Day 2 was just as fun...despite the cool temps and rain that accompanied yesterday. Seems even Mother Nature wanted to take part in the class by providing us with rain water to use to refill the dye pots when extra water was needed. Shame I didn't get a shot of the bucket sitting just so under a drip...well...small steady stream really...falling off the canopy that had been set up.
As I need to pack and get ready to head to the airport, Day 2's post will be photos as well. I'll do a more detailed post during the week. Enjoy.
India bundled a scarf in things from her kitchen - flat leaf parsley, purple grape skins, carrot tops, onion skins...cranberries too I think. It was a veritable salad of greens and vegetables. Once bundled, it went in the dye pot for a bit.
Here's where you're to hate me...when India unveiled it, my hands were covered with who knows what, but something that wasn't good for the camera so there's no photo of the scarf before or after she dipped it in her magic potion to darken it somewhat. You'll have to trust me when I say that I'll be eyeing the produce department and shopping for herbs and salad fixings in a whole new way.
silk wool wrapped around tiny acorns...at least I think that's way they were
running stitch on cotton
couldn't resist throwing in a rusty bit
Cool - and am curious about the herb scarf!
ReplyDeleteThe herb/greens scarf turned out gorgeous. The purple grape skins, which India peeled off to lay on the fabric, gave a red-ish magenta sort of color. It was the bright spot of scarf. Maybe India will post a photo of it when she has time. Another 2 day workshop began yesterday. And...I think...there's a 4 or 5 day workshop this weekend. She's one super busy lady.
DeleteStanding transfixed, awaiting your next entry... All that looks so fascinating and beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThank you Ersi! I was hesitant to take or post photos of others' work so the details you're seeing are of what I produced. The last shots of just-unbundled-and-dripping-wet pieces hanging on clothes hangers et all are of everyone's work.
DeleteIt was one long what if of a class and I love every second of it.
How do you get so much colour in such a short time, I am trying out my first experiments in eco dying and find the colour takes a long time to come out of the leaves and into the fabric. My best result was from a stone that went mouldy when I used it as a weight for solar dying though I haven't washed the fabric yet.
ReplyDeleteI love the rusty bits but then I'm a bit into rust. Looking forward to the next instalment.
Debbie, I think...but am not positive...that the dye pots were started before class began Saturday morning. India added leaves to one for extra color and purple onion skins to another. The walnuts produced exquisite browns all on their own.
DeleteThe moldy stone sounds wonderful! Are there photos of it and the fabric you dyed with it on your blog? I'd love to see them, if so. And who can resist rust? Certainly not me.
No images of my dyeing yet, I washed the fabrics today so when they are dry I will be taking photos. My blog is debbie-weaver.blogspot.co.uk please come and visit in the next day or so.
Deletedye pots went on the heat as you were all finding your workplaces in the room...walnuts in one and maple leaves in the other [the latter later rebooted with brown onionshells]
DeleteIndia - Thank you for clarifying when the dye pots were started.
DeleteDebbie - Can't wait to see your fabrics. I'll be over to visit your blog in the next day or two.
how fabulous are all these? too good!
ReplyDeleteThank you Ronnie! The class was loads of fun and filled with all sorts of info...including how to make vinegar at home. Not sure I'm going to try that one, but still...
Deletebeautiful,
ReplyDeletebeautiful!
every image
rich,
earthy,
full of fragrance
and sharing...
xox - eb.
My dear eb, you would have loved this workshop. Truly.
DeleteI KNOW how much fun you've been having! I'll be waiting here with the others.
ReplyDeleteLeslie, I have to ask...are you eb's friend who had India teach near your home last year? For some reason, I think you are. If not, my apologies for a faulty memory. If you are...I once lived in your neck of the woods for a little bit - in Phoenixville, in fact - and found out about the workshop too late to sign up.
DeleteIt all looks great: lots of fun and lots of wonderful discoveries.
ReplyDeleteWelcome Alice! The workshop was delightful. Lots of info was packed into the 2 days.
DeleteBy the way, your book arrived yesterday. Can't wait until my little urchins are off to school this morning to grab a cup of tea and settle down with it.
Come back and visit again. Enjoy!
Amazing photos that captured the essence of what you and others did this weekend. hugs and love, C
ReplyDeleteThank you Christine! I know everyone was taking loads of photos of all the work, but I still feel odd taking shots of others' work to post. Sunday was spent bundling and retrieving from the dye pot...and dodging rain drops...rather than photographing. Of course, now back in CT, there are tons of shots I wish I'd taken. Oh well...another time, another workshop.
DeleteThoroughly wonderful posts, Jennifer...and your results, oooh lah lah!!
ReplyDeleteThank you! It was great fun to experiment and play.
DeleteJ-no doubt about it this workshop is about getting down and dirty. It looks like you are having heaps of fun experimenting. Guess you always need to be open to the end results that the partnership of you and nature create. Go well and continue to enjoy. B
ReplyDeleteThe workshop was loads of fun - just too short. And you're totally correct about keeping an open mind with partnering with nature...but that's half the fun. Enjoy!
DeleteHi J It looks like it was full of wonder and discovery - the perfect sort of workshop - leaving you with plenty of options for where you take it for yourself...
ReplyDeleteIt was a good workshop and one that has me wondering how to take what was learned and apply it to my rusting. Tine will tell...
Deletelovely!
ReplyDeletesometimes when i take art workshops
i am not certain
how i will use the information
as often they are not of my medium
and
yet
and
yet...
Always in the company of others creating
i find my place,
my voice
is freed*Up
and
i look at All Things
with different eyes...
this
to me is the beauty of studying
with of other artists,
don't you agree?
I whole heartedly agree!
DeleteI played with dyeing in the crock pot [much safer in my hands than an open flame] back in the summer and learned from that that prints of geometric shapes are much more to my liking than the organic shapes of leaves. That said, the workshop opened my mind to ways to incorporate the two...to over-dye my rusties, to stitch and dye, etc.
My brain and creative mind are still processing all that was learned and there are plenty of "what ifs" to try.
Wow diddy wow diddy wow wow wow .
ReplyDeleteYour beautiful photos of the project are enough in this case. Thank you for posting them and sharing the creativity that must have been extreme during this workshop. Wish I had been there.
Love that first line! Had me dancing in the studio. The workshop was wonderful and, as you say, the creativity was extreme. Enjoyably so.
DeleteEspecially those acorns for shibori.
ReplyDeleteI've been away from my dye pots for too long.
xx
That piece is one of my favorites. The other is the very first one that I folded and dyed with walnut (in part 1). Am waiting for the acorns to start falling here. Actually, I wonderful if pine cones are good for dyeing?
DeleteJennifer - This is possibly the best typo ever - "Actually, I wonderful if pine cones are good for dyeing?"
DeleteAlso, you have to at be grateful for all those trees when they supply you acorns.
It was great seeing you today, thank you for coming. xo
Oh my! Well...as typos go, that is a good one. Sometimes my brain gets ahead of fingers when typing.
DeleteIt was great meeting you! I hope the day went well for you and that you had little to pack up and take home. Makes the breakdown much, much nicer. Enjoy!