Dyeing and todays snow!

Just before the snow came, Tony and l went down to the South Coast to visit my parents. While we were there l collected some seaweed, stones and shells to use in my dyeing experiments. 

 I need to find some iron to add to my dye pot...so in went my old doorstop!

 The witch's brews as my husband calls them. The yellow is chrysanthemums petals, the one next to it is a pepperment teabag, the one behind is tea, then there is the jar containing the water from a metal/rust boil and the last one is water from Eucalyptus dye.

 White onion dye.

 Some of the seaweeds l collected.

Seaweed experiments!

 Close up of the white onion mix soaking.

 Another berry (LILY) experiment wrap

 Turmeric boil.

 Through the steam..witch's brew!Ha

 More results and experimenting tomorrow. Also will show you some of my stitching......

Today's weather...l love snow! Happy Christmasxxx

 This odd "Henry Moore" influenced snowman was built by Tony with a little help from me...such funx

 Beautiful!

My first piece of dyed clothing

A few weeks ago l decided to try and dye an item of clothing that had passed its best and play around with it. Well, my white(ish), long jacket needed to either be dyed or cut up and used in my Art work!!! It was NOT easy trying to roll eucalyptus leaves around sleeves, back and front, and trying at the same time to make sure they stay in place, while being wrapped...Nightmare! I did complete the task though; steamed it; and now, a few weeks later, here is the result. I am so pleased with it but l am now thinking of adding some embroidery. Will let you see the results when finished and ironed!

The next images are of the work l have just unwrapped. The first three are on silk and produced from fresh eucalptus leaves...tied and steamed. Really love the strong colour l achieved this time.

Crumpled because l have only just unwrapped and have not yet ironed it...pity actually because l rather like this presentation.

This silk has been dyed and steamed with red onion skins for one hour. Really love the way this piece of silk has turned out.

presents and more dyeing results.

Look what arrived in the post today! My wonderfully talented friend in the States, Dayna sent me this amazing card and the most wonderful tin with magnets in. The card is from her "Fearless" painting series. The funny thing is l have some paintings just like this, that l did when l lived in Papua New Guinea. Great minds think alike!

This is where you can contact this amazing artist!

Off l go again experimenting...wonder what colour brussel sprouts might produce? Will show the results later.

I just love this flower pattern, which is on this canvas.

This image shows the marks that the rubber bands make, when you are steaming your bundles!

Love these shapes...can see all sorts of embroidery going on here!

This pattern and colour is from banana skins!

Metal and leaves......

 Love the patterns these leaves have left and the colour is great.

A few days ago l asked my local florist if she had any eucalyptus leaves and luckily she had. Here are the results after 24hrs drying...have some more bundles which l will leave longer, to see if there is any difference. Such an amazing colour! First image is the dull backside of a shiny silk.

 Tthis is the shiny side...am so pleased with the results so far!!

With or without lid?..that is the question!

Decided to iron all the pieces of silk, cotton, canvas and muslin l have dyed lately and l had not realised l had produced soooooooooooo much. So now l am starting to divide pieces up to "create"with them. I also ironed the 6 pieces of watercolour paper l had dyed and they came up really well too. I discovered that once the pieces are ironed the leave patteren comes out really well. In fact, some pieces were amazing once ironed, that before l had thought l might dye again.

After much reading and talking to other Eco dyers, l decided l would steam my bundles covered with water and with no lid on ( the way most people seem to be doing it)....to see how different the outcome might be to the way l have been doing it.  That is to say, steaming in a basket with holes in "over " simmering water (not in water) and a lid on......l await the outcome with much excitment!

Night.

Some really "interesting" dyeing experiments.

I was so excited the other day, on one of our walks, that l had found this rusty piece of scaffolding equipment lying on the side of the road.....Tony just "sighed" ha! But look what it produced when silk is wrapped around it and steamed for 1 hour!!!!

 Isn't it amazing?...even Tony was impressed! Ha!

 Closer inspection.

Yeh...actual "leaf" pattern...Tony will be pleased. He "likes" my patterns but is always asking "why can't l see the leaves?".

 

 Think this will make him happy!

 Who would have thought paper clips could make such a pattern!

 The way the elastic bands have left their mark on the silk reminds me of leather.

 This pattern reminds me of the skin of a giraffe!

More bundles to unwrap tomorrow..l am so loving this!