Fooling Around with the Locals

While here in Denver I had a bit of time to put my new-found enthusiasm for dyeing with plants to use.  I researched a few of the neighborhood trees to make sure they were not toxic, and made a brew of bundles with sumac, cottonwood, and honey locust leaves, pods and bark.

kettle from thrift store holding bundles of cotton/linen blend also from the thrift store

My parents were intrigued and very patient.  Not much color, but a nice tea-dyed effect.  I definitely have some more learning to do!

I am heading back to the West Coast day after tomorrow, and on up to Home and Flossy on Sunday. 

Mother's studio window ledge

 

Will catch up with you here in Blogland on Sunday evening, Dogs Above willing.  Best wishes to all 'til then!

 

 

 

 

Workshop: Natural Dyeing

Far away to another Island in Washington State magic was recently made under the tutelage of India Flint.  I was lucky enough to be there.

Arriving the day before the workshop began, I got to meet some of the local residents...
 

...see some of the sights...

 ...and wander through the hedgerows of this beautiful place.

 Lopez Island abounds in small farms...

 ...and fresh produce.

I got to feast on delicious local beets on several occasions.

 The workshop was held in a garden Alice in Wonderland would have been at home in.

Flowers as well as vegetables in neat rows exuded gorgeous aromas.

One of the first activities of day one was labeling our silk, cotton, and wool with our own mark.

 The initial bundles were made with a plant the Lopez dye group had not been able to achieve color from.  India accepted the challenge, made some helpful suggestions, and set us to work.

The contents of my first bundle included both green and 'toasted' leaves.

 Our bundles went into the pot of hot water to simmer.  It would be the next morning before we got to open them.  When we woke on day two, it felt like Christmas.

 The first bundles were so exciting, I nearly forgot that we had two more to open that morning!

 

 

How it was fascinating to see the diversity of our bundles.

We hung our newly-dyed treasures on the lines outside the workroom and went back to bundling.

 When the cloth was dry, we stitched our pieces together...

 ...and enjoyed a splendid exhibit of Lopez-dyed art cloth.

I had such a good time, learned so much and met so many kindred souls.

Thank you to Christie, Patsy, Raiti, Suzanne, Lisa and most of all, Favorite Bear, for giving me the time of my life and endless inspiration.

New Small Work

The following small pieces hatched from a single length of raw silk were completed over the past few days. 

Some of the bits were joined together with a zigzag stitch over fibers.

Some stood on their own.

Seed beads were added on each, sometimes in scatters...

...and sometimes in lines.

Sizes range from 3.5"x6"...

to 5.75"x9".

 Happy Mother's Day tomorrow.  I get to see my mother (and Dad) on Thursday when I go to Denver.

Hatching

Several small works emerging from a larger piece of raw silk eco-dyed last summer and textile painted in the fall are now being stitched and beaded.

the raw silk was dyed with onion skins and rust

After being fused to two layers of felt and machine stitched, the cloth hung on the design wall all winter.  Sometimes work has to incubate, right?  It's fun hatching a new little series this way, chopping up and re-configuring the pieces.  I plan to add hand stitching and seed beads, and whatever else seems right as I go along.

An End to the Doldrums

I rejoice to say: sure enough the malaise has lifted - progress made on the challenge piece for Fiberactions - and ideas bubbling around for new work in the New Year.  Here is a little glimpse of the challenge, just a little detail because the reveal is not until January 15 here.

raw silk dyed with rust and onions; cotton dyed with procion; textile paints; beads

The last spectacular sunset of the old year happened last evening.

I share it with you here along with more trumpeter swans...

and best wishes for a creative 2012.  See you there!

Reflections While Shirking

Reflections at year end as we enjoy some quiet days off from the usual routine:

In the studio, fooling around on a piece for the Fiberactions challenge (due on January 15), feeling weary, stuck and empty-headed… 

detail of work in progress: stamping on vintage kimono silk

detail of work in progress: stamping on eco-dyed raw silk

 

This will pass, I know, but it’s uncomfortable as always when beginning to work again after a hiatus.  Others have wisely suggested that at the start of a break, it’s helpful to leave something in progress waiting for you – I wish I had!  Experience tells me that it will be ok, just get in there and make some chaos – the doors to my imagination will fly open again.

 

We have taken some good walks on these afternoons while I am shirking my studio, and I believe this time off will play into the next body of work.

 

 

What is your remedy for being blahhked?

By the way, thank you so much to all who read, comment and follow my blog - I plan to have a give away early in the new year to celebrate my anniversary. 

Eco-dyes Unveiled

On Sunday I unwrapped the silk scarf and onion skin bundles rolled up in early May.  One scarf had vinegar mordant, the other was mordanted with salt water from the Wrangell Narrows right in front of our house. 

Silk scarf dyed with onion skins and vinegar, cold-bundled for two months.

Close-up of the vinegar scarf - a very pretty light apricot hue all over with wonderful textures from the yellow and red onion skins the silk was bundled with.

 This is the scarf which had saltwater mordant.  The silk stayed white but the onion skins gave exciting textures in beautiful shades of amber.

Saltwater mordant scarf up close

 Here are the two side by side.  A subtle but noticeable difference.

The saltwater scarf is in the center, flanked on each side by the vinegar scarf.  I followed India Flint's simple directions for processing after un-bundling, merely shaking off all the plant material, allowing the silk to dry and then steam-ironing using a pressing cloth.  

Although I don't favor subtle colors, I am thrilled with my first-ever onion skin dyes.  What are you experimenting with this summer?