Saturday, January 11, 2014

Me in 2014 in my newly gifted hand knit hat (knit hat by great friend Roberta). Joy and excitement walk in the first rain of 2014!
I really have had so many creative moments in 2013 and have not used my blog to write about.  I have gotten very behind in my blogging.

Recently, I've been dyeing with coreopsis from garden (a few years ago I grew in my garden and I dried and stored in a plastic bag). I dyed silk and cotton.
I have dyed wool...but, I think cotton and silk are a new thing for me with this flower dye.
Cotton and silk are not a protein-but, they are plant fiber.
So, for them to take dyes I treated(mordanted and changed the ph of the dye pot) them differently than wool.

I plan to Nuno felt with the silk and make some artistic cloth for a summer dress or tank top.

I'm going to weave on a large loom next week.
I don't know much about weaving.
I've started to Navajo Weave...Built a loom and everything.  But, I have not finished the small piece of fabric I started.
From what I understand-weaving on the (Rigid Heddle?) loom I'll be using-You can weave fast!
I plan to use the cotton strips for weaving and make a kitchen rug.
The dry flowers produces amazing colors!
Reminds me of the flowers in summertime!
coreopsis in dye pot

results of coreopsis is a orangish yellow dyed fabric

Also, while making Saur Kraut... 
I dyed my hands(and a few other clothing articles I was wearing) purple.  
I'd like to see if I can use on material with good colorfast results. 
my hand dyed with cabbage.

Cutting cabbage for Kraut
  I used onion skins I had been saving up.  More beautiful golds.
Onion skin dyes-mordant alum-silk

Another recent creative moment in 2013 was Alissa Allen's Funi Dyeing workshop http://mycopigments.com/.  So much color! All from mushrooms!  Maybe, after the rain I can hunt for shrooms.  Yes, it has not rained in my neck of the woods(Northern California)for over 35 days! Today, it is pouring rain! Celebrate the rain!
Alissa Allen standing next to variety of mushroom/fungi dyes we got to experiment with @ A mushroom/fungi dye workshop in Nevada City, CA w. Alissa teaching.  She is a fabulous teacher!


I wish I had taken the opportunity I had to be at this workshop in Pacific Grove with Irit Dulman http://iritdulman.blogspot.com/
this weekend! 
a photo from FB on IRit's page...Reminding me of   how amazingly leaves create interesting graphics for/on fabric.

 I am drooling over the photos friends and fellow dyers are posting as they get results.

Both she and India Flint'shttp://www.indiaflint.com 
techniques developed or re-explored by this creative natural/eco-friendly textile artist.
Both are so inspirational for dyeing textiles!
But, I hope to create unique designs with my own explorations. 
I really love the use of oak leaves! Very local tree to me!

I have in mind I will experiment with natural dyes this year! 
 I have forgotten how I like to document and share my creative life. 
Here is to a creative year in 2014!