Oh What Fun It Is To Dye

The weather has been so nice lately with the sun shining and the fragrance of spring in the air so I thought it would be nice to sit in the garden today, have a glass of wine, some cheese and other nibbles. However the weather took a turn for the worse and so the time in the garden was cut short.

Once inside I thought I would bundle up some cloth and have a go at dyeing. I has some recycled linen from a shirt bought in the op shop for $2.75 which I had unpicked. I wrapped some brown onion skins, sour sobs and dried rose petals in the linen and tied them up tightly. I then steamed the little bundles in an old aluminium pressure cooker also bought cheaply. After the steaming was complete there was coloured liquid in the bottom of the steamer - dye! I folded up another piece of linen and clamped it down with a bulldog clip and plonked it into the dye. I rushed out to take a photo in the failing light even before the cloth has a chance to dry. Haven't even rinsed them yet. Ok I think I'm truly hooked.

The second photo is a print I took of a violet flower and leaf by hitting it with a hammer. This dyeing and printing is just too much fun. It like opening prsents and its not even my birthday.

Happy Father's Day Dad.

Some Good Finds

Had a few fabulous finds in the op shops. Bought some old saucepans to use for dyeing. Found an old rusty iron one I had lying around and cleaned that up. Also bought an old linen shirt very cheap. It was coming apart in the side seams which gave me the idea to unpick it and use the pieces to dye. I spent the late afternoon sitting quietly, mindlessly unpicking. Those mundane chores are very good for me. They still my mind and I somehow find peace. I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I adore the holes the machine stitching leaves and the different shapes of the pieces with button holes here and frayed edges there. It shows the fabric has had a history and that's somehow comforting to me. Mmm all too delicious without the calories. Will no doubt come home on Monday with some newly made felt which I will endeavour to dye. My excitement is building and building.

I finished the commission piece for Naracoorte Primary School that I will deliver to them on Thursday. Not sure on the title. Usually the title comes to me while I work on it but not this time. "Letters and Numbers", "School Days", "Learning", "ABC and 123", "Days at School" are some titles I have come up with but none seem quite right. Any suggestions???

altered, stained and found papers on canvas

100cmX75cm

Can't Wait for the Weekend

I'm finally over this cold and feeling more like my old self. Back to gym tomorrow, yay! Feeling a little frumpy without my usual exercise. I notice how grumpy I get without it. I think those close to me notice too hehehe.

I'm off to Naracoorte on Thursday morning. Will deliver the commission artwork to Naracoorte Primary School and say hello to the kids I met while I was artist in residence. Then going to pull down my exhibition and pack up all my artwork before going out to dinner Thursday night with Vanita and some of her friends and then Friday I'm heading off to Horsham with some new friends for the felting weekend. I haven't been in that neck of the woods since the 1970's. Horsham is the gateway to the Grampians which is one of the most beautiful places in Australia with waterfalls and fabulous bushland. http://www.thegrampians.com.au/ Well it was in the 70's hehehe.

Had a few low times in the last couple of weeks so this trip should really lift my spirits and once home will get back to cleaning out the shed so I can try out some dyeing and eco prints and felting. Oo exciting times ahead.

Its Sunday. I did end up getting a bit of a cold but not bad enough to stay in bed. The big shed clean up is moving along so slowly, groan. I do the same as I do for my artwork; small doable actions daily. Then the small actions will add up and before I know it the shed will be done, right? I try not to look at the whole thing. Just little sections. The shed is quite big, factory size so it will take some time.

Been reading Eco Colour by India Flint. Its a fabulous book about dyeing fabrics using natural dyes rather than synthetic. I really like the eco prints where leaves and flowers are used to imprint onto fabrics. The old fingers are itching to get into it and experiment with this world of textiles that this book has opened up for me. It will be my reward for cleaning out the shed. I need the space in which to do it and I'm determined not to use my kitchen. Check out India Flint's website but be warned its addictive. http://www.indiaflint.com/

Pruned my roses yesterday. Yes I know I'm about a month late but its been so cold and gloomy outside that I just couldn't bring myself to do it before now. I didn't intend to do it but I was walking through my much neglected garden yesterday and the sun shone with the promise of spring. I just needed to be out in the garden doing some ordinary mundane thing and before I knew it the roses were pruned and my hands cut from the thorns. Yes I have gardening gloves but didn't stop to put them on.

Today the sun is shining again and its been a pleasure doing the washing and hanging it out on the line. Its still cold but its nice to get some sun.