I almost forgot!

A week or so ago, I just had to do some eco-dyeing - our hollyhocks have been flowering and dropping beautifully dark flowers. I collected them over a couple of weeks and put them in the freezer. Some were left to dry and then put in the freezer. It wasn't intentional to let them dry, it just happened with the very warm days. 

I used India Flint's book - ECO DYEING - especially her bit about freezing the organic material because it gives good colour. 

I actually had some flowers in the freezer from last summer, possibly the one previous too. 

I decided to use some bits of silk that I have had in the cupboard, some scraps and some complete scarves. I used vinegar as my mordant. 

Following the instructions (which I can do sometimes) I made a dye bath.                                                       

I put the fabric in and got some pale pink results. I had put the flowers into an old pair of pantyhose. 

I squeezed the colour out as much as I could. When I had finished with it, I put it aside. It still had colour in the flowers, which surprised me. 

I put the fabric in the dye bath and left it for a day or so. 

When I took it out it was pink but not very strongly coloured. 

However, I had noticed that the flowers still had colour and I didn't want to waste it - so I found some scraps of various types of silk and did a contact dye, rolling the fabrics over the flowers. 

The results were quite different - some were the same pale  pink, others took the colour really strongly! The best piece is an old chemise that was no longer wearable. It was already a brown silk so that must have affected the dye. Now to decide what to do with these pieces. 

There was still a little bit of colour in the dyebath and I couldn't resist seeing if I could get some more colour from it. I had a rather large square scarf and put it in the jar. Then I put it in the glasshouse to keep it warm. Then I forgot about it!

I was reminded today that I had left the scarf soaking in the leftover dye from the hollyhock dyeing. It had been in the glasshouse that has no plants in it at the moment as it gets too hot at this time of the year.

It is going to be very hot in the next few days, so it was good to get it out this evening. 

If I had wanted a grey scarf with some random brown stains, I would say it was a success! 

However, that was not the aim, so I might try some overdyeing. 

I walked the dog a couple of days ago in a park I haven't visited for ages. The eucalyptus trees are throwing off their bark in the summer. I used to collect it when I walked there with our previous dog. The bark can give some gorgeous colours. Eucalyptus leaves also give great colours. AND they don't need mordant! So I might give it a go in the coming days - if I can be bothered going out in the heat to collect the bark and leaves. 

January 2025

 Well, I meant to do a post yesterday, it being 24/1/25 but I didn't. So now I am doing one on 25/1/25. 

I have been working on a small tapestry for a while now. Didn't do any for 5 days last week!! 

Have done a bit more today - now I have an iffy back - I will try to exercise a bit more tomorrow. 

I thought I would be ok with this part of the tapestry but, somehow, I have managed to make this section a bit more complicated than I had anticipated. Not to worry, I will keep working on it. My image allows for some 'creative interpretation' and I am taking advantage of it. 

It is forecast to be 42 degrees on Monday so I anticipate a day at home! Here's hoping I have the energy to do some more weaving. 

2025 already!!

 It's already a week into the new year!! 

We have been having some very hot days plus cooler but still quite warm days - perfect for staying indoors and trying to be creative - which can be very trying!

I am currently working on a small tapestry for the theme The Secret Garden. I have an image that I am using as my inspiration. 

I have cropped it to the 20cm x 20cm size. Then I traced it to be the cartoon. 

This wasn't a great help, especially as I decided to us some green warp that I had the not-so-bright idea of using. It is extremely hard to see the markings. 

I got quite lost in some spots, especially when trying to put in the gate. So now I have yet another cartoon with some colouring-in. 

Also, I am doing is sideways as I thought it would be easier to do the fenceposts straight. It is certainly occupying my mind! No other thoughts come in while I am working on this. 

As I currently have a bit of a sore back, sitting for too long causes delayed discomfort, so I am trying to do little bursts of weaving. 

I am also trying to use stuff that I already have - no buying more yarn at the moment. And ... I am using up a little bit of the novelty yarns I have. I know a couple of people who will hate that I am using it but I like it - it is giving me texture and hiding mistakes! But differentiating between all the different parts of the wisteria is a bit of a challenge. 

Who needs doodling/Zentangle??

Being inspired by random things

 I have recently joined a Zentangle group on Facebook. It is interesting to see what is uploaded - a lot of it is very artistic and beautiful. But there is not a lot of just doing it for relaxation, as I tend to do it (I was going to say 'use it' but that is a bit different, I think). 

There are people there who are just beginning and they are trying to make great art almost from the beginning, It is not how I see Zentangle - which I also call doodling. And I see so much indigenous art that uses the same sort of patterns and techniques that I get a bit annoyed about people trying to claim that they are inventing the patterns - not that that is happening on the group I have joined. Although, some people ask what pattern have you used, suggesting that patterns have a name, and that implies, to me, that some people are claiming the invention of particular designs. 

However, that is not what I was going to post about: I was going to say that I am finding inspiration (or even simple enjoyment) from finding possible designs as I am walking around. 

Today I was walking the dog and walked under an oak tree that juts out over the little laneway that I was using. I looked straight up and was inspired by the patterns of the branches. I may never do a design based exactly on the photos I took but it was very relaxing and pleasant to see. 

I have also discovered some sites about neurograhpica drawings - I think they are to help you meditate or deal with issues that are on your mind at the time. I haven't really got into it yet so am not sure. But it is quite interesting to see. Some of it is quite uncontrolled at first - you use a round object and push it around the paper with you pen, thus not being able to completely control it. Then you draw other lines and go from there.That's my very detailed and knowledgable take on it at the moment. It also has colour, which I tend not to use in my doodling (although a lot of the people on the Facebook group do).

Joy Smith's exhibition in Ballarat

 I went with a few friends to see Joy Smith's exhibition today. Here is a link.

It was, as usual for Joy, a wonderful display. She had pieces from her collection plus some new ones based on her new location. She has recently moved to Ballarat. 

I forgot to take photos of most of the pieces so can't post - you'll have to go to the link to see them. I especially loved the swans on Lake Wendoree. It reminded me of my walks around the lake when I have had the time during my attendances at the Fibre Arts workshops at Ballarat Grammar (alas, there are not going to be any more there). 

Joy had one piece on the loom and I was fascinated to see that she was using linen and cotton threads as well as other yarns.  She had her inspiration drawing, a cartoon on cardboard and it looked so easy - wish I could find it so easy, especially at the very fine warp and weft she is using!!

Her drawing and notes. 

The drawing turned in the direction of the weaving. 

The actual piece - not so easy to see with the bright background, sorry. 

The back: much easier to see. You can also see the shaped edge - the cream coloured part is waste weaving and will be pulled out. 

It's the date!!

 I just had to post today, despite thinking I really should go to bed: it is 2/12/24!!

So ... what to say?

I have been walking the dog, despite the heat, the last few days and noticed some more faces (or creatures) in places. I have seen bird art, dog friendly areas, etc. 

The parsnip thought it was about time I cooked it. 

Bird art.

Not sure if it is a dog but I see it regularly as I wander the streets with my dog!

Inspired to post

 It's already 24/11/24!! Where has the time gone?? 

So ... what have I been doing? Not much but some playing. 

I met up with a couple of friends during the week and we tried some cyanotype dyeing. I didn't really do much research before-hand so only took a few types of paper and some flattened flowers. 

We had a bit of fun, exploring what we could come up with. 

This one was done on a small doodle I had done a while ago, just to see if it would work. It did, sort of. 

It was a little bit windy so, after some issues with paper and/or leaves blowing away, I tried using a plastic bag.

I used rice paper for these two - the dye went right through and there was only a faint image. 

When I got home I had a bit of a play with white pen and did some outlining and a tiny bit of doodling. 

I have no idea what I might do with them but I had fun. 

I used a blue pen for this one.