Morning hues

Spring time colours has brought subdued colours to our landscape, the early mornings in particular. 

Springing into Shibori dyeing once thonk my technique is improving.  The movement in this silk piece is gracious.

Attending a whirlwind mini workshop at Newcastle Regional Art Gallery I came home with this tiny paper pod.  Whilst small in size, I gained enough inspiration and knowledge to make larger pieces at home.  They are still drying… will show these to you soon.

 

Resisting Colour

Stepping aside from intense colour to try my hand at softer muted tones, has been my practice this October.  Using various “Resisrs” has helped to reduce another layer of intensity.  And here are some results on silk.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Hands on Silk.

 

Don’t you just love the feel of pure silk?

Dungog’s  weather is losing its biting chill that keeps me out of my cold wet room.  Warming midday sunshine is beckoning me to this special place where I can dye to my hearts content.  Dyeing silk is a delicious activity and shibori techniques are always so enjoyable for their surprise element.

 

 

Small time dyeing lately due to other diversions but …. playing with a mixture of pigments eventuated into what I call my stop & go scarves.  

This one has tones of bark and red sap – very lovely.  

Botanical dyed silk scarf.

One below shows a Shibori technique displaying sea-blues and leaf-greens with just a touch of earthy shades coming through.

Back to the dyepots!

Winter in Dungog this year is a little chilling.  My dyeing dungeon (under the house) is not conducive to life!  But a spot of sunshine led me downstairs to awaiting dye pots and silk.

Over the year I have dabbled in various techniques to experiment my heart out, and there’s still more to do.  It’s now time to harness them in a book that I producing just for me.  What can I call this little book of experiments, I am wondering?  Your ideas are welcome!

Meantime here’s a few pics of my latest endeavours.

Shibori felt brooch

Experimenting with resists and dye on hand-made wool felt has been all-absorbing.

This brooch is the end result of playing with colour and shape.  Must say I really enjoy the feeling of hand stitching onto woollen felt.

My inspiration to do this, arose from viewing the stunning brooches made by Chad Alice Hagen;  also generous advice from  Mary Stori, via Pinterest —- their websites are wonderful too.

Oh, to be so fortunate to have inspiration awaiting our eyes and hearts.

My first brooch using shibori resist/dye on woollen hand-made felt. Inspired by work of Chad Alice Hagen and Mary Stori.

 

Silk wrap.

Talking to a friend, I was presented with a challenge.

To make a silk wrap with colours of the sky and grass – that is a daily sight, living in Dungog.

Why, you may be thinking!  The best reason – To welcome the birth of her baby, due shortly.

So to offer a choice, I made  two with subtle different graduations of blues and greens.  This is one of them.

It is dyed with Landscape dyes, using a shibori technique, a fascinating method.

Landscape Dyes

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

More time experimenting with Landscape Dyes on silk has produced these results.

This addictive activity is driving me to continue to find new ways of creating lines and shapes.

Love to hear what you think, and if you have favourite ways to mark silk with these wonderful dyes.

Shibori on silk

More experimentation in my wet-room has produced these gorgeous scarves.

Ideas are percolating for future work with Landscape dyes and silk.

Dyeing using Landscape Dyes for wool & silk

Landscape Dyes are Australian made

and they come in the most divine range of colours.

A one-day workshop with ATASDA in Sydney

introduced me to world of Landscape Dyes –

I came home with an excited heartbeat.
Once my ordered goodies arrive in the mail, I will be experimenting with much more dyeing.  Watch this spot!