Inkodye sun prints

I've been working at cleaning up my art studio. In some cases it is easier to use up a product, rather than to find a home for it.  This week found calm weather and sunshine - a good time to do some sun printing.

I purchased the inkodye a number of years ago.  The package says to use it soon after opening.  Is 2 or 3 years soon enough?  So easy to use:  shake, brush it on the fabric, arrange plant material (or what ever), expose to sun for 15 minutes, wash, and dry.

There is still about an inch of product in the bottle.  Next sunny day = more play time!

Colour series: Sea glass and sunshine

When I ordered "sea glass" dye from Dharma Trading, it was for the name.  Memories of walking on the beach looking for treasure immediately came to mind. I had to have this dye!

Paring this lovely dye with yellow sunshine seemed like an obvious choice for a colour series. Now to find my shells and other treasures to add to my morning stitching routine...

Mountain Art

Finished piece for the online class I am taking:

Dyed

This fabric has been on my dye table out in the garage for awhile.  Every now and then I would add a little to it. I had soaked the fabric in soda ash and let it dry flat. Using thickened dyes, I added hexi's and other stencils and some brushed dyes.  This morning it begged to be rinsed.  I'm happy with the results. Yes - it needs some stitching...

Centralia Balloon Fest

While in Carbondale for a wonderful week with my son, we drove about an hour north to a hot air balloon fest.  It was so much fun! Now I really really really want to go for a balloon ride!

Make ink: daisy centers and yellow day lilies

After boiling the daisies, it occurred to me that I should have saved one bloom for the seeds.  They came from a friends yard.  I added vinegar to the ink, may try adding some alum. For now, I am happy with the colour.

Make ink: Sumac Drupes

Finally! Red!  But will it last? It will probably turn green overnight...

Inspiration: Pet store

I see a colour palette.

little houses. stitched...

I don't think I shared any of my little houses.  I try to do some stitching each morning while drinking my tea and starting my day.  They should work well in future art pieces.

This is Momma Kitty

I have 2 outdoor cats.  Momma Kitty is my favorite and definitely my cat.  She follows me on walks, helps me in the garden, and brings gifts of mice and birds on a regular basis.  I'm not sure exactly how old she is, but she was born on the farm and I moved away from there 13 years ago.  If I was to guess, I would say she is 15 years old.  Pretty good for an outdoor cat with coyotes and eagles always on the hunt.  Truth is, I don't really like cats all that much.  More of a dog person. 

Stitching: Yo-yo's

I've stitched 100 butterflies this summer and a handful of little houses.  With a little time before my class starts, I need something new to stitch each morning during my morning tea.  I settled on using some of the yo-yo's from and an old quilt I found in my aunt's attic. After taking them apart, they took a dye bath.  Now it's time to play!

Make ink: Red Day Lilies

On Wednesday we celebrated a girl friend's birthday with a girlz day trip to fun places.  One of the stops was this awesome fabric shop in Glen Ellyn.  The fabric selection was fabulous.  Although I didn't take fabric home from this shop, I did dead head the red day lilies in the parking lot and made ink! I took a picture of the fresh flowers, but alas... my phone keeps playing the disappearing photo  game with me.