Artist's Date

 I have been doing the Artist's Way journal thing for years now - so long that I don't think I do it how it was envisaged. But ... one of the things was to give yourself an Artist's Date each week. I have been thinking I have not been doing that - but then I realised that, even if I don't do it every week, I am doing it more frequently than I had realised. 

This week, I have visited the State Library and seen an exhibition of artwork by the Gould's, of bird painting fame; of Shaun Tan, of his picture book fame (amongst other things) and the absolutely amazing exhibition of the night sky in the Handmade Universe exhibition - you have to see it!!

Can you believe this is knitted??
I learnt a little about the knitting machine when I did the RMIT textile course (quite a while ago now!). But the artist not only used the machine, she devised a computer code that knitted it for her. Amazing!!
I also had the chance to use a little iPad thing that allowed me to choose different constellations and they lit up!! 
And there was a huge piece that showed the Indigenous People's version of the sky and the creation legends. 

I loved it all, and the glorious building, the various exhibitions, the whole atmosphere. 

Then, I went to to Open Studios in Alphington today. I only went to the Alphington Community Centre, Anne Warren's open studio and Cetta Pilati. It was enough for one day - especially as the weather has got warmer. I would probably not think it was that warm for this time of year in other times, but we have had such cold weather recently that it seemed hot today. And the allergy alert was high. 

So I don't need to feel as if I am failing in my Artist's Date aspect of life. 

I was also very excited to be told that one of my pieces in the Community Centre was sold on opening night. Woo hoo. I can't find an image of it but I did blog about it once. 

22/11/22

 I went with a couple of friends to the Oak Hill Art Gallery in Mornington today. When we checked in, the volunteer on duty mentioned the date - how could I not post?? 

The exhibition was by the Victorian Feltmakers, their biennial exhibition. There was some amazing work - in fact, they were all beautiful, not something I often say about an exhibition. 

Several of the artists belong to the Alcove Art Shop, a group that I am associated with, so it was great to see works by people I know. 

It was also inspiring: I have done a little bit of felting in the past. Some had some slow stitching incorporated and others had some machine free motion embroidery. Something for me to think about over the coming summer months - if the summer weather ever eventuates. But there will be the summer holidays, no matter what the weather is doing, so I should have time to be experimenting. 

I may have to look out for some short courses, to revive my knowledge of felting. Something to think about. 

Some Success

 Today had a slightly more positive outcome. 

I had left some silk fabric in a jar, just sitting in the glasshouse. As our weather has been unseasonably cold and wet, the jar has not heated up a lot. But there has been sunshine, so it has had some warmth. 

I took the fabric out today - some colour!!

And there was a little dye bath left. So I have put some of the failed-to-dye fabric in the jar with the plant leftover which still has colour in it. 

I am hoping something will happen but am not being very scientific about it.

The stink lilies were still flowering but today's high winds and heavy rain broke some of the plants so I have taken the stamens out and pulled the flowers off. I will try, yet again, to get some fabric coloured. But this time I won't bother heating it artificially, I'll let the sun do the work - if is shines. 

Disappointing!

 When I reheated the fabric the colour disappeared!! I added some of the leftover dye bath in the hopes of a better result but the colour has disappeared. Now I have some off-white/pale grey/brown silk pieces. 

Ah well. I might be able to use them as threatening skies, perhaps. Or maybe I could overdye them, one day. 

I do still have one small piece of silk in a jar, just sitting there doing some slow sun dyeing. I'm not holding out great hopes. 

Waiting, waiting.

 I went out to the glasshouse this evening. The pot that I let simmer for a while yesterday has some colour in the water and the fabric. Not a lot but some. The plant-stuff has totally lost its colour. I threw that out. 

Then I looked at the pot that was simply soaking one piece of velvet silk - no colour in the water or fabric. So that one is now simmering - with all the fabrics from the other pot as well. The water is actually looking quite dark but I am not assuming that the fabric will take it up. 

The jar looked promising, colour in the water and the fabric appeared coloured. Not so! When I lifted the fabric out, it had taken no colour.

 I will leave it for a while, until we get some warm weather again (28° a few days ago, 13° today, as the high!!). It is not forecast for a few days yet but, seeing the weather has changed so dramatically in the last two weeks, I will not worry about it. It is only a small amount of fabric and I can leave it for months - especially if I forget about it. 

Totally unscientific

 Today several of the stink lilies opened the flowers and I had to remove the stamens. 

It rained a lot today, so I went out between showers, towards late afternoon. I found some of the equipment that has been in the glasshouse for a year, if not two. (Since I used it.)

I decided to just see what happens. I put some of the silk into a pot with a flower. Another pot was heated and silk and flowers put in. 

I also put some flower and silk into a jar. That will be left for a couple of weeks. A day ago, I could have said that the summery weather would deal with heating it up but there has been a cool change, so I will have to wait a bit longer for the warmer weather to reappear. Not that I am anxious for it, I much prefer it cool rather than hot, especially in this humid weather. 

So far, the heated water is showing some colour that is seeming to dye the silk. I will leave it overnight, perhaps I will reheat it tomorrow. Then I might rinse it out and see if the colour has attached to the silk. I did use alum as a mordant, in the hopes of a richer colour. 

I have absolutely no plans for the fabric, I am just trying to reignite my interest in eco-dyeing - and use the flowers that are currently there. Also, there is a variety of silk fabrics and they seem to be taking the colour up differently. 

Reigniting an interest in natural dyeing.

Well, I have mordanted some silk with alum. I found several links, here too,  that said similar things - to heat the silk with water and put in some mordant. I used about 20% alum in relation to the weight of the silk. 

I brought it to the boil and let it simmer for an hour, or thereabouts. I am going to leave it in the pot for a day or so. I will let the flower bloom a little longer, then look up how to prepare if for the dyeing. I think I could take it out of the mordant but it is best used damp, so I will leave it there for the time being. 

As you can tell, I am not being very specific or scientific about all this. 

I also used some pieces of silk that I have had for years. Some of them ares strips, some are actual scarves. As they are all different types of silk, I am expecting different results. Just hoping that they take some colour!!

Not sure what I will use the pieces of fabric for, just want to reignite my interest in natural dyeing. And the flowers that are currently available. 

The mulberries are fruiting too - will have to give that some thought. 

Now to be patient - sort of - and wait. 

We have some stink lilies in the garden - well named! They are just starting to flower. I have taken the stamen out - it is the stinky part.

It is also known as Dracunculus vulgaris.

Now I am wondering if I will be able to dye some fabric with the flower. I have posted on an Eco Dyeing FaceBook page to ask if anyone has any knowledge about this but no answers so far. 

I have also been looking up old notes I have on mordanting silk and then using plants. Will have a go this weekend - maybe. 

I am trying to reinvigorate my interest in dyeing. Hope it works out. No plans for using the silk, it is just that the flowers are so amazing that I feel I really ought to try. And silk sounds like the easiest fabric to try. 

If I get some reasonable results, I may tear up the silk and weave with it - who knows?? I haven't really looked at what silk I have. It has been years since I have dyed silk, so here's hoping I still have appropriate fabric. 
 

Not Sure Why I Am Persevering

 The tapestry that I thought would be so easy isn't!!

I am having trouble with getting the warp set right, the lines straight, etc. But I am determined to finish it. 

I'm not sure I even like it - but I am going to keep going. I am almost finished the red bit, so not that far to go - I hope. 

I think I pull out about a third of what I do. It has become a lesson in patience - and concentration, something that I seem to be a bit low on at the moment. 

Note that I am on my computer rather than weaving - hmm, something to be aware of.

Monthly Display at the EGV

 I went to the monthly meeting of the Machine Embroidery group yesterday morning. After our meeting, we put up a display of some work by members of the group, plus members of the Creative Play group, of which I am also a member.

It actually looks quite good! 

I have taken some photos of the display, not particularly great, just to give a feel for what is on display. 

It is called a display, not an exhibition, as we only have the one official exhibition every year. But is was fun to set up and be a part of. No need to have volunteers on hand, no cost to enter, etc. Also, we could put up work that has already been seen in other displays or exhibitions. 

Not all our members were there, so there may well be more put up in the coming week. 

Paper collage group

 I am still going along to the informal meetings of the collage group. It is fun but very different from what I usually do!!

The latest theme was Red. 

I came up with two ideas: I haven't yet committed to one or the other. I had to leave early, so got away with not sticking my pieces down. 

                        This one is about how feeling can be interpreted differently.

This one is more about one interpretation.

                        

It is interesting to see them on the computer, as photos, rather than as my unstuck ideas. It changes how I think about them. But I won't commit to it tonight, I need to take some time to decide. 

November already.

 Well, I have to post today, 2/11/22.

I have started a new small tapestry. It is for the challenge that is posted around Australia, for different groups to see up close during 2023. The people who have organised it in the past have decided not to continue. Fortunately, someone has volunteered to take it on for at least another year. I really appreciate that as this challenge has given me the impetus to do a small weaving for many years now. 

It has to be finished by the end of February. That should be plenty of time but I have a habit of making one and then deciding I don't like it (example here), then doing another. So I need to give myself plenty of time! 

So far, I have warped up the loom, put in some waste yarn and done the double half-hitches. One of our group mentioned that she had seen that some people use sewing thread for that stage, so I have given it a try. Hope it works!! If it does, it will give the tapestry a different look along the edges. More even, I hope. 

If it doesn't work, I'll have to think of a way to finish it off!!

I  also wove a bit of the design, decided I had done it wrong, pulled it out and have done the same again. I think. I am not using a very good cartoon, am hoping to work it out as I go. It is a very simple geometric design, using 3 colours and a background. (4 colours, I suppose.)

                                       

My back is giving me trouble at the moment, it always gives me trouble when I start weaving again, so I am not sure how much progress I will make over the next few days - one can only hope it isn't too bad. 

The theme is Where Threads Meet. I had all sorts of ideas but have settled on a, hopefully, very simple design using my interest in how colours are affected by the colours surrounding them. Let's hope it works. 

It is only supposed to be 20cm square, or less. That should give me time to play around with it and then make another if I feel like it.