Moments of Light

 

Moving forward with 'Moments of Light'.  Tons of matchstick quilting secured the pieces to and old drapery that I have been steadily using for backing. This photo doesn't show it, but the large circle is puckered and puffy. I am not happy with it. For now, it will hang on the wall while I make some decisions. Muse Beth had some brilliant ideas - one of which is to cut out the circle and replace it with a different piece. I can't bring myself to cut it yet. My goal is to have this piece done by the end of June. I have plenty of time to let it simmer while deciding what to do next.  

Inspired by the full moon

Did you see the moon on the 7th of April?  I was outside with my dog before the sun came up and was amazed at the beauty of the moon.  At ground level we were covered in fog, but the sky was magnificent!  Some resist dyeing using a couple of canning lids and clamps gave me a set of moons to stitch later when inspired:

a little time for thickened dyes

I keep a table set up for dyeing in my garage.  Lucky me - heated garage with an upper level for my treadmill and a small studio area.  It is so nice to have everything at my finger tips when the mood hits.  I keep feeling that my sunshine project will need some additional fabrics when I get ready to join blocks together, so daily play does actually have an end project in mind.

The samples are still wet.  I used prochemical and dye "mustard".  The dyes were applied with a paint brush and a stencil.  Some of the dyes are too thick, so next time I will use a sponge to apply the thickened dyes.  Or not.

More dyeing...

I can always find an excuse to dye fabric.  Friday was easy - dye workshop at the library. Lucky for me, everyone there had already dyed fabric with us in the past. Not much teaching, just extra play time for me!

Just had to dye a little fabric for an upcoming sewing workshop:

Pretty colour selection after rinsing and drying.  The threads are a happy delight!  I came across a length of fabric I wove long ago while cleaning out a box of fabric and such.  The ends had not been cut off, so into the dye pot they went.  Judging by the brilliant colour they must be cotton.  

Still stitching away on my little bits for a much larger piece...

#aroundtheworldin80project

I jumped on board. My plan was to work on my #seaglassandsunshine project for the next few months, so the timing to commit to a project was perfect.  It seems that the only way I get something done is to have a commitment with a deadline.

Friday was "Do Your Own Thing" at the library, so I spent the morning dyeing and over dyeing fabrics for my project.  I plan to work on a quilt (not sure of size yet), using stitching, beads, and what ever else tickles my fancy! I have about a dozen block already stitched, but now they have purpose rather than #morningtea keep my hands busy. 

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...

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...

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!

Dye / Sea Glass

I signed up for an online workshop with Kelli May-Krenz that begins August 12th:

On a whim I decided that it would be a great idea to dye fabric for this class.  Like I need a reason to dye fabric, right?  I had purchased "Sea Glass" some time ago and decided to give it a try.  

Kicking myself for not using it earlier!  Loving the colour!

Natural dye: Dandelions

Last week when I did my natural dye presentation for the library quilt group, one person asked how much plant matter I use for a pot of dye.  One lady said, "probably as much as her pot will hold".  How true that is.  Yesterday, I set out picking dandelions (between rain showers), and picked every flower in bloom in the yard!  Not enough to fill my cooking pot, but enough to cook and make a lovely yellow colour.  I did not use a mordant, but believe there is enough colour left in the pan to simmer another piece of fabric today and add some alum to the mixture.

Natural dyes: Stinging Nettle

My first reaction was disappointment with the colour of my stinging nettle dye.  Then I remembered how much I enjoyed the process.  I'll just over dye the piece later in the season.  Maybe the leaves were too young?

a little dyeing from monday

It's so fun to get together with the girlfriends to dye fabric.  I didn't do much, but am excited about some new pieces to work into my stitching.


This piece of lace came from the stash of my mother's man friend.  Ray's mother made it in the early 60's.  It needed colour!

Grey, grey, grey!  I'm happy with all of these pieces!  Happy enough to plan an all grey dye workshop in July.  I did have the common sense to schedule the workshop after my brother's wedding, as I would hate to have grey hands for the wedding!

I like the subtle colour of this doily.  It's one of those "found it in the closet" things.  Not sure where it came from. 

I'm not much of a pink girl, but this lace began with pink flowers.  It seemed fitting to continue with pink.  At least for now...

This lace was on a little table runner that I bought new, many years ago.  I keep snipping little pieces each time I dye.  What will I do when I run out?!?

The old pillow case that this bit of lace came from was totally rotting and falling apart.  The lace was white and peach in colour.  Either my grandmother or great grandmother made it.  Some lovely boysenberry dye will turn this lace into a lovely butterfly!