More Copper
Posted: August 29, 2013 Filed under: dyeing | Tags: leaf prints, natural dyeing 4 CommentsHad another session of printing with copper. I have to conclude that for me it is the most successful method of eco printing although am not sure how eco it is with all that copper – not something to be done every day. This lot is earmarked and will be stashed away for later.
Got the Blues (at Last!)
Posted: August 28, 2013 Filed under: dyeing | Tags: cotton, indigo, natural dyeing, shibori 2 CommentsThe indigo vat I started the other day was a flop and although it worked for a while it did not impress and no amount of coaxing and additions improved things, I disposed of it. However I have a project in mind that needs to be blue so with my very best Mayan indigo, I started another vat. This time complete success!
The cloth I am using are actually cleaning cloths bought from a car boot sale. They have clearly been used and laundered but they are 100% cotton and are fabulous to stitch with. The only limitation is the size which is about 30cm by 30cm. I have or had literally hundreds of these and I think that the lot cost about £5.00.
I am extremely pleased with the results, my hands are now an alarming shade of blue!
More Dyeing
Posted: August 21, 2013 Filed under: dyeing | Tags: natural dye. indigo Leave a commentNow the weather has picked up again I have continued with the dyeing. Yesterday it was hibiscus. I have never dyed with this before
The liquid after boiling up the flowers was a wonderful deep claret colour. I was worried that I would end up with something very similar to the Brazilwood. However happlily I endded up with a lovely soft pink – exactly what I was aiming for
Today I have got the indigo vat out.
However careful I am I suspect I will be sporting blue fingers by the end of the day
Dyeing
Posted: August 15, 2013 Filed under: dyeing, Shop | Tags: fabrics. fibres, natural dyes, shop, threads Leave a commentI am taking advantage of the dry weather and dyeing on an almost industrial scale. Yesterday it was Golden Rod
Today it is Brazilwood. Am hoping for the lovely claret colour I usually get. Looking promising
It comes in off the line in a glorious tangle
And has to be tamed and ordered ready to sell
I guess I am getting closer to being open for business again!
Festival of Quilts
Posted: August 9, 2013 Filed under: Exhibitions | Tags: Exhibitions, Festival of Quilts 2 Comments
A surreal day was to be had yesterday at the Festival of Quilts at the NEC. I have never visited this show before as a punter as am usually there selling hard! This year I am reserving all my energies for the Knitting and Stitching Shows at Alexandra Palace and Harrogate where my work is featuring in the Graduate Showcase. I also have a stand at Alexandra Palace but it will be radically different to previous years but more about that in a later post. Back to the quilting show… One of the main reasons for going was to see the work of our former tutors, Susan Chapman and Terrie Hitchcock. Although obviously biased this exhibition entitled ‘Evidence of Bodies’,was a favourite
Sorry Sue and Terrie about the quality of my pics and they looked much better in the flesh
I was also extremely impressed to learn that one of our number, Lynne Onions is considered to be a ‘rising star’and was selected by the Quilters Guild to make a piece for their ‘In the Spotlight’ exhibition. Brilliant and well done!
The theme for this year is ‘Underground’
I was also very taken with the work of Mandy Patullo, whose exhibition entitled ‘Thread and Thrift’ was right up my street. She reuses old fabrics and quilts, remaking them into new collages and then embellishes them with stitch.
The last noteworthy item was a quilt to be found in an exhibition curated by Jan Petranik an expert in Banjara or historic Indian textiles. This quilt was extremely won with many layers worn away exposing the fabrics underneath. I was not able to resist taking numerous photos since each square inch was a gem in its own right
