Spiral Dyed Downunder

Venice

2012-01-22T16:10:00.000-08:00

I have been away so long I have forgotten how to operate my blog!
My father became seriously ill before Christmas so my attention has been elsewhere for a while. Glad to say he is on the mend.
Meanwhile, these kits are on their way to The Thread Studio to celebrate the addition of Venice colourway to the Cities range.

Rain Rain Go Away....

2011-10-23T17:56:00.000-07:00

iron as a mordant, Eucalyptus leaves and a simmer.

Pongee fabric I dyed a while a go.

New pongee scarves with rolled hems, 3mt by 110cm.

Don't try and take my fluff!
I'll get ya...

Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn....

Getting ready to plant dye on linen...

And because it wont stop raining, all of Dale's flimsies are laying out on every available surface.

Lawns can't be mowed.....

But gee, I get good roses.

New Wrap Available

2011-10-20T19:16:00.000-07:00

So flat you could eat off it!

I know, it looks unnatural. The 'wrap' enjoys this position, it was made to drape.

So here is my new 'cat stole' available in one colour only at the moment. White and Ginger. Long enough to wrap around your neck once, maybe twice. #Does enjoy the occasional belly scratch.
Dry Clean only. Priceless.
Back blogging at last with the arrival of a new laptop. Yay!

Where oh where have I gone?

2011-08-04T00:25:00.000-07:00

1. Felted Net Scarf Wrap, 2. Little Blue Jug, 3. blanket and button brooches, 4. Patio rojo, 5. Voices from the Past (2), 6. bright night, 7. Untitled, 8. RAW52, #31, TADA365 #214 Etched house ring - WIP, 9. fabrics dyed with red onions, 10. winter whities, 11. Sukienka, 12. TADA365 #213 Cat & fishbone earrings, 13. freeform lace14. Not available15. Not available16. Not available

Created with fd's Flickr Toys

1. alice in wonderland, 2. bobby the bunny # 2, 3. freeform lace, 4. blue moon (detail 1), 5. Untitled, 6. Voices from the Past (2), 7. danielchang, 8. encomenda, 9. Summer holidays, 10. # 1322 "After The Rain", 11. French Lace Curtains, 12. WTM Word to Mother (detail) - IMG_9719 copy, 13. Profond brooch14. Not available15. Not available16. Not available

silk cashmere

Destashing, I have finally given up on using ribbon, never going to happen so I've washed and ironed it, off to etsy with you.

Voile hankie eco dyed with bottle caps and weak onion skin bath.

We have Torturous Tuesdays at my house. Bri and friends come over and do homework at my kitchen table. Even the little one sits up. I have to feed them and supply lollies.

,
Wrong way around but this silk fabric already dyed using acid dyes. I put on eucalyptus leaves and simmered. I like the effect.

muslin, doiley, voile and silk all eco dyed. Except the ribbon, thats all acid dye!

Over dyed fabric. I love ironing it dry, because all of the variations become evident. This piece is quite vibrant. I have sent it to Marina, Im overdyeing silk pieces to make them more interesting and then destashing them. I have no room and more stuff in my studio than I will ever use. I feel quite stifled creatively because of it.

Yes, well, it's been a challenge. My old computer has passed on- kicked the bucket, dropped it's bundle, choked, deceased, crossed over and generally died. it's difficult for a computer savvy person like me to blog without it. I have to wait for other family members to leave their computers unatttended. AND THEY DON'T! Anyway, to proove I have not given up blogging, i took photos in the hope someone would allow me to mishandle their computer.

Ranunkulus

2011-07-01T20:45:00.000-07:00

How could I not dye this! I loved the colours so much. I hope you like it. Also dyed, a new range of shades. Sometimes i love a color so much I don't want to overcome it by putting it with other colours. So I turned them into shades.

Rainbows and lollipops.

2011-06-26T21:17:00.001-07:00

Rainbows and lollipops., originally uploaded by jacintaleishman.

Still waiting for my darling laptop to come back from the fixit shop. So, again I have to post a mosaic of a few favorites. Notice the gorgeous girl in front of the graffiti? My eldest girl Madelen, taken a five years ago I think by a friend of hers. She had such beautiful, thick hair. I am hoping to dye the Ranuckulas in a colourway so hopefully I can get a photo up of my interpretation.

Some of my favorite things...

2011-06-13T23:59:00.001-07:00

Some of my favorite things..., originally uploaded by jacintaleishman.

1. oval brooches, 2. tiny houses painted, 3. 19-01-2009, 4. Untitled, 5. Nuno Felted Scarf Wrap, 6. Mosque' door and arche, 7. Paperweights, 8. poinsettia brooch , 9. Magnolia
Back from Brisbane but not quite back to work. Bri has exams this week and needs some Mummy love and the laptop has finally died so it might be a while before I can put up new photos. In the meantime, lovely to meet the people of Brisbane and Queensland. I made my flight home despite the threat of ash from the volcano in Chile. So, in the meantime, here is my first mosaic using flickr of a very small sample of work from artists I admire.

Watercolour class and date day.

2011-05-26T22:58:00.000-07:00

Occasionally D and I go out together on a date without the girls. This can only be done when they are at school. And this is why. WE LOVE FOOD.
This was in an arcade in Melbourne city area.

Rolling molten sugar for lollies. (sweets)

A shop window.
Granny squares are back!

Cupcakes from Degraves st, Melbourne, notice they are mini ones!

Always write down your recipes, Coconut Ice is what you get when you muck up your champagne recipe.

Barossa I love. Of course I used Kraftkolours Barossa dye for this.

And I have signed up for this. I usually work with acrylics but learning new stuff helps keep me engaged so....

Hoping for bliss. Do you think I can get it for $50? Pretty cheap I think.

Winging it's way to Russia

2011-05-23T02:54:00.000-07:00

50/50 cashmere silk blend. Keen to see how this felts up. it's different from the silk merino, not so shiney.

A bit bright in this pic, but a solid blue for a change.

Image from www.littlebluedeer.com
And one I really like- champagne.

all this dyeing is making me tired....

The wood is a piece from Lake St Clair, Tasmania. Silk yarn and ribbon dyed in Mallee. Piece of silk satin in matching colourway. I really love this colour. Winging it's way to Moscow.

Pic from www.mrsamberapple.tumblr.com

Beautiful colours to inspire a new turquoise.
Though, I have to say the rain and lack of light don't make me want to be in the shed.

From 2.bp.blogspot.com for colour inspiration.

Funny, Little, Unexpected.

2011-05-19T19:57:00.000-07:00

A funny, little (mild understatement) unexpected thing happened to me on my way to my forties. No, I don't mean the third baby, first house, first engaging ( cough) teenager, move to Japan or return from the U.K. Not the momentous, amazing events or quiet little ones that fill our lives and seem to define us to the observer. This was more subtle, a little thing really and totally unexpected. I became an artist. OMG Bro.
For those sadly lacking a teenager, (God knows I never am) this translates to Oh My God Brother.) Yes I know, I am no ones brother being a women and all but I digress. How did this wondrous event occur you may ask? Or not! Bad luck, I'll explain anyway. Even better, I'll explain how I didn't become an artist. ( you might want coffee or wine for this part, it's ok, I'll wait........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ok, finger getting sore.
I didn't become an artist by going to art school, according to my year 8 teacher, I lacked interest, motivation and manners. So did all his students, the man tried to teach us parquetry for art. Wood cutting or something. He managed to put me off art for at least seven years. Unplanned motherhood gave me an interest in the gentler arts, knitting, patchwork and preserves. Well, eating them. Marriage encouraged me to find my inner artist.......how do I sneak another pet into the house without husband noticing and making him think it was his idea in the first place to buy a dog more expensive than a car and bigger than a truck? How to make veggies more attractive to my children? This became my 'impressionist with food phase'. You know, broccoli as trees, little trees stuck in mash potato as hill with sauce for a road and beans for a fence. Not unlike Monet's Water Lilies really, but in sculptural form. I think I was ahead of my time, it was under appreciated by the young critics at the table. Mmmm, there was the textile course I started in the U.K with Val Cambell Harding. That was NOT the defining moment. Val told me later that initially she had thought I ended up in her classroom by accident on my way to blacksmithing or gardening or something. I was still potato stamping while the other students had graduated to Lino cutting. I would go home in tears, my potato had
smudged, why doesn't orange and green make purple? And what the hec was design anyway? I would sob my little heart out declaring I was not going back, husband would insist on a refund for the course if I gave up, so I would show up again for more humiliation the following week. Another tutor took over, Janet Edmonds. Suddenly it was as if a light bulb came on in my head. Janet explained things using small words, not a lot of syllables and showed me lot s of examples of what she was trying to get across. Turns out I am a visual learner. I need to SEE what you mean, not hear about it. This was pivotal moment.
Don't get me wrong, I didn't suddenly become competent or amazing. Nup. No come to Jesus moment for me. Just a light at the end of the tunnel. If I stuck at it, accepted mistakes, asked questions and sought out other people I could learn from, I felt I could get there. Back in Oz, I started sending mixed media pieces to a little gallery in Red Hill, Mornington Peninsular. I was too embarrassed to offer them locally. Anyway, pieces began to sell. The first I thought may have been a fluke, the second didn't count since I have seen this one on the wall at my Mother- In- Laws house, the next one though was pretty big. So big in fact, it never occurred to me that not all people have four wheel drive cars to move large framed pieces between gallery and home in. Still someone liked it enough to strap it to the roof of their car and pay real money for it. So I figured, if someone is willing to part with real dollars for a piece created and conceptualized my ME, does that
make me an artist?
NO, my brilliant and handsome husband says. Because one man's art is another man's dust catcher. (I was going to write 'junk' but can't now since this poor word has been appropriated for a new, more rude meaning, warning do not google it)
So how then did I become an artist? When did I start to write this word under the heading 'occupation'?
It was funny, little and unexpected. I figured it out one day. If I work like an artist, talk like an artist, show up on the school run covered in
paint and dye, dream art, read art, turn every room in the house (and shed) into one large studio, stop buying clothes in favor of paint, ignore food in favor of art books, gain an income from teaching art to children and adults, and most significantly, find profound peace in the process of creating- well I guess that's what I am. (notice I write AM, not DO) Being an artist is a state of mind. Not a vocation, job, or tax description. A three year old can be an artist if they declare themselves so. The title cannot be bestowed on you at graduation, or be earn t
by starving in a garret somewhere. (not sure what that is, clearly not a cafe) . Graduation from art school simply indicates a level of competency achieved. For every art school graduate who has become a working artist, there is another successful, self taught artist to inspire us. Sure we need a level of skill, but even without it I am still an artist. Skill and technique can be learnt and practiced. I find drawing a drag but painting an amazing and beautiful pastime. Just because I don't draw does not mean I am not a real artist. It means simply, that my art I live and breathe is expressed though my love of colour, texture, light and dark, the funny, quirky and unexpected. Not my competency with a pencil. So there is my journey if you like, what happened to me on my way to my forties. Love to say that this quietly achieved understanding has given me infinite peace and joy but like all things in life, it comes with both bitter and sweet. Sweet when I'm in the flow, in the zone, it's all working, looking great, so close to complete, bitter when life comes crashing in and I listen to that inner voice that chips
away at my confidence and joy. When that happens, (if you are on the same winding, potted stone ridden track as me) find another voice to build yourself back up, kids, husband, wife, friend, and your own inner artist voice all help to overcome and get you on your feet.
My advice for all those closet artists out there waiting to burst out, seek out opportunities to be an artist, give yourself time and encouragement, give yourself the support you would give your closest friend or family member to be what they wanted to be. Be your own tutor and best friend. Acknowledge you can do it, because you can. It isn't talent that creates the artist, it's the passion.

If you hear a voice within you say "you cannot paint," then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced.

~Vincent Van Gogh

Or even better!

Go to your studio and make stuff.

~Fred Babb

Or my favorite!

You can't be it if you don't do it.

~Jacinta Leishman

Winter Ambrosia

2011-05-10T03:21:00.001-07:00

Winter Ambrosia, originally uploaded by grace.willard.

Oh, amazing!

Riverrun

2011-05-06T01:36:00.001-07:00

Riverrun, originally uploaded by gerfotos.

Isn't it lovely? Had to blog it. I know I am a dyer but I find neutrals restive and peaceful.

Colours, windows,street lamp...

2011-05-01T03:46:00.001-07:00

Colours, windows,street lamp..., originally uploaded by Zé Eduardo....

Another beautiful image from my favorite photographer. I have been looking for a photo to inspire a new colourway to add to The Thread Studio's city series. I have wanted to do a colour based on an Italian city. I was looking at Siena but this has me thinking.....

Oooh, take a look at This!

2011-04-21T23:55:00.000-07:00

So I was wandering around the web, avoiding housework. Actually, all work and came upon Angela Barrow's featured artist.
A lovely surprise.

Knitting with Silk Hankies

2011-04-19T01:07:00.001-07:00

Silk hankies peel apart in layers.

So, from similar in colour to this...

I began to knit...

I wanted to see how far I could get...

And just kept going. I kept pulling from the hankie, smoothing with my fingers, trying to keep the fibre even. It is easy, and soooo smooth and soft. I'm not sure what I will do with it but I know this wont end up in a drawer.

About knitting....

2011-04-03T18:37:00.000-07:00

I can knit if I absolutely have to. But I don't, because others do it so much better than me. Check this lovely scarf out at Inspired.
I have also learnt from this amazing blog that you can knit directly from silk hankies!! Kid you not. So I am waiting for a customer of mine to send me a photo of this marvel, I think she bought Rose Quartz hankies to have A go with. Back to the dyeing shed for me, ho hum...

Felted Brooch

2011-03-30T16:18:00.001-07:00

Felted Brooch, originally uploaded by FeltedPleasure.

A new amazing felted piece by Marina. I don't know where her ideas come from or where she learnt to felt but wow! This girl has talent.
I have two more scarves coming because I can't not buy them.

Flower workshop online

2011-03-25T00:56:00.000-07:00

Dale is teaching an online workshop on flowers. She asked me to contribute so here it is. If you want to know how it is done, check out the workshop.

Shibori Painting

2011-03-23T21:16:00.000-07:00

Hi to all. I am sorry for not posting for a long while. Of course the whole family has had a cold for a couple of weeks now. They take it in turns , not all together. Sick people are time consuming!!!! I, however, being a mother, resisted the germ because I am a superwomen.
I have been attempting to participate in an online shibori class offered by Shiborigirl. I have long admired her work and was pretty chuffed when I stumbled upon this class. Online classes I think are difficult to run well. Students need feedback to effectively learn. I consider feedback and the time it takes to give it one of the more important aspects. Otherwise, students might as well buy a book instead. Videos are also a great addition for those of us who are visual learners. Not necessary though if the person who runs the workshop has good pictures. I think Shiborigirl has done a great job, and even though I am unable to practise at the moment, I know that when I do, I wont be left feeling let down by lack of information. Check out her work!

door detail from Lisbon

2011-02-28T19:18:00.001-08:00

door detail from Lisbon, originally uploaded by Zé Eduardo....

Oh my Goodness, I love this door! Had to share it. Ze Eduardo really is my favorite photographer, taking me places I can't go myself. Maybe a new colour?

Where did all my photos go?

2011-02-27T23:31:00.000-08:00

Went camping to Lake Eildon and found this burnt out wreck. So Nadine laid fabric on the parts of the wreck that were rusty and patterned and we covered them over with wet pine needles and dirt. Next day, down I go, get Belle to clamber over the car pulling out the fabric and photograph all the pieces. Somewhere between here and there, the photos fell off my sd card. The only photo there was of the car. Hope Nadine's photos worked out. If so, I'll put them up asap. She also boiled up eucalyptus leaves and silk, can't wait to see them.

Another day, another colour

2011-02-22T20:01:00.001-08:00

This photograph was taken by Etsian Wolfyphotography Rae sent it to me. Had no idea rocks were this colour, so of course it inspired a dye job. I don't think I quite got it, but I don't mind trying again.

Not this week though. Rae is off to Halls Gap for the annual Fibre thing they have up there and I am up to my ears in packaging. (Well, up to my ears thinking about it) You don't want to rush into anything.

Best wishes to Dale and Ian from The Thread Studio, their family is safe in Christchurch but they have extensive damage to their homes. Thoughts to to our farmers in the north of Victoria- their farms are still under water.

Working with Kids and Animals

2011-02-16T01:01:00.001-08:00

I guess you can see why not. This is Bri, the model clowning around.

Congratulations to Madelen for being accepted into Honours at Latrobe Uni.

And Butterball, likes to be the centre of attention.

Wisteria and Colour Conjuring.

2011-02-09T23:17:00.000-08:00

Wisteria - the last of it off my back veranda.

My trusty spoon- I have never used any other spoon when mixing dye. I don't know how I will cope when it finally wears out, trying out colour combination's on scrap wool.
The 'booby trap spider', I work outside in a shed open to the elements. I share my space with spiders, bush mice, beetles, flies, mosquitoes, blue tongue lizards, skinks and unfortunately the occasional brown snake. I don't mind the spiders, I hate the snakes.

My dye. only use KraftKolour dyes. The absolute best and easiest to use. I wouldn't be able to get near the amount of colours I get without this fantastic product.
This is a cool purple. I start with a little of this, 1/4 strength and use some plum to pink it up.

Silk Merino in Wisteria.

Mulberry Silk.

Wool.

When I looked at the Wisteria I found several light shades, so in this there is the dark mauve, pink mauve, lighter shades of both, and just a subtle tint.
If you want to try dyeing, I can recommend the following colours as a great start.
Opal (turquoise)
Wattle (yellow)
Wild Raspberry (deep pink)
Wallaby (brown)
Mustard (gold)
Grevillea (pinkish red)
Waratah (brownish red)
Currawong (black)
Cyclamin (warm purple)
Marine (blue)
Moss (olive)
Check my links for Bonnie and Grahams website.

Gee Bend Inspiration

2011-02-07T01:29:00.001-08:00

Covered an old painting by a child( -gosh I am a bad mother) with Gesso. Sketched general shapes, followed light, medium and darks.

Blocking in colour to see how my choices work.

Naples yellow is my favorite yellow.

You can see the splodge from beneath (original painting) is hard to cover.

Detail

Finished! Yay.

Completed painting. I told my husband it was an elephant eating a banana. He isn't much for abstract, poor love.

Inspiration for the painting was a quilt by a resident of Gee Bend, Alabama, USA made from mattress ticking, denim and old work clothes. They colours remind me of Boro- Japanese patchwork of sorts. Same kind of blues and browns. Anyway, the colours and pattern I borrowed from a children's storybook illustrated by Muriel Kerba.
This was painted as part of an online class I am doing called Get Your Paint on.
More about that next post.

Seamless Paris Tunic

2011-02-03T02:12:00.000-08:00

BACK.
Close up of embroidered voile. I left the decorative wide hem in.

Could not get good light to take clearer photos but I'm happy with it. Did it with the Paris colourway using pieces of a cotton voile table cloth that was embroidered, vintage doiley, mulberry silk, dyed cotton muslin from Rae and of course, my wool. It doesn't fit Bri so well, she is 2 sizes smaller than me, but gosh she is a good model

Sorry- loaded all the photos in the wrong order of course. This one above is of the seam which I am about to rub out.

The voile.

The not very helpful assistant

Wet and rolled a few times.

it is reversible, Bri and I both prefer the front that doesn't have the large voile piece. I think this is a pic of the front we like before I start felting.

I hate sewing garments and seams, so I like the idea of making a whole garment without sewing.

This is the top I was inspired by. I drew around it free hand and added a BIG hem so I could get most of my shrinkage by rolling the length rather than width.
2/3 of the way through, I spun out the excess water and tried it on so I could hand shape the garment to fit bust size 44 inches.
That's why it doesn't sit well enough on Bri. i like the flared bottom, hides a multitude of sins.

Cyclone Yasi

2011-01-31T20:24:00.000-08:00

Picture from NASA of Cyclone Yasi.

Poor Queensland just can't get a break. To all of my customers and friends in Queensland-I will be thinking of you as will the rest of Australia and the blogging community. Members of my family experienced cyclone Tracey and from their experience, I imagine there is a lot of concern and preparing going on now. So best wishes and heartfelt concern to you and yours.

And it Rusts!

2011-01-30T23:14:00.000-08:00

This is a variety of rusty stuff that I have used on some linen and cotton fabric.

This is 3 days on from when I first wrapped the pristine white linen around the outdoor brazier.

Looks like some ribs to me.

Unwraping the soaking pile of linen and cotton, 2 days on.

Mmmmm, ok I guess. Needs more though, so wrapping it up again.

Into plastic and weighted down with stones to increase the connection with the rust.

Rusting Fabric and Maria Apostolou

2011-01-27T02:55:00.001-08:00

2 linen shirts, cotton scarf and a badly dyed silk piece all dipped in a solution of mild vinegar and water.
Chosen piece of rusty outdoor equipment. A fire that keeps Dean warm when he is outside making his brews. Dirty and rusty! ( I mean the fire, not Dean)

Wet Linen wrapped around and held in place with plastic wrap.

Black garbage bag over the top to stop it drying out and encourage solar heat.

Dean called out from inside- "what are you doing?" I called back- "wrapping your fire grate in wet linen." What else would I be doing?
Tomorrow I go looking for more interesting rusty stuff for the rest of the fabric. Thanks to Rae for supplying yet more goodies from the op shop.

Here is Butterball relaxing no matter what. Taking a short break from attacking absolutely everything and anything. In my next life, I am definitely coming back as a cat.

And....I had to overdye Vespa mulberry silk. White patches! That's what you get when rushing. I know this too, but I still occasionally think I can get away with it. Have to say though I love anything I over dye. It always looks more yummy than when I get it right the first time.

This lovely piece is by Maria Apostolou. Her work is amazing and unique. Especially her silver jewelery.

Dyeing Paris

2011-01-24T01:03:00.000-08:00

First pics are of the birthday cake I made for Tashi on the weekend. Heaps of chocolate.

There she is, sweet 15. Best friend of Brianna.
AAAANNNNNND, how I worked out the Paris colourway.

So here is the photo I love on the ipad. I've looked and decided that the most striking, or dominant colours are silver, blue, pale terracotta and stone. I asked Dean what he thought were the most significant colours and he basically said the same. Though he called the blue -grey!

Once I've worked that out, it's about selecting which dye colour I have that most resembles the colours I want. Then I mix, dilute, saturate and play with them until I get it right. I usually do this on silk yarn or wool fibre.

This grey is too dark, it's in the picture, but is too dominant and needs paling down. The first blue wasn't right either- which is why it's followed by a subtly different blue- so subtle you probably can't see the difference.

Trying it out on mulberry silk. It's the same dark grey but it comes out different on fibre.

Better blue and grey on the right.

Once I'm kind of happy, I set it in the microwave and check it when it is dry. Luckily it's a hot day. It can look so different when it's dry. I don't dare dye a big batch until I have checked it dry.

Yarns are silk, they wont get the cream colour that I set into the wool and slushie. There is only so much room on one hank. if I try and cram too many colours on, it becomes all about the secondary colours that are created at each transition.

The real test for me of whether a colourway works or not is when I twist it into a spiral.

So here is the slushie,

and here is the mulberry silk. Did I get Paris? I am thinking I wont know that answer until I visit in the flesh. What do you think?

What does a dyer do on her day off?

2011-01-19T02:58:00.000-08:00

Dye of course! But, this time with tree resin and ash from the fire. Sorry no 'before' pics, or pics of the tree. I can tell you I picked red/ black resin off the bark of a Eucalyptus tree on the banks of the Goulburn river and placed it in an enamel pot to simmer with a handful of white ash from a fire made from Eucalyptus wood. I simmered the concoction for about 45 minutes and left it to cool. ( I did not stir or cackle like a witch in Macbeth. Rinsed it off in the river ( which is rich with tannins) and out with a lovely hand stitched linen (or cotton, I can never tell which) doiley that someone had lovingly stitched years ago. I found this treasure in a Warrandyte Op- shop. The shirt front is linen- very good quality, never worn. ( Buttons would not do up over a certain area) So any item of clothing that offends me by reminding me I am not a size 12 ( or 14, or......) gets ripped up and redyed. My other dye attempt with leaves sucked, so I will have to try it again. You live and learn....

Time to Breathe.

2011-01-17T23:04:00.000-08:00

I took off Saturday for Jamieson to set up camp on the banks of the Goulburn river. It must be the only place in Victoria not in flood. Came back today to a full load of emails, then I realized I didn't actually let anyone know I was going....

Strange Times

2011-01-12T15:33:00.001-08:00

Where I live in warrandyte, we usually prepare for bush fire threats. We check the weather every day, pack special belongings into a box that we can put in the car at a moments notice, I keep the cat cages and dog's lead near the front door. Important papers are stored together and a fire plan carefully considered and agreed upon. According to the Victorian emergency services, people who live in warrandyte are living in the most dangerous place for potential bush fires in Victoria. So, on the 11 th and 12 th of January each year, I am prepared for evacuation. This January has to be the weirdest yet. I found my self checking storm water drains to ensure they were clear of debris, diverting drain paths away from shed where I work and watching the rainfall radar on the weather site. Apparently now I need to be prepared for flash flooding! In Warrandyte! In the middle of our traditional bushfire season.
I spent the last week watching the horrendous pictures coming out of Queensland, floods, immense loss of property, livelihood, tragic loss of life. It is biblical in size, pictures of snakes and crocodile been washed into people's yards freaked me out. Floods in Queensland, bushfire in Victoria, both in New South Wales. That's how it goes, but it seems the patterns are changing. Anyway, I am fine where I am as long as I don't have a snake or crocodile knocking at my door anytime soon. Look out Perth, apparently you are in for some tropical humidity......

A Challenge

2011-01-10T03:22:00.001-08:00

I bought this beautiful photo from Etsian Petekdesign because the colours were so sublime. So my challenge tomorrow is to interpret this in dye and create a new colourway for The Thread Studio for a new Series based on Cities. I will post pictures of how I go and the process I go through to get it right. That's if I get it right!

rusty blue door detail

2011-01-07T19:15:00.001-08:00

rusty blue door detail, originally uploaded by Zé Eduardo....

I just wanted to direct attention to the fantastic colours in my favorite photographer's photo. This photo is by Ze Eduardo and the picture was taken in Peru. Pictures such as these are great for teaching you about colour- what works and what doesn't. I have found in dyeing that every potential colour goes can go with any other. The trick is to get the quantity right. In this picture the dominant colour is pale blue with various shades of blue. There is also a green, rust and very small amount of red/pink.
How I would dye this would be to make up dye of the deepest blue present, clear water, green the same strength as pictured, a rust and a small amount of red.
To apply the colours, I would start with the green, then deep blue, apply clear water, rust and then lastly the small touch of red.
If we broke the quantities down it would be mostly blue- pushed into the water to create the shades of blue- dark to light, a touch of green, a smaller area of rust and just a touch of red.

Stitching by the pool.

2011-01-06T19:18:00.001-08:00

Remember this scarf? I had attempted to felt dyed vintage blanket onto the scarf. They stuck, but certainly didn't felt in. So this week, I have been taking Belle to swimming lessons so I finally got to stitch the circles with matching silk thread.

It's just a good old stab stitch, not blanket stitch. I have taken the yarn through the middle of the felt so the stitching does not show on the back.
Two more days of swimming lessons so I am looking around for something else to stitch. look out kids....

Ooops a daisy, I dyed the cat again.

2011-01-04T23:11:00.000-08:00

But this time, her fur was not attached! Princess Willow had been crawling through grass seeds again and I had to remove a lot of her underbelly fur. Willow is a Ragdoll cat and her fur is like silk to touch. I couldn't resist. I've sent it to Dale.

This is another dye job, this time cashmere. OOO LA LA. This stuff is divine. So soft. So I have kept some aside that I am either going to spin on a stick and weave, or needle felt a piece of jewelery.
One of Dale's needle felted batts she sells as flimsies. I had to leave it to set for another day. The raspberry colour is particular about staying put.

And another batt, in the mail winging it's way to Thethreadstudio wet as usual. It is hot in Perth, it will dry in a minute.

Silk rods of the same batch Indian Splendor.

Assorted silk fibres, silk strippings and some other silk product that feels like horse hair but takes the dye wonderfully.

New year washing line.

2010-12-30T18:03:00.000-08:00

The Yarra river flowing through Warrandyte. Amazing to think that huge tracts of Queensland are under water.

Bloodrose, I like this one.

Whats on the line today? More silk fabric in Dale's colour Uluru, wool batt for flimsies and more wool. It will be dry in one minute or less. 38 degrees here today and a north wind.

Treasures for Christmas.

2010-12-29T17:44:00.000-08:00

This little treasure was in my post box today! all the way from Russia. It's a lacquered miniature box painted with tempera and tinsel. And inside.....

Were BUTTONS!

Thank you so much Marina.

This is a closeup of velvet felted.

3 books received for Christmas.
This page is from the Art of Embroidery.

This is from The Garden of Eden

This is from the book Bark. So many colour combination's, so little time....

Bella's treasure from Marina, we put it next to Butterball to give you an idea of how small he is.

It's out to the shed for me to dye more flimsies for Dale.

Butterball

2010-12-27T02:36:00.000-08:00

Santa with toilet paper for a beard.

Introducing Butterball!

Just the thing to keep your neck warm while playing on the interwebs...

Or keeping in your t shirt...(Doesn't she look tired? Not getting enough sleep Madelen...)

Or in the doll's house?

And here he is. Sooooo cute!
Christmas was the usual overeating, over spending it usually is, but I really am so lucky to have my husband and girls to spend the day with. Belle of course was up early. She rang Madelen to tell her to hurry up and come home so she could open her presents ( Belle that is). Girls are not allowed to open presents until we are all in the lounge with coffee. It's been hilarious over the years to what lengths they would go to to get us up. Not one child has ever worked it out that if they made the coffee,we would get up in an instant. I hope that each of you had a lovely day with enough warmth in the Northern hemisphere for family to make it home.

Whoops

2010-12-20T03:51:00.001-08:00

I slipped when I was at the vets today picking up Madelen's new kitten. I accidentally brought home a kitten for me too. Sigh......
So now we have another one and my darling Willow is already not speaking to me. (remember the cat I accidentally dyed at the start of the year?) Oh well, kids are happy. Will take photos tomorrow. Name is Butterball. I think I need to dye it-the name not the kitten! Ginger through to soft, milky butter.....

I take all the credit!

2010-12-16T15:10:00.000-08:00

My baby girl passed her final year at uni and has a "Baaaaaa" after her name! ( You must make the sound of a sheep when saying this) Madelen successfully completed her course in International Development and the parental units are very proud. Well, we already were anyway but if she is going to keep giving me reasons to show off to the world, who am I to say no? Lots of love and air kisses to you Mad! ( she doesn't like her parent's kisses)

Beautiful Birdie

2010-12-14T15:13:00.000-08:00

Check out Geninne's art blog, she has a wonderful free tutorial on how to make this gorgeous thing. I'm going to send one to my aunt. I love the color!

How to Felt a Bracelet

2010-12-12T16:45:00.000-08:00

I was going to put this on etsy free but you have to charge a listing price. So, here it is on the blog. No pics I'm afraid, but if I can get one done, I'll take some pics and put them up.Felt Bracelet Instructions

Set up your work area by placing a sheet of bubble wrap bubble side up on a table covered with a towel. Fill a bowl with warm water and have a cake of soap at the ready. There is enough fleece in this kit for you to make one large bracelet or three smaller ones (thinner).

Measure the hand’s closed palm to find the circumference, you will need the finished bracelet to slip on and off. Because merino fibres shrink to form felt, you will need to add 30% to the circumference.
For example, if your closed palm measures 21cms around, add a third (7cms) to the 20cms.
You would need to pull a strip of fibre from the wool 27cms long. During the felting, the bracelet will shrink back to 20cms.

To find the correct diameter of your bracelet (the look you most like) twist the length of fibres tightly to see how wide it will become when felted. If you want thicker, add some more fibre along the length.

Holding the roll by the ends, dip it briefly into a bowl of warm soapy water and lay it onto your bubble wrap. Leave the ends dry. Roll very lightly and gently the entire length, backwards and forwards.
You can also roll a section at a time between your hands. Think of how you would roll pastry or play doh into a sausage. Do this for a few minutes until a ‘skin’ forms on the outside of the roll. (matting)
Now lay the dryish ends together overlapping to form the loop, hold it together and submerge into water. Now gently roll joining section between you hands. If a crease form or it feels thinner than the rest of the bracelet you can add some more fibre, winding it around the join to support it and blend it in.

After rolling it for a couple of minutes, place the bracelet onto the bubble wrap and using a circular motion rub your hand around and around over the surface. Keep adding soapy water to keep it wet. Turn it over and do the other side.

Now stand it up and rub the inside of the bracelet all around. Keep doing this until the bracelet has shrunk to the desired width.
Rinse the bracelet out in hot water and place around a drinking glass to stand it to dry in shape.
I've finally managed to work out the etsy treasury widget so enjoy having a look at my pics!

From Rae for the time poor.

2010-12-09T17:14:00.000-08:00

Rae makes this yummy pudding every xmas eve. It works every time and tastes as good as any other pudding made in advance. So, from her to you.....

Wonder Pudding

This is a great recipe, really light but fantastic at soaking up the brandy sauce!

2 cups soft breadcrumbs (some rye and/or multigrain are nice)

1 large or 2 small bananas, mashed

375g mixed dried fruit

1 cup skim milk

1 tsp bicarb soda

1 tsp nutmeg

1 tsp ground ginger

Dissolve soda in milk and mix into banana, add everything else and mix thoroughly.

Pour into lightly grease pudding basin, cover and steam for 1-2 hours. This can be made ahead and stored in the fridge for a couple of days, or cooked on Christmas morning. It is ready in 1 hour but will darken if cooked for longer.

Avatar

2010-12-08T17:12:00.000-08:00

So, a very patient customer asked for a colourway based on Avatar the movie. After much pondering and procrastination it is dyed. The light is sooo bright here in Melbourne today so it looks lighter than it is, and the greenish blue is barely visible. I'll photograph it inside when it is dry.
The girls have finished school for the year!!!!! Too early for me, I'm still in the shed with the mice and spiders cackling over my cauldron.

Is grey a colour- my first treasury!

2010-12-04T16:38:00.000-08:00

My first etsy treasury. All in grey. Only took me two days. Of course I should have been dyeing.....

Shopping on the Interwebs...

2010-12-03T18:39:00.000-08:00

I hate shopping. i hate leaving the house, getting into a hot car (sorry people in winter climates) driving through crazy traffic, finding a park I wont forget ( Melbourne has a lot of shopping malls and hundreds of acres of car parking to lose your car in), battling around other shoppers, entering shops that have prices that clearly are marked up in preparation for xmas, xmas carols playing over the top of others, frantic mothers, whining over hyped kids, spaced out teens, out of their depth husbands..... Oh, I've just hyperventilated thinking about it.
So, my aim this year is to get almost everything delivered to my post box and let my fingers do the typing. So far so good, can't let to much out of the bag, but husband and girls have all written to Santa and what he isn't bringing, the post man is.
I seem to have been blessed with geeky kids, including the 21 year old. It makes it fun shopping online. I could never find these things in any shopping mall but I have been to www.thinkgeek.com and had a blast. What I really need though, is a life size Stargate wall decal for Madelen. Still looking. Did the book shopping online, for those of you in Oz, visit www.seek.com.au because it ended up cheaper than Amazon. Hard to find books though I always go there. www.fishpond.com.au is good for books and games. For my friends, it's dead easy. Etsy of course. However, thanks to Hensteeth, all I did today was shop for me. I bought this fantastic needle holder for me- hoping I might have them in this instead of husband's foot. And then, checking out her favorites, she sent me to a vintage supplier ( Penelopes Linen Loft who had these very lonely buttons clearly needing a new home.....Dale if your reading this, visit thinkgeek for your sons....
I'm just going to email Thethreadstudio catalog to my husband and hope he gets the picture...

Rain, heat, Rain, heat, rain.....

2010-11-26T02:05:00.000-08:00

The blonde on the left is Bri, the red head is her best friend Sophie.

She had a gorgeous red tulle petticoat- very rockabilly!

Royal Shiraz batt drying- or trying to, sending it to The Thread Studio Monday.

No room for clothes on the line!

Mmmm, yum. A bunch of silk rods drying for dinner.
Kidding....
We had pizza instead.

It's been a wet spring in Warrandyte. It's so hard to get the wool and silk dry. I dye it in the morning, put it out on the line in the afternoon, go to bring it in and it rains just before I get it. Well, at least it's well rinsed.
Big week, Belle's first school camp, tents and all. None of that cabin camping other schools do. Bri had her formal and I have the photos that prove she has legs. Most people had never seen her in a dress.

What I have been up to.

2010-11-17T14:50:00.000-08:00

Holey scarf in Pilgrim colourway with tissue silk.

Bowl with hand dyed scrim/ muslin nuno-ed.

Bowl with hand stitching. circles were cut from prefelt ( oops felt), applied as last layer.

Looking more washed out than it is- same kind of bowl with chain stitch as embellishment using Mulberry Silks silk thread which is a dream- supplied by The Thread Studio.

Well, a lot it seems to me! As promised- photos of the cake for Madelen's 21st. We didn't cut it after all. She liked it so much, she took it home with her intact for the next nights celebration with her friends. Most of them seem to be Stargate fans as well. Bri helped enormously in making the cake and I got to pass on some of the things I had learnt about cake decorating from my Mother. That was kind of nice too. I only got one photo of Madelen opening her Stargate figurines I found in a shop in Tasmania. She squealed so I think that meant she liked them.
The little felt bowls were samples I played with in Tasmania. I like making them but love using them. I always have little bits of everything that need to be put somewhere!
The weekend is shaping up to be hellish. Belle's dance concert is tomorrow night and I have to be a helper- what do I know about sequins? Bri has her best friend's 16th party to go to. Next night is her formal and after party, Saturday is extra kids over.....And worst of all.....I am out of decent coffee. I need a little lie down....

Mummy's little angel turns 21.

2010-11-11T15:01:00.000-08:00

Photos tomorrow of the big event. Twenty one years ago today Madelen arrived. The most joyful day of my life. Difficult birth, occasionally difficult upbringing all worth it to see what a fine young women she has turned into. Off to decorate the cake and check I have adequate amounts of tequila for my margaritas tonight. After all, its all about me isn't it?

Still trotting about

2010-11-03T23:42:00.001-07:00

Still gadding about Tasmania with Rae. We had a great time in Deloraine at the Craft Fair and have since been to Lake St Clair, Derwent Bridge and now Ross. Unfortunately, I am unable to post any pictures but I assure you if I could it would all be of food. Scones jam and cream all over Tasmania. Not the greatest coffee, but Rae brought along her coffee machine so we are not suffering.
Off to Launceston tomorrow for me to teach a two day work shop, then back home to the family. Wouldn't do to enjoy myself too much now....

Open Drawer

2010-10-18T20:03:00.001-07:00

Saturday morning- Oh My God- you have a birthday party to go to and no present?????
You'll get a scarf done in time won't you Mum? She likes rainbow....

No problem, I didn't want a lie in, breakfast, coffee or to read the paper....

Yes, I got it done and the flowers stayed put too. Created a fringe but didn't have time to take a photo- wrapped it up slightly damp.

Here is my friend Win in the main shop part of Open Drawer. Newly opened at 1158 Toorak Rd, Camberwell in Melbourne, this shop and gallery space brings together textile art supplies with the finished pieces from Australia's well known textile artists. Work to make you gasp from Pam Hovel, Catherine O'Leary and many other well known names were to die for. Robyn, who together with Prue have given this business some thought. Upstairs there are two gallery rooms showcasing different artist's work. The gallery is available for submissions and is a fantastic, well lit space. Downstairs is the show room and shop area where you can purchase felting batts, wool, silk and fabrics for felting. Towards the back there is a room for 'stitching and bitching' (sorry) and two classrooms purposely fitted out with sewing machines and high tables for felting. I thought I was in textile heaven. Anyway, support it Melbourne girls because it's a lovely place. I bought porcelain buttons for some of my pieces still in my head- had better get making.

Robyn playing shopkeeper.

Supplies downstairs....Prue in doorway.

Gallery upstairs.
Win admiring and saying..." I'll have that one and that one and that one.."

My Bella along for the snacks and to admire....
I had to buy her a button too, what for? I don't know- she is as hopeless as I am. I LOVE BUTTONS.

You can ring Open Drawer on 03 98897227 or visit Mon, Wed, Thur, Fri 9.30-5.30 and Sat and Sun 10-4. Ummm, next month they are hosting a exhibition of pieces by tutors (moi included) and giving demonstrations. I don't know when, will post when I know.

Getting things done.

2010-10-14T15:36:00.000-07:00

Bri said " gee that wont keep you warm, look at all those holes..."
"It's a SUMMER scarf" said I.

How it sat for a month before deciding to put holes in it......

How it began....

When I haven't made anything for a while I begin to get a bit miserable and frustrated. Life, family and other committments creep time away from the creative process and it's easy to push creativity into 'I'll get to it later mode'.
Thing is, it's a vital part of who I am and want to be. If I ignore my needs and let too much of other people's needs take precedence, I lose confidence and become frustrated. That in turn causes me to not be competent in my other roles. Mother, wife, daughter, business women, friend, community member. My mother used to say that if you don't take care of the mother, who will take care of the children. I think she meant for ourselves to take care of us first so we can effectively take care of the people who rely on us. She was a midwife who saw first hand the breakdown of families when the mother gave her all and was made ill by it. So yesterday, I took time out to finish the scarf that had been sitting on our dining room table for more than a month. The silk scraps came from a shirt from the op shop. The silk merino is a colourway I dyed with the sky above Warrandyte in mind. Even just finishing a scarf made me feel better about myself. A small thing maybe but at the moment- a huge achievement.

Autumn elsewhere.

2010-10-08T19:21:00.000-07:00

My wisteria has gone crazy this year with the added rainfall. I'm thinking of hitting the dye shed to get these colours!

Meantime of course, I am reminded that it is autumn elsewhere. I stared at some photos on flickr of foliage in Vermont, USA, and this is what I came up with.

Spring has sprung in Warrandyte.

2010-10-04T02:48:00.000-07:00

This is just another silk fibre scarf made a while ago, stitched using straight stitch option- no curls! In Dale's Kimberley Dreaming colour way.

Etsy seller Olga Almond

Back in time to see our Wisteria is full flower. Queensland was great but it's always nice to get home. First job was of course to go Etsy shopping which I did. I like to sort Christmas out early. I've have finally learn't to do things that reduce stress. No driving, parking or spending too much for the same thing you can get from any other store in any other shopping venue.
Anyway, I'm not sure who will receive this little beauty but I couldn't resist.

Fun in the Sun

2010-09-24T04:57:00.001-07:00

This is Tashi, just one of my helpers this week behind a pile of packaged silk, wool and slushies. Some have gone to Dale at The Thread Studio, the other with Rae to the textile show in Geelong.
Tashi was very proud of her tower. Or, The Great Wall of Tashi!
I will be in Queensland for a week with the girls so I thought I'd leave you with the 'destruction's'
for sewing a silk fibre scarf. This is best done with silk- not wool as the wool eventually pills.

Method.

Lay one 1.5 metre piece of baking paper on a flat surface, padded with towels to protect your work surface. Then, holding the silk in one hand, gently tease away a tuft of fibres using your other hand. You will need to be holding the silk about 20cms from the end in order to allow the fibres to pull free from the silk. The larger the amount you ‘grab’ from the end of the silk, the thicker the tuft will be. (This will affect the final thickness of your scarf so if you want a delicate scarf, only tease away fine tufts from the silk.) Begin to lay the fibres on the paper in a random fashion interspersed with torn strips and pieces of the velvet and other fabrics. You can make your scarf as wide and long as you like. Mine is about 15cm wide and 130cm long.

When you are satisfied with how the fibres and fabrics appear- spray with Fabulon, or spray starch (Crisp) taking care not to disturb placement of the fibres. Cover with another piece of baking paper and iron carefully until fully dry and the fibres have adhered to each other. If some are loose—you can respray.

Carefully remove the silk scarf from the baking paper and centre it on the soluble(it dissolves in water and leaves just the fabric, fibre and stitching, for example -Romeo from The Thread Studio). Pin to secure and place the centre of the scarf in an embroidery hoop, taking care not to displace the fibres. Fill four bobbins with the machine embroidery thread supplied. Fit a darning foot to sewing machine, loosen the top tension by one (or a little) and drop or cover the feed dogs. (Check your machine manual if you have not done this before.) My machine’s top tension is usually on four, so I reduce the tension to three. Machine embroidery thread is not as strong as cotton or polyester so is prone to breakage. It helps to have a needle with a large eye; I recommend Topstitching needles or a jeans needle.

Set your stitch width and stitch length to zero. Bring up the bobbin thread before you begin stitching and hold it and the top thread away from your stitching.

Using the machine needle as a pencil, move the hoop with your hands making circle or spiral patterns. It helps if you practise drawing these with a pencil first. Start off slow and smooth. Use a medium to fast speed of stitching and move the hoop slowly and smoothly. If you have not done this before it can take a little practice. Try using some scrap fabric in a hoop first.

If you wish, you can use automatic stitches to stitch your scarf or interconnecting lines if you are unsure of free machine embroidery.

Machine stitch the length of the scarf, moving the hoop along as you move along the scarf, interconnecting the spirals or circles for added strength. At each end of the scarf you can extend the spirals further and overstitch the spirals or circles to make a lace edge. Each spiral needs to interconnect with another and be overstitched 4 times at least so when the 'Romeo' Fabric dissolves away, the stitching will not fall apart.

When you have finished stitching the scarf, take it out of the hoop and check for any areas not stitched, re hoop and fill in. Cut away any ragged edges and place the whole scarf in a bucket of warm water for an hour. Rinse the scarf carefully ensuring all of the 'Romeo' has dissolved away. Gently iron the scarf when dry. Hand wash as needed.

Do you remember?

2010-09-17T17:36:00.000-07:00

I did finish it finally. It's called Woodland Wrap. I felted a mix of emerald slushie and rivendell wool onto emerald coloured muslin hand dyed by Rae. Pretty awkward though, I had to cobble together bubble wrap big enough and it took ages to manage.

This one is still going. It's dried out on the table. Hope to get to it later this weekend. In the meantime, I am busy dyeing for the Fibre Forum in Geelong beginning Sunday week. Rae is taking stock down there for the week. Dale is busy packing to take stuff to Alexander Palace in U.K for their show in October, so there is not a lot of time for felting or stitching.

Nuno

2010-09-11T01:21:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy week and I don't think I have managed anything productive. So today I decided that come hell or high water ( apt I thought because of Victoria flooding) I was going to at least lay out a nuno wrap for rolling on Sunday. The colour way is sky and the fabric is a silk chiffon print blouse from the op shop.
If it works out great- I'll take pictures, if not well.......
The washing machine died and needed reviving, the chicken's koop needed cleaning, rabbit needed rehousing, Belle needed a taxi and extra TLC this week followed by more Doctors. Looking forward to a week in Queensland. Whoo Hoo.

Embossed Velvet Book

2010-09-08T02:10:00.001-07:00

I mean it....Stop taking my photo!

Inner pages of my embossed velvet book. Vintage book page images, cut out and hand painted with Twinkling H2Os. These are artist quality watercolour paints with an iridescence.

The background to the images- the actual book pages are decorated using walnut ink. Sprayed on and encouraged to 'pool' in some areas, and colour 'lifted off' with paper towel in other areas. When wet, you can press things such as bubble wrap onto the surface and leave it there until the ink has dried. It leaves the marks behind- great pattern. You, of course, could place any number of things down on the wet surface to leave patterns- doileys, lace, paper towel, crumpled paper....

The cover is embossed velvet with the edge beaded.

An accordion book is simple to construct. Trick is the cover must be .2cm larger than the pages
all the way around. I make the covers first, and make the accordion to fit. I'm sure it's supposed to be the other way around.

For anyone who wants to have a go- here are my 'destructions'!

Illuminated Book

Additional Materials

180gsm water colour paper
Paints and collage elements
Gesso
Extra Large sized Illuminations polymer stamp
PVA
Brushes
Palette
Stamps
Antiqued paper or blank vintage paper
Appropriate quote
Craft velvet
Decorative backing fabric
Metallic machine embroidery yarn
Sewing machine
Beads
Beading needle
Glue Stick
Yellow Rose Polished Pigment or metallic paint of your choice

Technique

Emboss two velvet pieces according to general instructions.
Use a glue stick to adhere velvet pieces (covers) to craft felt and decorative fabric to the backs.
Trim away excess fabric from embossed images leaving 1/8 inch seam allowance around both covers and stitch around edges to secure.
Switch to zigzag and stitch around the embossed covers several times using the metallic thread to cover raw edges.
Stitch beads along the edges for added decoration.
Cut and fold water colour paper into an accordion book to fit covers. Decorate pages as desired.

For my book, I have scraped gesso onto the pages and pressed an assortment of stamps into the surface. This leaves behind a subtle imprint which ‘takes’ paint a little differently. When dry, I ‘splodged’ and ‘splattered’ on Luminarte’s Twinkling H2O watercolour paints, letting the paints bleed and overlap each other. The colours were Honey Amber, Hot Cinnamon, Ginger Peach, Ginger Flower and Wild Plum.

When dry, further decorate with collage elements, stamps and words.
Stick the covers to each end page of the accordion book using PVA, fold up and leave between heavy books overnight.

And of course, all the stuff I use is available mail order from The Thread Studio.

Embossed Velvet.

2010-09-04T17:50:00.000-07:00

A favorite technique of mine and Dale's is embossing Rae's hand dyed silk velvet using a metallic paint, usually Lumiere by Jacquard or Opulants by KraftKolour. You can use any acrylic paint for this technique. Jo Sonja is fine, so is any artist quality acrylic paint. I prefer a metallic for this because it is well matched to velvet. The look mimics time- aged icons.
Usually embossing velvet is done with a steam iron and just water. It presses the pile down but is not permanent. Using a paint or clear gel medium makes the embossing permanent. The paint acts as a permanent glue. The pin pictured above is a square of silk/viscose velvet, embossed using Halo Pink Gold Lumiere paint and a special polymer stamp from the Thread Studio.

Not all stamps work. Unfortunately wood blocks and rubber stamps wont work. They keep the paint and it wont transfer to the velvet. The stamps we use are good quality, deeply etched. They don't melt under the heat of an iron. I can't vouch for any other brands- sorry. I've tried cheap ones and they distort or melt. I just know that the stamps commissioned by The Thread Studio don't melt, distort and release the paint.
You don't need to have silk velvet or hand dyed for this either. Cotton and synthetic velvet will work too. Remember to use a lower heat setting for synthetic or you can melt the fabric.

First Step requires paint, paint brush, silver foil or palette, velvet, stamp, hot iron and a wooden board. Do not do this on an ironing board or soft surface- it wont work.

Paint the silver foil or palette with your paint, don't have it gloopy or sloppy, the paint will seep into the stamp crevices if you do and spoil the print.
Press your stamp onto the paint surface, turn it over checking that the stamp has paint on it.

Place your stamp paint side up on the board.
Lay velvet pile side down onto the stamp and gently press with hand.

Place iron directly on stamp covered with velvet and press, moving the iron in circular motion. Weird as it sounds, you will know when it is done when you can see the details of the stamp through the back of the velvet. Really ! Make sure you look for that before you peel the stamp off.
Carefully peel the stamp off the velvet, folding the velvet seems to help. Try to pull it away with the direction the pile has been pressed rather than against it.

That's pretty much it.
Points of importance-
1. Any velvet will do
2. Only polymer stamps work
3. it only irons on a hard surface ( no ironing board)
4. Do not, I repeat do not ever, ever, ever apply paint directly to the stamp using a paint brush- ever. It will ruin the image. And the stamp eventually.

Try using more than one colour of paint on the stamp.
Oh and, I would appreciate direct links to the instructions rather than copying. Go ahead and share though.

Scrumptious

2010-09-02T18:49:00.001-07:00

These beautiful pieces of work are by an U.K artist Priscilla Jones. I found them while researching tea sets ( hoping to do some on dissolvable fabric soon). These blew me away so I wanted to share my admiration for her work.

Spring is on the way!

2010-08-29T22:29:00.000-07:00

Finally some better pictures of my bag, made from Stonehaven, black doiley, polyester shirt.....

This is the jumper dyed the other day.

Not planning on wearing it, shame really because it's a 'Country Road' one from the op shop.

These are the baby chicks from a week or so ago, luckily haven't lost any, but wow- they can eat!

Rotten snails!!!!

A Saturday Afternoon.

2010-08-28T00:06:00.001-07:00

Thankfully not our dinner. Steaming up some Barrier Reef batts for Dale, and a jumper from the op shop.

I lay stuff on my stainless steel bench in the shed and apply the dye randomly.

Layers of batt and old blanket.

This is a new book by Jan Messant. It's lovely and very inspirational. Highly recommend it. It's not really a 'how to' book but more a visual feast. It's available from The Thread Studio.

Maybe another go at making books? Oh- washed my phone today in the machine. Realized that all my numbers were in it- oops.

Silk Carrier Rods

2010-08-20T00:31:00.000-07:00

Today finally I got into the studio. I just wanted to see how many different things I could do with some silk carrier rods I had from a previous batch that weren't as good as I have now. So, I just made straight silk paper today.

This pic is of the four layers peeled off just one rod.

Dip each layer into water and lay onto non stick paper- glad bake or teflon- whatever you have that is a non stick surface.

Overlap the layers, they are going to stick to each other, This pic shows the first vertical layer and then the laying down of the horizontal layer.

Then teasing the fibres apart, I lay bits down on areas that look thin, play with colour and diffuse the appearance of 'lines'.

Cover with another layer of glad bake or non stick surface....

Using the iron on dry and a cotton setting I iron back and forth until all of the water has evaporated away.

Remove the paper and you should have a firm piece of silk 'paper'.
The photos are not very good, I just can't get the depth of colour in this light.

This side is the 'right' side.

It's pretty stiff, the silk worm's sericin has not been processed out so it enables the silk to fuse together in the presence of water and heat from the iron.

I'm bending it here in my hand.

Not sure what I will do with it, probably stamp it, apply fabric, gold leaf, vintage paper.......
Tomorrow, I'll do something else with more rods.

And the excuses start...

2010-08-12T17:52:00.001-07:00

New baby chickens staying warm in my studio, least the studio is good for something.

Uki, again. The rabbit loves being snuggled up in blankets and just sits in the stroller. Most bizarre rabbit I've ever known. Belle adores her.

Yes, already an excuse why play has not started. Belle and I were back at the Royal Children's Hospital this week sorting her out again. They are all good people there. She was seen by the head of Paediatrics and we have a new health plan in place that hopefully will get her into a better head space, give her more control and support. So in the meantime, another pic or two.

Out of the comfort zone.

2010-08-10T02:17:00.000-07:00

Willow likes my new colour done for The Thread Studio- Glacier.
Sorry about the cat hair with your wool Dale.

Vessels by Amalana Felt

I don't like pink but I love this necklace!

Stitched pieces Cecile Meraglia

I have been pondering for a while on which direction my work and creativity will go when I finally get back into the studio. I know what catches my eye and I figure the best way to approach it is to just play first. I have collected so much stuff over the years, paint, oil bars, gold leaf, hand dyed fibres, textiles, beads, buttons, tools, found objects, stamps, stencils- you get the picture. So, tomorrow is day one of play. Why write about it? It's a commitment! No procrastination allowed because I figure several of you will be pinging emails my way if I do. I'll take pics along the way, that way hopefully i'll stay focused.
Just received the two new stamps from The Thread Studio. I think that will be the toys for tomorrow. In the meantime, here are some pics from other artists who catch my eye.

Dust Bunnies

2010-08-05T17:23:00.000-07:00

My studio! A disaster. I threw so much stuff in there the last few weeks since moving out of the outside studio that I don't know where anything is. So, after receiving Julie Arkell's book from Loop and how she has organised her studio, I feel inspired. This is the before shot. I'll keep you posted, or not depending if I succeed. Ha Ha.

Bella and Uki, believe it or not, the rabbit loves the attention.

Gone from under my bed! Having taken the week to get over my cold I decided that our room needed a clean. I found presents I had bought last year for Christmas that I thought I had lost! A set of earrings for my aunt, fabric and yarn for my daughter's sewing kit.....And a flock of dust bunnies with their own economy, democracy and city under my bed. I can't remember the last time I vacuumed all the way under there. Probably the last time that I was sure if I bent down that far- I would be able to get up again without calling the fire brigade. I've decided that being organized might reduce the stress levels in this house. We will see. I'll give it a go.
Finally I have managed to replace the hand bag I have used for the last year. I bought it for .70cents at the local op shop and it's been good but too large. So the photos are of the bag that I spoke about making a few weeks ago that I turned pink by my daft mixing of fibres. It's just waiting for it's handle to be stitched on.

And lastly- my thoughts and sympathy to Marina in Moscow who is enduring what Victorians did on black Saturday. The fires in Russia have created noxious smoke now blanketing Moscow and I hope that she and her family are ok.

Caught My Eye

2010-08-03T22:02:00.000-07:00

These are machine embroidered bracelets made by another favorite textile artist Karen Howse. I love how you can display buttons you love as jewelery.
Next piece is felted brooch with silk cocoon by Annie Huntly from Room for Threads.

Annie from Room For Threads has a small business in Palm Beach, QLD. She teaches felting, embroidery and both combined and regularly inspires me. She sells my wool but it's what she does with it that gobsmacks me. Her felt is so soft and beautifully made. I'm glad she is doing kits. I don't think anyone has ever told her what she can't do with felt so she just does it with lovely results. Still not doing anything this week except recovering.

Man flu

2010-08-02T19:11:00.000-07:00

Yes, this time I think we all have man flu- the kind the men get. So, to provide inspiration and eye candy, I've trundled off on the web to a few of my favorite artists. Margaret Roberts is one from the U.K. The horse is one D and I used to drive past when we lived in the U.K. It's huge, and completely amazing. This piece from Margaret just reminded me. She dyes her own supplies and uses sketches of local parts to start her off.

Enough is enough

2010-07-31T18:40:00.001-07:00

Colettesheart shop on etsy. Ilove this!

This brooch is by Hen's Teeth. She has just opened a store in the U.K, lucky Brits.
Ok, this is silly. I seem to have caught a 'mancold'. Still sick and blogging from my bed. The Blond is cleaning the kitchen for me- being the only member of the family not currently down with the bug. Husband is kidding himself that he will be well enough to fly back to work tomorrow, little blond hopefully will finally make it back to school after being sick for 3 weeks, and the Brunette wont come home to visit until the 'centre for disease control' deems us safe and out of quarantine.
I am desperate to get creating but as always I think you work full on for a while and as soon as the pressure is off, you fall in a heap. Anyway, thinking of Dale and Ian working hard in Perth at the show this weekend and am glad it's not me. So, some pics of what other people are doing at the moment- as always, I LOVE FLICKR!

Back Home

2010-07-27T16:46:00.000-07:00

Bag with dyed battenburg lace doiley, polyester ladies shirt from op shop, silk fibre and mohair yarn.

Hi all, I've been at the stitching show for the last few days in Melbourne and fighting a nasty cold. the youngest girl has been sick with it for about three weeks and off school for about that long too.
Before I can get back into my studio though, I have to mail stock off to The Thread Studio for their big show this weekend in Perth at the showgrounds. After that it's finally playtime for me.

Happy Birthday Blond.

2010-07-17T18:35:00.001-07:00

Yep, 16 years ago today, the Blond arrived. She had a monk's hair do, came two weeks early and gave me high blood pressure, mastitis and post natal depression. She woke every couple of hours, had a right royal attitude and wrapped her father so tight around her pudgy finger that he is still there. Threw epic tantrums, bit all of her sister's fingers off, ate the dog's food, and screamed her guts out on public transport, especially planes, trains and automobiles.
Was it worth it? Every minute. A beautiful young lady with a heart of gold and a killer smile. A little piece of sunshine that these days keep me sane. Happy sweet sixteen beautiful Blond.

In love with Colour.

2010-07-14T17:14:00.000-07:00

I have been dyeing new silk carrier rods which are thicker and firmer than the old ones I had. I get them from Dale and they take dye really well. Now that they are not so labour intensive I have decided that I really should start using them, so have a look back over the next week or so.
A note to self- silver or grey when mixed with red just makes PINK! You would think I would know this but last night I managed to felt a bag using Poppy and instead of keeping the silver separate from the red, I just blended them all so well- I NOW HAVE PINK!!!!!
Nadine and her husband Mark attempted to cheer me with the words- (pause) ......it is a lovely pink......
I'm not proud, I'll take a pic and put it up, just have to finish banging my head in the door.

RED, RED and more RED.

2010-07-12T18:09:00.001-07:00

A few months ago, I over rinsed a batch of red wool which I couldn't sell. So whenever I want to try something, I pull out that batch of red. Here is the weekends play. A vessel I like but is not firm enough. Either I need to felt it down further or do more layers next time. And, a beginnings of a book cover.

Silk Paper Instructions

2010-07-09T21:47:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Rhonda for putting me in her treasury.

Inspired by this amazing photographer.....

Zé Eduardo

New colourway Vespa- inspired by above photo but really done because Nadine asked for a lime and burnt orange. Thing is, she asked for them to be separate, but how could I possibly do just one colour......Strange concept.

New Colour Poppy. The Blond and her friend thought I needed a more sophisticated colourway for my bracelet kits and they were right. Especially for Jeff's Shed coming up. Which will be in winter in Melbourne. Uniform for winter in Melbourne? Grey, black and possibly a little splash of red if you are feeling flashy.

Revamped the instructions for silk paper making- here they are.

Make up your adhesive spray by pouring 50ml of Jo Sonja Textile Medium (adhesive) and 100mls of water into a clean bowl. You can dilute the mixture further if you require a softer paper. Mix the solution and set it aside. Fill a second bowl with warm water and a teaspoon of washing up liquid. This will help the water penetrate the fibres.

Lay one sheet of nylon netting flat in the bottom onto plastic sheeting over a table. Then, holding the silk in one hand, , gently tease away a tuft of fibres using your other hand. You will need to be holding the silk about 20cms from the end in order to allow the fibres to pull free from the silk. The larger the amount you ‘grab’ from the end of the silk, the thicker the tuft will be. (This will effect the final thickness of the paper so if you want thin paper, only tease away fine tufts from the silk.)

Lay the fibres on top of the net running lengthwise from top to bottom, leaving a 3cm margin all around the edges.( like tiling a roof) Keep pulling out tufts from the end of the silk and laying them down until the net is completely covered and the fibres overlap enough that there are no visible holes (Unless you want holes!). Lay another layer of fibre down randomly over the first. Two layers are sufficient for paper making. More layers will make the paper thicker.

At this stage you may wish to add some decorative elements to the paper. An example of things that could be added are snippets of threads- machine and embroidery, fabrics, glitter, dried petals and gilding flakes. Apply these now by sprinkling them over the top of the silk fibres.

Lay the second sheet of net over the silk to make a ‘sandwich’ and pour the warm washing up mixture over your ‘sandwich’ . At this stage it is important to wet all of the fibres so they will ‘take up’ the adhesive when it is applied. To help this process, roll the ‘sandwich’ with a rolling pin until it appears the fibres are all wet. Carefully turn the ‘sandwich’ over and roll the other side. At this stage you may detect holes in the paper, simply remove one side of the netting and press more fibres over the thin area, replace the net and roll down.

With a clean sponge, dab over the surface picking up excess water so the ‘sandwich’ is now damp but not soggy. Pour your adhesive solution on to your paper and roll the adhesive solution all over the ‘sandwich’, working the solution into the layers. Turn it over and repeat. You must wash your roller clean immediately to prevent adhesive from sticking to it. When you are sure the fibres have been penetrated by the adhesive, lift the ‘sandwich’ and hold it up to let the adhesive drain off. This can be poured back into the adhesive container for use again later.

Keeping the net in place, hang the paper on the line or clothes horse to further drain and dry.

When completely dry, carefully peel off the two layers of net and iron the paper. Use a silk setting on your iron.

You have made silk paper!

The adhesive can be stored in a bottle for weeks if sealed . Atelier acrylic gloss medium and varnish is non toxic and can be washed off your hands and work surface with soap and water. Other mediums suitable for paper making include Jo Sonja Textile Medium and Liquitex. Please keep adhesive out of reach of children.

Where I have been.

2010-07-07T19:54:00.000-07:00

Sorry for no posts. I took the girls to Indented Heads for a couple of days to stay with my Dad in a holiday house there. COLD! We wore all our socks to bed. Anyway, it was peaceful and it's always good to get away, makes you appreciate coming home. Now I'm home though, it's back into the swing of things. More dyeing and packaging to be done.This hat was knitted by my friend Nadine out of the Wintergreen / Winterwood colourway in the Angora rabbit. I is soooo soft. Nadine and I have decided we are now wool snobs. We turn our noses up at any yarn that isn't this soft.
Nadine has now opened her etsy shop after much nagging from me and is using the same model I use. The Blond is much nicer when posing for Nadine.

New Eye Candy

2010-07-01T17:30:00.000-07:00

This beautiful wrap is by Zedster who generously includes tutorials on her blog.

Photos are small but follow the link.

This is work by Aileen Clarke

I've joined a few flickr groups lately and have found these two interesting people you might like to visit. I know this bead is felt but it reminds me of lollies!

Back Home

2010-06-28T18:19:00.001-07:00

My Kooky Critter was a hit with the kids in Brisbane.

This is Dale demo-ing needlefelting on a babylock.

Dale again talking and demonstrating surface decoration techniques.
I'm seriously considering going back to bed for another nap because I find it difficult to sleep away from home. before I do though, off to the shed to dye up Rose Quartz and Lavender for The Thread Studio. Think I best leave the Etsy shop closed for another couple of days to catch my breath.

Off to Brisbane.

2010-06-23T05:48:00.000-07:00

Leaving tomorrow for Brisbane. I'll be helping at stand 62 The Thread Studio and demo-ing stuff close by at The Textile Festival- Convention Centre Southbank. Planning on taking photos but probably not smart enough to post on the mini computer I'll have with me. So, just one photo because there should always be photos.

Show Ready

2010-06-18T19:02:00.000-07:00

Getting ready to send stock away with Rae. She is on her way to Rockhampton leaving Sunday. My house looks like a bomb of textiles has gone off. I have batts, laps, wool, silk, beads, yarns......Drying on anything that stays still long enough to be a clothes horse. It was dark yesterday that none of my photos of scarves came out. So, it's outside soon to try again. Bri liked my flower, and I loved the scarf made from Pilgram, The circes are old blanketing.
This is a scarf made from Persian carpet.

Grey days in Melbourne

2010-06-15T00:59:00.000-07:00

Belle pretending to eat the wrap that I was heating in the microwave. After a while of felting or rolling, it gets cold pretty quick so I shove it into the microwave. It's probably more tasty than what I could cook! Rae is taking photos of it for me now it's finished. The wrap, not the microwave....

It's been grey and overcast the last few days, and I miss the sunlight. So it was back to the dyeing shed to dye the colours of a Melbourne winter. It's called Pilgram by Madelen who is pretty pleased she came up with the name.
I usually don't go for blogs that are all of people's pets, but I really had to include a pic of Bella's bunny Uki.

I bought myself a present!

2010-06-12T02:01:00.000-07:00

I joined a felt/ filz flickr group so I now have morning coffee whilst browsing the new photos put up each day of other's felting projects. Marina put up a photo of a new scarf and I POUNCED! Soooo my colours and I love the texture. Besides that- all Melbounians would agree it's been freezing here! ( Ok, not freezing as in actual freezing but rotten cold anyway) No, I definitely need a new scarf. I have my old favorite red one Rae bought me, but it's an all weather scarf, not ' I'm freezing my bum off' scarf. So these are the pics
.
My next post will be what this is turning into. 3metres of Rae's muslin and about 100 grams of a 'one of 'slushie I've been hoarding. I think it took three hours to lay out.
Next pic is another felted bracelet in Federation colour way.

Spring Cleaning in Winter

2010-06-09T04:26:00.000-07:00

I am supposed to be designing some new kits for the up and coming show at Jeff's Shed that Rae and I do each year. But, I don't like stocking the stand with my old designs so I thought I would post one of the scarves up for anyone who wants to have a go. This one I like because it enables me to showcase Rae's lovely fabric pieces and offcuts rather than having to use a whole piece of silk tissue the length of the scarf.
Enjoy.

Place sheet of bubble wrap bubble side up on a table covered with towels.
Place silk fabric pieces on the bubble wrap where you want them to go. I placed a piece of fabric each end to become a fringe. When the merino felts, it gathers up the silk into a lovely flowing fringe. I left 20cm of the fabric out of the scarf to become the fringe. I also ripped up pieces of the silk and placed bands of it along the length of the bubble wrap, not placing the merino on the silk but overlapping it a little so the silk would catch.
Hold the merino loosely in one hand and using all your fingers against the fat part of your palm pull away a layer of merino fibres and lay them on your bubble wrap, starting 15cm from one end. I pull away a sheer or thin layer and over lap them slightly fibres all pointing north south along the bubble wrap until I have a rectangle 30cm x180cm. Pull away another sheer layer and overlap them east west over the top of your first layer. The amount of merino in this kit is exactly right for the scarf so make sure you pull away less rather than more (40-50 grams). Anymore and the scarf would be too thick.

Now is the time to lay on any decorative elements you might want to add. Silk fabrics, yarns, wools, other colours are all good! To make swirls or circles, pull away a small amount of fibre and roll it into a snake using slightly wet hands. (You are felting it) Lay the swirl down in the position you want. To help hold it in position place a very sheer layer of merino over it. If you have silk hankies , separate the layers and lay them down on the merino. (One hankie will separate into several layers, I like to distort them rather than keep them square.)

Lay the nylon net over your scarf and pour warm water over it patting the surface gently to encourage the water to soak in. The water stays mostly on the bubble wrap so be liberal with it. All the fibres need to be wet. Rub over the net with a bar of low suds soap. Remove the net carefully and place your hand in a plastic shopping bag and softly rub the surface of the scarf for about five minutes.
Check the edges of the scarf and if you don’t like the irregular edges, fold them back over. I usually don’t worry and tend to give the scarf a trim with scissors a little further on in the felting process.
Continue to rub the scarf with your hand in the bag for another 5 minutes.
Now roll the bubble wrap and scarf into a tight sausage and tie some sting around each end to hold it. It looks like a giant bon bon. Now without pressing hard just roll it back and forth 150 times. You can do this in front of the tv or get the kids to do it! Unroll it carefully. You should be able to see the fibres are starting to interlock and move through the weave of the fabric. The silk will start to crinkle up as the fibres travel through it and begin to shrink. Carefully turn the scarf over and straighten, reroll the bubble wrap and roll again 150 times. Unroll.
If you feel the scarf is shrinking too much in one direction, Rub it by hand up and down the way you want it to shink. Its probably time to cut away any daggy bits from the overall shape.
I like to roll the bubble wrap length wise as well into a long sausage and roll. It helps keep the scarf’s shape.
Roll, and keep turning the scarf over on the bubble wrap after every 100 rolls
By now you should be able to see the migration of surface fibres through to the back, some to the front, general shrinkage of the scarf and not be able to pinch fibres away from the surface without them breaking. Generally though, Your scarf is felted when it has shrunk by a third. Or, do a 'pinch test'. Pinch some fibres on the surface and pull, if they come up as a pyramid- it's not felted. If they come up like a tree trunk and begin to break- they are felted. To speed felting up, you can apply warm/ hot water, and pick the scarf up and drop it back down to the bubble wrap several times- shocking the fibres. Beware with this technique, felting happens fast but it can cause the scarf to loose its shape.
There are many techniques for felting, every felt maker swears by their own technique, so don’t feel obliged to follow mine. It works for me though. When you feel the scarf is felted enough and shrunk enough, rinse it out, pull it into shape and hang to dry. I iron my scarf on a medium setting.

Etsy Treasury

2010-06-07T05:36:00.002-07:00

I made another treasury, this one has gorgeous stuff in it. I am going to buy one of the spiral scarf pins. It's hard to find ones that are light and don't pull on the scarf. Thanks to Gaby. I finally worked out how to screen capture a treasury! And they say you can't teach an old dog...
And this one was from a week ago by sticksandfuzzies.

Bracelet Fun

2010-06-03T18:19:00.000-07:00

This is the cutest owl needle felted by my friend Win. Bri wont part with it. So now, I'll have to do a trade with Win to keep the peace in the house. For a 'grownup nearly 16 young lady' she still has plenty of kid in her. I meant Bri of course, but well, if you knew Win....

Rae gave me a heap of old bracelets, so I have begun playing with them. These two I wrapped with my merino and felted. I'm pretty happy. I think I shall do more!

A new colour way yesterday before the freezing cold scared me out of the shed too. I think I'll call it Persian Carpet. Still enjoying the rabbit. If only I could knit to a pattern, I would make a hat, and how would socks be in angora? I'll have to stand on Uki to find out, just kidding.

Knitting Rabbit

2010-05-31T19:25:00.000-07:00

Here is the silk yarn dyed up but knitted up using size 6 us needles in Ironbark. It's the same yarn as Nadine's creature.

Braved the cold and dyed the angora rabbit yarn in the shed yesterday. I couldn't tell though how it would knit up so I had to actually find needles, pull my sleeves up and get to. ( I don't knit so don't look too closely) I love how soft this is without being overly fluffy. Fluffy just gets up your nose. Though, my postmistress says to put fluffy yarn in the freezer before knitting!

The Dye Queen is in her parlour, counting her dye.

2010-05-27T18:48:00.000-07:00

The phantom husband is away working again. This is a pic to protect his secret identity! So my point is, someone has stepped in to let me know when I am being silly, foolish or disorganized. There is always some one looking out for you.
Here is my helper- you have met her before. Rudely referred to by some as The Pink P- nevermind.

This is the dye queen quality checking Dale's Kimberly Dreaming colour....

This is the queen hoping that I choke on a bone....

And may I trip while going down the stairs.....
So I've decided not to consult her on Rae and my new colourway Wintergreen.

I've decided that these bunch look better in my stash than her shop.

Rae's homework, i love watching others work.

Colour with Camera

2010-05-27T04:57:00.000-07:00

My hand spun angora rabbit yarn arrived from China today! I can't wait to dye it. I'm not putting a pic up yet, but to wet your appetite, here's Uki, Belle's pet rabbit. How do you think she'd look blue?

This weird creature will lie on her back and drift off when Belle nurses her.

And why do people, whenever you mention you have a pet rabbit, offer up their best rabbit recipes? No one ever offers 'Mum's Secret Pot Roast' Recipe for dog do they?
And then....

Took photos of Rae's yarns today. I had noooo idea she had so many types. So one down, 5 zillion to go.

Felt Ball Necklace Instructions.

2010-05-25T03:13:00.001-07:00

Just thought I would pop up the destruction's for this necklace. Enjoy!

Set up your work area by placing a sheet of bubble wrap bubble side up on a table covered with a towel. Fill a bowl with warm water and have a cake of soap at the ready. There is enough fleece in this kit for you to make one large ball or two small balls and one larger. The fleece will shrink so the balls you form should be larger than you wish them to end up. Divide the fleece accordingly. (3 grams of fleece for one large ball)
Lay the merino down on the table and firmly roll up, slightly rotating the bundle as you go, bringing corners or kinks into the ball as you go. It’s important to spread and pick at the fleece as it is wound up to avoid any corners from forming.
Once formed, immerse the ball into the warm water, squeezing slightly and gently. Bring it out and rub over with the cake of soap. Cupping the ball in the palm of your hand very lightly roll it around within your hands as you would biscuit batter. Don’t apply pressure at this stage, just roll it. The fibres should not fluff up but if the do, apply more soap and water and continue for a couple of minutes.
Check for any fold lines and pick out small tufts of fleece, stretching the over to hide these ‘crack’ lines and continue rolling in your hands.
Immerse in water again and squeeze gently, apply more soap and start rolling in your hands more firmly. Change your water to hot again, heat helps the fibres to felt and shrink.
Immerse, and continue rolling. You can expect each ball to shrink down by about 30%. It is supposed to. As it does, it becomes quite firm to touch and will bounce when dropped. When forming balls I want to be the same size, I form them at first then roll them in my hands together. Then I roll them with one hand onto the bubble wrap so they eventually become the same size. I have found I can comfortably do four at a time.
Put your ball/ balls into a lidded jar or bottle with a little hot water, screw the lid on firmly and shake the jar, another good way of forming several balls at the same time and firming them up.
When the ball has shrunk to a size you are happy with, and feels firm to touch. Leave it to dry out.
Decorate the ball/ balls as you wish. I like to sew beads onto the surface, do random cross stitches or wrap with wire. Skewer the ball onto the hat pin, if using beads, place them onto the pin either side of the ball.

Felt samples in red

2010-05-21T17:20:00.000-07:00

I love red. It's true..... so given a minute to play with stuff, it will be in red. The only problem at the moment is time is soooo short, I can only add to my stash of samples. I am dyeing (sorry for the pun) to make a poncho or wrap to wear but until I can get organized this is the best I can do. I tried Dale's idea of dry felting she learnt in a recent workshop (sorry, don't remember who with) but found it weird. So I added water.

Update on the cat and washing line.

2010-05-20T03:34:00.000-07:00

A petticoat in Peacock dye bath.

Kimberly Dreaming for Dale at The Thread Studio.

A nylon cami, I love how the crease lines dye up.

Not a bad looking wash.

Peacock on the line, merino and slushie.

A woven woolen scarf from Scotland I found in the op shop. Used it to soak up excess dye.

Not soooo pink, and speaking to me again.