Big Comeback.

So yeah, if you ever wonder if it's possible to forget about something for 3 years... Yeah, that's what happened here!

I got swamped with social media tasks and kinda drifted away from blogging!

The good news is I've got A TON of new scarves to share with you!

 

Forget Me Not silk scarf

Oh, this is one of my all-time favorites! It's big (180 by 60 centimeters) and soooo bluueeeeeee—it's just blue in a sea of blue-ness. Blue-madness!

 

Soft and see-through, a 100% natural silk

Front and back of the scarf are the same: the beauty of hand painted silk!

Close up for the Forget Me Not scarf: flowers are really big!

See how delicate and light the Habotai silk is!

The only issue I've got with this scarf, is that it takes at least 3 days to paint... while I can't move the easel from my table, it's too big.

And here's the answer to your question: why I am back today?

Well, the next Forget Me Not scarf is on my table, drying. And I'm waiting for an opportunity to paint the details once the paints are dry enough to work with!

The Forget Me Not scarf can be order on Etsy - at my MinkuLUL silk scarf shop here!

Dancing Dragons on silk scarf so you can take them anywhere you go!

The Dancing Dragons silk scarf

This silk scarf was painted... well, on a whim, really! I just wanted so badly to make it and the design finally became crystal clear in my mind, so I took a week of my normal chores and painted it!

Dancing Dragons silk scarf on ETSY!

That's me: Minkulul, with the Dancing Dragons silk scarf!

Here we go with some more pictures. Those were taken at my studio, so inside. Can you tell how silk shimmers and how it can change its tones and shades? This is so amazing to see this transformation: depend on the light type, you have a bit different scarf every time!

Hand painted silk scarf Dragon Dance is on Etsy now!

Dancing Dragons silk scarf is HERE

And here we have some pictures from the painting process. As I said, this one took me A WEEK!Why? Well, can you see all the scales on both dragons? Yay, it was almost like meditation with a brush!

Painting the Dancing Dragon silk scarf

The Dancing Dragon - painting outlines for the design on silk scarf

Would you like to know the technique that this scarf was painted in? Please check my post about silk painting the contours after using colorless gutta - the "stained glass" technique.

Firebird Wings silk scarf - painting process

XL silk scarf in red and gold - the Firebird Wings

Silk scarf Firebird Wings on Etsy

One of my biggest and boldest creations: the Firebird feathers creating pattern of wings I call Firebird's. Let me show you in a few steps how it was painted!

Painting the Firebird Wings scarf - colorless outline

In March I have designed and then painted the Firebird Wings.

Painting the Firebird Wings scarf - the centre piece

You can see all the colors used, the scarf was to big for me to keep paints on the table.

Silk scarf Firebird Wings without the outlines. You can find this one on ETSY.

Painting the outline - red and burgundy contours

Recently, I decided to add outlines to the design, to make the feathers pop!

Painting details outline for the Firebird Wings scarf.

The Firebird Wings scarf painted with outlines! There's me in the mirror!

Silk scarf Firebird Wings with contours painted - on ETSY

So, what do you think? I do prefer the scarf with outlines painted! It took a few days to paint but I think it's totally worth the work!

Stained glass on silk - silk painting technique

Hummingbird silk scarf

I am so proud of a new scarf I have painted recently! It is called Hummingbirds and it was designed as a 'stained glass' window!

Silk scarf 'Hummingbird' on ETSY

Close up of the hummingbirds on the scarf!

Silk scarf Hummingbirds with Hibiscus

If you are interested in how was it painted, take a look at some of my WIP photos!

Painting process and the Stained Glass technique

First - the design!
As stained glass windows are always build of smaller panels to make them more durable, I decide to divide my scarf in two squares and one rectangle (in the middle).
I decided to paint hummingbirds with pink hibiscus flowers on square panels. I had to make the colibri quite because I wanted them to stand out as accents among flowers.
The panel in the middle with hibiscus flowers I decided to paint life - size, to add variations to the design.

Blue background and purple - turquoise hummingbird.

Pink Hibiscus flowers and black outline.

Adding black outline after washing out the gutta.

Painting process taking a bit! All the lines have to be painted.

Painted scarf! Hummingbirs, hibiscus flowers and black outline for the stained glass effect!

Painting in Purple - lots of scarfs!

My favorite color

I adore all things in shades of purple, lila and violet... it is a shame that this particular color won't go well with my complexion.
If I could I would wear only purple ;) but hey, what can you do? (I am an Real Autumn gilr, have you heard about 4 Season Color Analysis? That's really helpful when trying to find right color set for your clothes)
Still, I love painting purple scarfs and as lilacs are my fav flowers, there have been A LOT of Lilac scarves at my workshop lately!

Purple scarfs

I call this one "Synthetic Lilac" as this one has less details drawn with white contour but lots of play with shades and splashes of water.

Silk scarf Lilac hand painted and ready to go on ETSY

Hand painted silk scarf Lilacs on ETSY

Lilac silk scarf ready to go! on ETSY

 This one is called "Bouquet of Lilacs", flowers are tied with white ribbon. It's a neck scarf (128 x 28 cm) and painted in very dark purple - eggplant color set.

Silk scarf Bouquet of Lilacs with white ribbons on ETSY

Bouquet of Lilacs silk scarf

And finally the Wisteria scarf, if you are overwhelmed with Lilac (can you have enough of those? I doubt it!) Painted on Habotai Medium natural silk, which drapes gorgeously and is not transparent.

Wisteria silk scarf hand painted and then... drawn! On ETSY here!

Bright green with purple and white makes the Wisteria scarf!

The painting process of Lilac scarf

As I really like the pics of WIP (Work In Progress) here are some photos! Took with phone camera, so the colors are a bit off, moreover it was photographed at night... so beware!

Painting the Lilac scarf - on Etsy now

Painting the Lilac scarf - on Etsy now

Painting the Lilac scarf - on Etsy now

Painting the Lilac scarf - on Etsy now

If you are wondering which one of 4 Season Colors are you, here's a great page to do the analysis by yourself! Colormepretty!

1000 sales on ETSY! YAY

My Etsy shop just got the 1000th sale! 

Thank you so much! Thank you for all your kind words, feedback and orders!

Art Nouveau on scarfs - Jugendstil creations

Art Nouveau - my favorite style

In polish we call it secession,  meaning 'leaving the old behind' - so true! This is an art of nature, flowering ornamentation, asymmetric and pure beauty.
We had many wonderful artists creating in this amazing style, and Stanislaw Wyspianski and Alphonse Mucha are my absolute idols.

S. Wyspiański Iris flowers

Art Nouveau art is my source of inspiration, and sometimes I use it as a reference or even a base for my silk paints design. I love transferring Alphonse Mucha masterpieces into wearables!

A. Mucha 'Rose'

The scarfs in Art Nouveau style

Oh I have so many! Here are some photos of my designs. Enjoy!

Angel of Fire and Ice based on A.Mucha  'Feather'

Peacock Feather inspired by Art Nouveau ornaments

Mucha Rose scarf based on... A. Mucha 'Rose' :)

Firebird and Poppies inspired by Art Nouveau

Mucha Lilies scarf based on... A. Mucha art 'Lilies'

Angel Wings inspired by Art Novueau style

Oh, the list goes on and on, as I really feel I am one of the Art - Nouveau artists. Hope to prepare a Pinterest board with Art Nouveau pics for you!
Drop me a note if you want to be included, I will make the Pinterest board an Open Board.

Poppies and Firebird: from design to painted scarves!

The Poppies and Firebird silk scarves

My latest creation in MinkuLUL shop, the commissioned scarf size 34 x 34 inches.

Silk scarves Poppies and Firebird on ETSY

I have painted it with a Setasilk silk paints, to get the most vivid red there is! (I think this red is even more intense that the one I have from acrylic... not to mention watercolors... this is THE RED!!) 

The beginning... a design!

I had a pleasure to work with a great lady from US, who wanted a red and gold scarf with flowers and Art Nouveau touch. We e-mailed a bit about the size and ideas, then I created 3 pictures for her to choose from.

 We e-mailed a bit more and so the final version was created!

I am drawing the designs with colored pencils... taking pictures with my phone did a nasty number on the quality and colors... thankfully I have my camera back!

The silk painting - all the fun!

While painting - Setasilk silk paints are amazing!

Silk scarf Poppies and Firebird

Silk scarf Poppies and Firebird

Silk scarf Poppies and Firebird

I am wondering, is "scarf" rectangle and long, and "scarves" square?
Hm.... or just two words for the same thing?