Sondra Millard

My name is Sondra Millard. I am a Kansas fabric dyer and quilt artist. I've been dyeing my own fabrics for quilting for several years. I decided to write a book about ice dyeing fabrics that focused on the needs of a quilter. I could not find a book that dealt with how to dye large pieces such as quilt backings so, though my own trial and error, I came up with some techniques that achieve fantastic color and patterns but are easily made without any tying. I don't consider myself a tie dyer since my techniques don't involve intricate tying or resists. I use exclusively the Dharma Fiber Reactive Procion Blended Dyes. I find that the blends give a myriad of colors and each piece of fabric will always be consistently gorgeous. I'm inspired by the colors and patterns in nature ranging from the brilliant hues of flowers to the deep and mysterious tones of earthy minerals and jewels.Throughout my journey as a quilt artist, I have purchased what seems like thousands of yards of commercial fabrics. Through learning to dye my own fabrics with the Dharma dyes, I've discovered that the real excitement comes when you create your own unique fabrics. I get more excited about rinsing out my own creations than I ever did when I shopped for commercial fabrics. The true joy comes when you can mix your own dyed fabrics with commercial fabrics to create something entirely unique.