WIP - 022213

More later... natural and compost dyed silk fabrics.

Indigo

Indigo dyed wool strips.  Introduction to Indigo Dyeing begins February 15th, this class is self paced.  Cost $75 USD plus $29.95 subscription fee to The Natural Surface!

Prairie 2002

Prairie
2002
45x38ish inches
Natural Dyes
Silk Crepe de Chine

This is "Prairie" I found it last night in a wicker trunk with several other pieces to my 2002 Prairie Rermnant Solo Show.  I'm thinking of cutting it into four sections, after pressing, and machine stitching, maybe push the surface a little further, and work them into my Canyonland Series.  This while I wait on my indigo vat to do it's thing!

I'm teaching an online basic introduction to indigo starting February 14th at the Natural Surface (which is now $29.95 a year to be a member)  http://naturaldyeing.ning.com I will be teaching both the instant indigo vat, and the standard chemical reduction indigo vats.  Cost for the class is $75 USD.

Introduction to Indigo

I'm teaching an online basic introduction to indigo starting February 14th at the Natural Surface (which is now $29.95 a year to be a member) http://naturaldyeing.ning.com

I will be teaching both the instant indigo vat, and the standard chemical reduction indigo vats.

 

Untitled WIP

Natural dye painted and rusted silk organza over cochineal dyed wool batting.

I'm off on a couple of tangents, now that I know I won't be entering Quilt National.  Hopefully the next time QN rolls around they will have either changed the image requirements, of 300DPI or I will have a new camera capable of taking that high quality images.  Until then I'm content working in my studio.

If you'd like to learn more about dye painting fabrics with natural dyes check out my eBook Mark Making with Nature!

WIP - Untitled

I started this piece a good eight or nine years ago and completely forgot about it, well this week is it's week to come to life. 

Layered rust, indigo, and compost dyed, silk, cotton, and cotton linen blend fabrics.

Composting Fabric and the Issue of Rot

Yes even "I" have to deal with the issue of rot from time to time, I know many of you throw these pieces of fabric away, why I don't know but I have heard from many of you that you do so.   Me, well I'm weird in that I look forward to the holes, the tid bits scraps left in the washer and dryer, as they are layers in my mind. 

But what to do with the larger pieces that are thin and fragile?   Simple back it with a sheer iron on interfacing and go forward!  If need be used double sided interfacing and press it to a stronger piece of cotton fabric or canvas, when I've needed to do this I've used cotton flannel fabric as I love the way it needles for hand stitching.

Some tidbits of fabric from the dryer, I have a pile I collected from the washer drying on a rack.

More holes and I can't wait to stitch them!

Later this evening this batch of fabric will be placed into a dyebath of cutch and walnut, once it's achieved the appropraite tone of "sandstone" I will wash it, dry it, press it, and then cut it down to size. After all the logistics of placement is figured out I may back it with a sheer interfacing such as Misty Fuse (my favorite) as I really don't like putting netting/tull over the face of my textiles.



If you want to throw your fabric away I understand, I really do!  It simply does not fit with your vision and I know how difficult it can be to work with fabric, fibers, yarns, threads, etc., that do NOT fit in with your vision.  If it's way cool rotted stuff just send it to me instead of throwing it away, I promise I'll turn it into something wonderful!

Oxidizing Fabric

Three four yard plus pieces of fabric that have been sitting out all winter and spring in the garden area waiting for me to do something, anything, with them.

Can't wait to see what this piece looks like after the washing machine, am hoping for some serious deterioration!  After a run through the washer then it's off to the alum pot and then time for a dye bath, am planning on something using walnuts and cutch for these pieces.

WIP - Queen Anne's Birds now with more stitching.
It's now cool enough I can stand to be in my studio for more than five minutes to get some work done

WIP- Hoodoos

A new piece for my canyonlands series.

Madder lac on silk fabric, wool batting, cotton backing, machine stitched. 
Approximately 12'x14"

Experimenting 061112

Experimenting with some digitally printed silk and cotton overlays over natural dyed fabrics.

No. 45 Redux

Corn No. 45 - Redux, I didn't like the original grain bin so I undid some of the stitching and turned it into a short fat silo, I'm much happier now!

Untitled WIP No. 45

Needs more stitching.  I started this piece this evening, not bad for a day with no stitching or creating blocked out the schedule!

Pear Tree Dye Project

The wind took out my beloved pear tree last week, so this week we will be cutting it up into managable pieces, the leaves, bark, and smaller limbs will be used for dyeing fabric and yarn.  Am thinking of breaking out the large cast iron cauldron and making up a large dye vat.

eBook Sale ends this Sunday!

eBook Spring Sale ends this coming Sunday!  It's time to start those natural dye and rust dye bundles with this years botanical wonders!

Spring eBook Sale Ends this Sunday!!!

eBooks Sale ends this coming Sunday! Spring is here it's time to make those dye bundles with natures bounty!

Wool Felted Bag

Bag front.

Back of bag.

Needle felted natural dyed wool fabrics and fibers.

Beautiful Blue

Indigo dyed silk velvet that I found at the bottom of my fabric stash, I haven't decided what to do with the fabric yet.

Downsizing and Shop Update

Been working in the studio today, going through supplies and have decided to downsize, I'll be listing more silk bundles, silk fiber packets, wool bundles, etc. tomorrow in the shop! The need to downsize has more with the need to focus and so long the extras are hanging out the desire to dye more fabric and fibers becomes diminished! 

Upcoming dye pots for this weekend include walnuts, curly dock, and indigo, and I can't wait.

Curly or sour dock, I have three beautiful stands in the yard right now, all parts are usable including the roots.