmon, Grizzly

Tundra Bearberries

Padded Shoulder Pouch, 6 1/2" x 8 1/2", 50" strap
Available at Alaska Geographic Store, Fairbanks, Alaska

Follow my work on Instagram: @amymmackinaw
Facebook: Bearberry Designs / Amy Mackinaw
Or email me: bearberrydesigns@gmail.com

Blue Moon

Blue Moon. 11"x14"

Blue Moon I See You

New work in progress--this sheer is so tantalizing. Where else will the ideas go?

Polyester organza, painted cotton, freemotion stitching

Yes

Birch Moon

7x10" Fiber, beads, photo by Amy Mackinaw

Ocean View

Sometimes it feels right to step back and let the fabrics speak for themselves:  "Marbled, gelatin-plate printed, Procion MX dyed pimatex cotton, polyester organza."

8" x 10" Ocean View, photo and copyright Amy Mackinaw

Alaskan Winter Moon

Techniques of surface design: hand-dye, marbling, gelatin-plate printing, free-motion machine quilting and beadwork, collaged and overlaid with polyester organza to represent a moonlit night in an Alaskan birch forest.

Photo and copyright Amy Mackinaw 2018

Alaska :: Nothing but FUN!

A new series, playing with free-motion machine sketching and inking with Derwent Inktense pencils.  "Washed" and sealed with Jacquard Colorless Extender.

2"x2" Magnets copyright 2017 Amy Mackinaw

Denali Prints

Though her official height shrunk by 10 feet recently (due to more accurate measuring technology), she is still "The High One" to me.  Denali 20,310'

Denali original silk screen prints on hand-dyed cotton, 8x8"
photo by Amy Mackinaw

Springtime Snow Dyeing

It seems the snow always melts before I get the chance to snow dye...but not this year!

Set up with plastic-lined frame, stretched with snow fence.
One piece of cotton pre-soaked with soda ash solution under the snow fence to catch the melted snow and dyes.
Two pieces of cotton scrunched on top of the snow fence.

Sprinkling a variety of blues with an old spice bottle: turquoise, cerulean blue, azure blue, grape.

Added a strip of extra snow to see what happens if more snow added on top--
how much more pastel will the colors get?

Close-up of melting snow and dye on fabric.  Stay tuned for results--

Marbling Collection

Here's a new palette of marbled cottons using Jacquard Marbling Colors, each created in a 16x24-inch baking pan salavaged along the road and possibly used previously to catch old car oil?  Hard to say, but after lots of scrubbing, it's turning into a valuable tool!  Can't wait to start working with these fabrics---

16"x24" marbled cotton pieces drying by the woodstove, Jacquard Marbling Colors
photo by Amy Mackinaw

close-up of marbled cotton, Jacquard Marbling Colors
photo by Amy Mackinaw

Marbling process with paints, whisk, large baking pan
 and methyl cellulose medium to support paints

Something New Under the Sun?

We are in the middle of our March sunshine with dozens of inches of snow on the ground.  It's mostly blue and white out there, but who can resist throwing in some color?  Not me!

"Taiga" Tablet Sleeve, hand-dyed cotton, organza, beads, 1/4" foam
10 1/2"x12 1/2" -- photo by Amy Mackinaw

Animal Spirits: Shoulder Pouches

Here's a new batch of colorful shoulder pouches with inner zip pocket, hand-dyed and commercial cottons, lined with pre-quilted cotton. Original designs are silk-screened, and embellished with free machine embroidered quilting and beads.

Caribou and Chickadee, 8"x10"
photo by Amy Mackinaw

Grizzly and Moose, 8"x10"
photo by Amy Mackinaw

Denali Sunset

Denali Sunset  12"x30", Hand-dyed and commercial cotton, organza, machine quilting, glass beads
photo by Amy Mackinaw

Caribou, Moose and Grizzlies, oh my!

...and a little chickadee, raven and salmon, too--

Hand-carved, block printed, quilted coasters  5"x5"

Chickadee shoulder pouch  9"x11"

Moose shoulder pouch  9"x11"