I'm back in my happy place. Choosing threads for works in progress.
Early stages yet, but I know where I'm heading. Just like the pins, three months ago I felt I was just holding it together.
Now we've blown off a yucky psycho landlady, love where we live, are healthy and happy, daughter had great success with her comedy Format performance for Adelaide's Fringe Festival (last night was the final performance), Mum's cast is off, and I am preparing art pieces for an exhibition with other artists (I still do not wear that mantle comfortably though others seem to encourage me to use it to define myself). So, I blew away the cobwebs and went for a walk with my husband to feed the ducks and gather some materials for dying. The two shirts, his and hers, had been mordanting in soy milk for days.A nice fat bag of goodies (should have been a string one I know...) Actually it's best to use dried leaves, so I threw in some of those as well...
It's a second go for this shirt for him...
Simmer...
unwrap......
dry in the sunshine.....
and wear ...Ta Daaa.
17 comments:
I wish I could get into dyeing Pam - but I find it such a chore. I think it is easier when the weather is good and one is not confined to a tiny indoor sink. Love the colours you have acheived.
Beautiful colors. It's been years since I attempted such, but back 30 years ago I did give it a go. I love the look and feel of natural dyed yarns. I enjoy your posts.
Eldest son once brought 10 t shirts that he spent a day tie dying only to never wear any of them!!
Your dying looks infinately more wondeful than his attempts!!
Love the new pic of you on your side bar. You look very relaxed and happy in it.
Good to know that you are more settled now after the last tough few months.
xx
I really like the natural colors. It looks like quite a process, but what wonderful natural colors your yarns have. I just finished watching (twice) the movie AUSTRALIA. Kidman, Jackman. Really enjoyed it. The part of Aus. filmed reminds me a lot of S. Utah. Best wishes with your artwork. I am finally deep enough into a painting to feel like it has a future.
Those colours are just sublime!! I dyed some silk ribbon a couple of years ago to use on Christmas packages. I cannot remember having so much fun!! Mixing dyes and hot water, swishing it all around and then seeing what colours emerged! I felt like a true wizard!
Love your new photos, by the way. Quite fetching!
I was bit by the dyeing bug a few years back and went crazy with it. I changed the color of almost every cotton item of clothing I owned!
Love the piccies of your smiling face.
the colours reflect the spring that is now bursting forth in England. I will have to give it a go sometime, it looks fun and good to educate my son in this art form
x
ohhh, now this is thrilling.. love seeing your process... the colors are so muted and soft.. Love the whole thing!!!
hey very cool to hear that your daughter is on the comedy stage in Adelaide.. that is one of the areas my daughter stayed at when she was in Australia a few years back..
I am going to soon try some onion skin, rusty iron and salty sea water very soon!!
Thanks! and lovely to see you!
Tres cool ! Love the new blog photo and can't ! wait ! to see more of your art pieces. much love from the frozen lands :-( xo S & les Gang
Ooooh! I love this post. Is that you modeling and you up there on the sidebar welcoming us? I love these photographs. You have a pretty lovely face and you look like you are a lot of fun! I am smiling so wide. :D
Good news about the cast off.
So many people who blog are talented. But you are a talented in a way that speaks to me--that makes me want to reach out and hug you and your talent and thank you just for being a part of everything.
Oh boy. I am totally mystified. What were you doing here Pam? Dying it seems but I'm baffled as to the how. tell, please. ???????
Thanks for the comments everybody - yes, the tie-dye thing was the go a long time ago,but that was using brightchemical dyes mainly. I love the blending of environmentally suitable materials giving results of saplings or bark colours.So gentle too - they fade softly and can be re-dyed. Annie, I've e-mailed you with the process. Basically any plant that stains can be used -flowers too, ie marigold...and skins such as pomegranite and brown or red onion...and yes, hot weather helps so it is probably the wrong time of year for those in the Northern Hemisphere. Glad everyone enjoyed the post.
It's been ages since I tie-dyed something. The colours you chose and ended up with are gorgeous and soft.
A person's well being is tied up in their living environment, and I'm pleased to hear your new place is comfortable and peaceful for you.
oh Pam, this is fantastic.. look what I have been missing while I have been preoccupied..
I need to know, step by step of how to do this.. can ya share?
mordanting in soy?
The first three images are gorgeous! Works of art in themselves.
Beautiful colours in these pieces. So glad that the Year of Natural Fibres will spur you on to create even more beauty.
Post a Comment