oops again!

 I used some dried hollyhocks to try some more dyeing. 

I have finished the mordanting and the dye baths. But ... I found some dried hollyhock flowers and decided to use them too. 

They have been lying around for weeks. I put them into a pot and used the recently mordanted fabric to see what would eventuate. 

                                 

 

I didn't want to wait for the dye bath so I put some fabric that had been mordanted into the dyebath that still had dried flowers in it. There were quite a lot, so it is now a full pot of flowers and warm water, 

                                  

 I overfilled the pot, so some of the dye bath spilt onto the stove - very promising in terms of colour. 

I then decided that the yellowish fabrics from the leaves of the lilly pilly were rather ordinary and have put in some of the overflow from the hollyhocks. 

The pot is now not simmering and I will check the fabrics in the morning. Hopefully there will be some stronger colours. 

I'm still not sure what I will use the fabric for but I am pleased that I have been experimenting after all this time. 

Oops!

 Seeing that I am just playing around with my dyeing (as usual, not very scientific) I didn't put enough water in with the bundle and it started to burn!! Fortunately someone noticed and turned it off before too much damage was done!

There is a small hole in the silk but I don't actually have anything in mind for using the fabrics so not to worry!

The fabric has a faint pink tone, especially the silk, with mostly brown for the wool - with some small areas of pink. 

As I said, I have no project in mind for the fabric and am, therefore, just experimenting with small pieces. 

I have decided to use the leaves of the lilly pilly. I have cut them up and put them in a pot to do their thing. So far, the water (dye bath) looks clear. 

Later - not much later. I have now put the mordanted fabric into the dye bath (and taken out the leaves to the compost heap). The fabric is looking yellowish, especially the silk. I will let it sit in the pot overnight, as so many sites recommend 

Once more, no idea what I will use the fabric for!

I'm am a roll now, am going to use yet more silk and worn out clothes, this time fawn silk (it was a singlet/camisole), to try using some of  the many leftover, dried hollyhock flowers that are just sitting around. 

The fabric is mordanting and I will let that rest for several hours, then do the dye bath thing. 

Time to take the dog out for a wander. 

Not sure if it is going well.

 Yesterday I picked the lilly pilly berries and have tried them in the pot - for dyeing fabric.

I was a bit disappointed today as the fabric didn't seem to be very different and the water was not showing a lot of colour. 

However, the water that dripped onto the stove had colour!! So I am leaving the berries in the pot, with the fabric, and will look at it again tomorrow- it takes patience to be an artist!

However, I am supposed to see a circle of mordanted fabric in the piece I was given - not obvious so far. 

Tomorrow is another day. 

I have read several sites that say that the leaves can also be used. I haven't had the energy or time to play with the leaves but hope to do so in a couple of days. Hopefully, they will give some colour. I have a collection of small pieces of fabric that are collected for dyeing so will see if they can be used - I will need to remind myself of what they need in terms of mordant but hope that it will not be too complicated. 

I just have to remember what I used to know about mordanting fabrics - I am only trying to use natural fabrics: wool, cotton and silk. Not sure what I will do with them but that is not really important - I am hoping to be inspired to play a bit more. 

Hoping to be inspired!

 I visited the Australian Tapestry Workshop last week. I needed to buy some yarns for an upcoming challenge for our local group. While I was there I had a look at the exhibitions. 

There was one that asked people to take a small piece of fabric, pre-mordanted in a circle. We are asked to find some plant dye from our local postal code, dye the fabric and return it.  Once it is returned it will be cut in half and one part will kept for records and the other will be used in an artwork. 

I have walked along a small laneway recently - while out with the dog. There was a lot of mess on the ground, fallen lilly pills berries. I came home and looked up whether they could be used for dyeing. Apparently so! 

Today I went back and cut down some of the berries overhanging the lane. 

I'm not sure what the mordant used on the fabric is but I thought I might as well give it a go. I will read the instructions again just to be sure that I have read it all properly. 

I have looked up some sites and will give it a go tomorrow- it seems that I shouldn't need a lot of berries so I will possibly have a go with some of the small bits of fabric that I have. First though, I will do the task. 

I'm hoping that it may revive my interest in fabric dyeing and then finding a use for the pieces. 

I also read that the leaves can be used. So I am keeping them and hope to experiment with them soon, 

The Date - again!

 It's been so long since I posted that I almost forgot how to log in!!

Today is 22/4/26. 

I haven't been all that creative recently but am working on a tapestry. It has taken me weeks and is not that big but who cares?? I am doing something. 

The tapestry is, hopefully, for the Bendigo Wool Show later this year. The theme is something about Echoes from the Past (not sure that is it exactly) and I have been visiting Darebin Parklands for many, many years. So I have used a photo of a small bridge over Darebin Creek. It reminds me of the many times I have visited the park - it is at the bottom of my street, not a big excursion. 

                                           

Anyway, I have used a recent photo of the bridge and am trying to come up with a tapestry. There are problems with the interpretation but I am happy to just be weaving again, not that bothered by exactitude.

I have been taking photos when I have actually given it some time - to let me see that I am making progress. 

The photos have come in reverse order - something to do with Google not being able to upload - I am sooo over technology!

I have used a photo but am making up the last bit - I am prone to to that, just make it up. I realised that the cartoon is not accurate so am using the actual photo instead. The big disadvantage of this is that you can't really see the differentiation between areas as clearly. But I have decided not to worry about it - I am not going to provide the image with the finished piece, so no-one will be aware of the differences. I hope.

Hot weather!

 We had a very hot day recently. Fortunately for us, the weather has changed and is not so horrendous. Other parts of the state are still suffering extreme heat and some bushfires. So I will try not to dwell too much on the awful heat. It is much worse around the state and other states as well.

We have had some plants suffer greatly in the heat and some have survived, seemingly ok. 

Despite almost being burnt, this hardy plant is still flowering!

I had hoped to get on with some cleaning out of old notes from various classes, or do some hand sewing or even finish off my very small sample from a recent tapestry workshop. 

So far, the only thing that has happened is a very small bit of weaving. I have been spending much time in trying to keep plants alive - with some success. 

The notes for the class were to bring colours that are opposite on the colour wheel. I had no idea of what image we were going to try. Turns out it was based on a work of Joy Smith's (the tutor) so I put in waste yarn afterwards and then cardboard for stability and have started. It is based on a bowl, a bottle and another clear bottle. I hope it works out but am not too bothered, I will try to come up with a design of my own - someday. 

The date!

 I met someone this morning who was excited about the date, it being 26/1/26 tomorrow! We had a lovely discussion about our mutual interest. 

So now I have to post something, even though the interesting date is tomorrow. 

We are having some very changeable weather - extremely hot, a couple of cooler days, extremely hot. Bushfires, flash floods also - fortunately, these events have not been in my immediate vicinity but they are very disturbing anyway. 

I have planted some sunflowers again, being part of a Facebook group that shares the interest. I planted them a bit later than some of the others but they are going to be looking good soon! If they survive the extreme heat forecast for Tuesday. 

It has been interesting to watch which way they face as they grow - east to west. The first flower was more east-oriented but I think a couple of the others will be more west-facing. 

We also have some day lilies and it has been fascinating to see the different flowers each day. I think they may have finished flowering now. 

As you may have noticed, there is very little mention of textile work!! I have attended two workshops in January, one was a two day one about using the element of line in designing a stitched piece. I really enjoyed the drawing exercises but have struggled with the hand sewing. 

Then I attended a tapestry weaving workshop. I enjoyed that greatly too - I knew most of the attendees and everyone knew at least one other person, so it was relaxed and friendly. 

I have tried to do a bit more since and am hoping to hunker down in the heat and get more done - trying to avoid having to venture outside (except to water various plants and put beach umbrellas over some of the more exposed plants).