Making Silk Paper Tutorial

This is how the fibers tend to arrive, in a large mass all tangled together, at this point you can use them for anything, making paper, doll hair, very organic flowers, emellishment in a landscape piece, etc.

Throwster's waste contains sericin, this sericin acts like an adhesive when spritz with water and heated with an iron, when heated the sericin causes the silk fibers to stick to themselves thus creating a sheet of silk paper or constructed cloth.

• To make silk paper with throwster's waste pull the fibers apart to form a thin single layer.
• Spritz with water, but don't drown the fibers.
• Using either two pressing sheets or parchment paper - I use deli sheets - place your layer of fiber in between the two sheets and press with a hot iron.
• You don't want to scorch the fibers so keep checking on the papers progress by lifting your top pressing sheet and see if they have bonded.
• Once they have bonded you can then add a second layer of throwster's waste and heat set to bond both layers for a thicker layer of paper or leave as is and use for embellishment, needlefelting, etc.

The fibers need to be teased apart, if you iron them together in this stage, without teasing them, you will end up with an unworkable mass. Pull the fibers apart gently silk, they don't need to be completely pulled apart, just seperated a bit to make a single layer of fibers.

Tease the fibers apart further until they are thin and gossamer like, if you wish to have thick areas this is fine, these areas might need additional pressing and water in order to form a bond.

First layer of throwster's waste after pressing with a hot iron

Second layer of throwster's wasted ironed to the first layer, it's important to spritz the first layer with water so that the second layer will bond with the first layer.

Painted Bondaweb that will be ironed to the silk throwster's waste paper, I used a fabric paint with a metallic sheen called Pink Halo.

I cut the painted bondaweb to size and then pressed it to the throwster's paper, I used two pressing sheets, one above my paper and one below, to sandwich the whole thing to prevent the bondaweb from attaching the iron and ironing board.

Here is the silk paper with the painted bondaweb attached, the paper is strong enough on it's own to be used for embellishing, but I chose to add the bondaweb as I was wishing to make some flowers for collage that had a bit more bling. Detail shots show that you can still see the fibers underneath.

Silk throwster's waste which can be purchased here http://www.prairiefibers.etsy.com/

Love Lies Bleeding

These fat eights are available in my shop http://www.prairiefibers.etsy.com/ the fabric is hand painted silk dupioni.

Thomas Love

No the iron isn't on, it's not even plugged in, thankfully.

Angel Love

Wow she actually sat still for her photo, too bad it's on our very messy bed! She's five now I figure she'll calm down someday, or not.

New Goodies

Seems you guys really like these little beauties so I added more Prairie Colours Natural Dyed Yarn Bundles to my etsy.com store! I also posted more silk carrier rods in hot spring colors. I'll be adding more of the silk fabric bundles tomorrow.

Whtat my name means

It would appear that someone has been looking over my shoulder!

What Kimberly Means

You are a seeker of knowledge, and you have learned many things in your life. You are also a keeper of knowledge - meaning you don't spill secrets or spread gossip. People sometimes think you're snobby or aloof, but you're just too deep in thought to pay attention to them. You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start. You are confident, self assured, and capable. You are not easily intimidated. You master any and all skills easily. You don't have to work hard for what you want. You make your life out to be exactly how you want it. And you'll knock down anyone who gets in your way! You are full of energy. You are spirited and boisterous. You are bold and daring. You are willing to do some pretty outrageous things. Your high energy sometimes gets you in trouble. You can have a pretty bad temper at times. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow. You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily. Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is. You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in. You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising. You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

What my name means

What Kimberly Means

You are a seeker of knowledge, and you have learned many things in your life. You are also a keeper of knowledge - meaning you don't spill secrets or spread gossip. People sometimes think you're snobby or aloof, but you're just too deep in thought to pay attention to them. You tend to be pretty tightly wound. It's easy to get you excited... which can be a good or bad thing. You have a lot of enthusiasm, but it fades rather quickly. You don't stick with any one thing for very long. You have the drive to accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. Your biggest problem is making sure you finish the projects you start. You are confident, self assured, and capable. You are not easily intimidated. You master any and all skills easily. You don't have to work hard for what you want. You make your life out to be exactly how you want it. And you'll knock down anyone who gets in your way! You are full of energy. You are spirited and boisterous. You are bold and daring. You are willing to do some pretty outrageous things. Your high energy sometimes gets you in trouble. You can have a pretty bad temper at times. You are friendly, charming, and warm. You get along with almost everyone. You work hard not to rock the boat. Your easy going attitude brings people together. At times, you can be a little flaky and irresponsible. But for the important things, you pull it together. You are wild, crazy, and a huge rebel. You're always up to something. You have a ton of energy, and most people can't handle you. You're very intense. You definitely are a handful, and you're likely to get in trouble. But your kind of trouble is a lot of fun. You are relaxed, chill, and very likely to go with the flow. You are light hearted and accepting. You don't get worked up easily. Well adjusted and incredibly happy, many people wonder what your secret to life is. You are a free spirit, and you resent anyone who tries to fence you in. You are unpredictable, adventurous, and always a little surprising. You may miss out by not settling down, but you're too busy having fun to care.

What's Your Name's Hidden Meaning?

Dream World

Whilest I wait upon my other fabrics to finish dyeing, for Malus sylvestris, I've been busily pressing some of my compost dyed fabrics - many of which are now being listed in my prairiefibers.etsy.com store. Then I found this piece tonight, it looks all dreamy and stormy.

This piece is definately calling out to me, I see large thunderstorm clouds, the screen printed lace bit thrown is leads one to think all sorts of things - having survived one F5 and one F3 twister in my short life I'm sure you can imagine the sorts of things I'm imagining!

Compost Dyed Fabrics

I listed several pieces of my compost dyed fabrics to my etsy.com store, I'll post some rust dyed pieces tomorrow, today is our 7th year anniversary, so I'm off to spend some well deserved time with my hubby!

My store http://www.prairiefibers.etsy.com/

Goodies

I've been uploading some new natural dyed goodies to my etsy.com store today, they are very lovely! I have more than I can use at the present and am dyeing more - spring has sprung at the Prairie Fibers Studios! Btw I didn't use the plants listed to acquire the colors, as many of these plants are threatened or endangered. Rather I make my colorways based upon my favorite prairie plants!

Auditioning Fabrics

I've been auditioning fabrics again, for an art quilt project. I compost dyed these cotton fabrics about five or more years ago now and still have no other fabrics to go with them. I've been natural dyeing both silks and cotton fabrics to coordinate, no such luck. Each piece is about 20 - 24 inches square, it might be another five years before I find something to go with these pieces.

Photograph This

Good Luck photographing the whirling dirbish!!! Btw this is my tri-colored sheltie better known as Angel. Every time I start the camera she bolts or starts twirling in circles. The spots on the floor were created by Angel and I understand that they took quite a bit of talent to make - NOT.

The baby

A baby fur ball anyway!

Quebracho samples

Here is a photo of the quebracho dyed silk pieces, the wool and the cotton didn't take the dye very well - or at all in my opinion! Anyway, the colors are very nice, not what I expected at all. Silk Dupioni fabric and Raw Silk Muga yarn are the samples here using Q. Red and Q. Black in seperate vats. Maybe I should combine the two vats for a third color - who knows maybe I'll finally get the color I've been striving for~!

Forest Floor

Well it's been washed and dried and now I'm thinking about putting this piece of fabric into the indigo vat, it's in serious need of some depth that only dyeing will provide at this point. I may compost dye it afterwards. So since I think this one has to wonder why I have yet to put it into the vat right??? Because even I have my doubts.

Quebracho 3 hours later

quebracho red on silk three hours later

quebracho black on silk three hours later

Couldn't Pass Up

This was one of those accidents that was too fun to pass up, too bad I'm not able to find them now in the pile of fabric clippings! The fabric is cotton and was dyed with cochineal - a natural dye. I'm thinking an abstract self portrait may be in store with these beauties!!!

Bright Fabrics

Well I painted these rust dyed fabrics the other day, you can see them while they are still wet several posts ago, and while DH loved the colors we'll just say I didn't. Anyway, I took some shiva paintsticks to the smaller peice of fabric and I like it much better, now to push the surface even further.

Quebracho and Posts

Indigo Vat, this vat lives in this plastic bucket year round, it has been in this bucket for about five years now and has quite a bit of sediment on the bottom of the vat.

Quebracho Red - a tree dye that is high in tannin

Quebracho Black - comes from the same tree as quebracho red!

I'm having problems with posting today, not sure if it's a blogger issue or not. Here's some pics of quebracho black and red, about five minutes after I put the silk fabrics into the pots. Tomorrow the colors will be much much deeper. I'm off now to start an osage orange pot, I'm behind in my green challenge piece for the Natural Surfaces Challenge, and I have a LOVELY indigo vat I don't want going to waste~!

Malus sylvestris

Indigo Dye Raw Muga Silk Yarn

Indigo dye scrim etc.

Raw Muga Silk Yarn

Scrim, cheesecloth, etc.

I just love that name Malus sylvestris! It's so close to malice, it makes me think of trees could have malice, well it kinda leads one's mind to old children's fairey tales of walking in the woods and tree limbs suddenly reaching down and grabbing frightened unsuspecting children! It also makes me think of little trolls hiding around every corner.

Anyway, as per Nan's suggestion I've been dyeing parts for my quilt with natural dyes, indigo, quebracho black, and quebracho red onto cheese cloth, scrim, raw silk muga yarns, wool yarns, and more. The scrim came dyed a drab color, I picked it up at Hancock's years ago and have no idea where to purchase more. The cheesecloth I found in my stash of fabrics.

Texture

I bought these copper sequins on clearance for an incredible price! They look pretty cool in this tub. They also match the teal blue and copper yarn on the right.

Surfacing Again

Here's a shot of the fabric before I cut it into two pieces and then applied more paint, and now you know why I thought it needed more paint - there was just too much white space as it were.

In the larger view you can see a few dragon flies, these were created using a stamp and the same quebracho black natural dye extract.

Surfacing Again

Hmmm well one could take that to mean several things! Actually I've been surfacing fabrics. Here's a piece, well two pieces, that I rust dyed last week, and now I've cut the fabric into two pieces and am working on different colorways. They both need more rusting, there's also some bits of natural dyed coloring on the fabric surfaces - applied with stamps - mostly quebracho black I believe. I started with natural muslin 7878 dyers cloth as my base. The top fabric has a gekko shape that was created using a stamp that had been dipped in quebracho black with a binder (gum tragacanth)

Forest Floor

The fabric after todays application of shiva paintstiks.

This is where I left off with the fabric was about three years ago.

My next project, it's been three years in the making it's so hard to believe that I started this piece of art cloth about two months before my mother suddenly died! I'll be pushing the surface of this piece for some time to come, I'm thinking that it needs to be compost dyed and maybe even rust dyed. So far the fabric has been painted, stamped and I've applied some shiva paintstiks.

Goon Goon Gone

I've been running around like a goon with my head chopped off the past day or so looking for real estate to rent for the business. Will get back soon, hopefully with pictures.

The Boys

I thought I'd take a moment from loading goodies to my etsy.com store and cuddle with my boys, this is what I found when I went looking for them, they were laying toether in the middle of a very messy bed.