Indigo dyed cotton ribbon for Slow cloth and Boro

My friend Nadine dyed this ribbon for me and the shop in her Indigo Dye Vat! I can't wait to use it! I think I will wrap something though it's just begging to be couched onto something too. Decisions descisions !

Workshop in Broome, August 2015

Spent some time today putting together this flyer for our upcoming workshop retreat in August. I'm teaching my Gentle Felt workshop for arthritic fingers and lazy people not unlike myself, Dale is probably teaching 9000 different techniques and Caroline Sharkey is teaching textured art quilts. For more info visit www.thethreadstudio.com

Crochet embedded in felt.

Felt as a background for Jewelry.

Velvet as a Nuno fabric.

A heavy dupion and blanket.

 

Posted with Blogsy

Embossing velvet

 Just finished writing a new workshop for embossing on velvet for the Thread Studio's online magazine.
Tried a few new things. This technique never gets old for me, it always looks good. Who doesn't love velvet?

COAST

A new colour way to keep me interested. I used KraftKolour Landscape dyes for this one. Pacific, Saltmarsh, Tasman, Wheat and Mallee. All full strength. If you buy Saltmarsh, make sure you stir it and stir it, all the while cackling like one of McBeth's witches. It takes a while to dissolve properly but it's a divine pale green.

Photos and Silk

Some of Rae's silk string I've put on etsy.

Silk string in Victorian Rose.

7mm Federation silk Ribbon

Byzantium in 2mm silk ribbon.

New Cat About The House Henry.

Susant with a silk lap he dyed in Byzantium.

Finally getting around to photographing Rae's left over stock for the etsy store. There is so much! I keep wanting to ask her stuff like "Whay colours did you mix up for this colourway"? Or "Don't you think 50 bags of unlabled thread is a little too enthusiastic"? Talk about preparing for a rainy day....

Carnivale silk velvet, 50cm by 50cm. I haven't attempted to dye it for TheThreadStudio yet, I guess I'm afraid of not being able to live up to Rae's standard. I can hear her telling me not to be ridiculous.

Stonehaven in Rae's signiture cotton gauze. Rae had this stuff manufactured to her own specs somewhere in China.

4mm Persian Bazaar silk ribbon.

Introducing A Boy Named Suze. Well, Susant actually. My eldest girl Madelen's partner. "Is there anything I can do to help"? he asked. WAH HA HAA, I laughed and sent him to the shed where he has promptly and with serious talent started to dye his little heart out. None of my girls may be drawn to the 'colour side, (Star Wars reference, sorry.) but I intend on leaving a colourful legacy through their partners. Here he is with a silk lap dyed for Dale of The Thread Studio.

Rae, which green is this????

I'm guessing but it could be Arabian Nights....

Got this one! Rivergum

Victorian Rose

So, me and my gloved finger in the process of dyeing a hankie, silk hankie not that other kind...

What dyes do I use? KraftKolour of course. I've used every brand dye available, there is none more vibrant or stable on the market anywhere. I wrote an article on how to dye using KraftKolour acid dyes for the new e-magazine produced by The Thread Studio, follow the link if you are interested in subscribing.

Here I am with the newest Uni student in the family Brianna. She passed VCE and got into Creative Writing at Deakin University so is currently earning her non alcohlic drinking money by dyeing merino and slushie for Dale in the freezing cold shed during a Victorian winter. No heating! OH MY GOODNESS, this is what Mum has been doing for the last 8 years to earn my school fees sympathised Brianna? oh wait, sorry, that was a dream, really it went more like this...."OMG DUDE, Wheres the heater, air conditioner, mini bar, cleaner, lunch, helper, what do you mean I should start before lunch, what about my sleep in"? Thank God Brianna doesn't subscribe to the blog....

Funeral

The funeral for Rae Cummings will be held at 10am on Tuesday, March 26 at Ashton Manner in Diamond Creek.

Ashton Manor
49-55 Main Street, Diamond Creek Victoria 3089
03 9438 1910

Melways Reference 11 K6

Husband Frank, sons Blair, Tarin and Perry welcome all to attend this celebration of Rae's life. Tea and Coffee will be available proceeding the event. 

The Passing Of Light

Our friend Rae passed away last night, peacefully, with her boys and husband at her side.
Thanks for the comments which I am passing along to Frank, Blair, Tarin and Perry. As soon as arrangements are made, I will post here. I know there are many more people around Australia who will keenly feel the loss and miss Rae's company and "awesomeness" ( eldest daughter' s description) Apt description I think. I couldn't find a better word.

Sad News

I have sad news to impart. My friend and partner Rae is in the final stages of lung cancer. It has been a tough battle since diagnosis a few short months ago. The illness has been rapid and aggressive leaving Rae little time to let people from the textile world know. She is been cared for at Warringal Private Hospital, Melbourne but anyone who wishes to send cards can do so via Warringal or my address. Po Box 277, Warrandyte, Melbourne.3113.
I will update this blog as her condition as needed.
Rae's husband Frank, and children Perry and Blair are with her daily, Tarin is coming back from a working holiday in Canada. Rae is receiving wonderful care from her oncologist Dr White and the nursing staff at the hospital. She is been kept comfortable at all times and although sad, she is, of course,  taking it with her characteric fortitude and resilience.
I'm guessing that this post probably explains my lack of previous posts for the last few months, Rae was always the engine behind our partnership not to mention my closest friend and surrogate nan to my girls.
I know for sure Rae would encourage all of her friends and acquaintances to make the most of now, as she has, don't wait for sometime in the future to live the dream. Take the trip, go out for lunch, make that call, make time for those you love, be supportive and encouraging to your friends and family and answer the question "should I" with HELL YES!

Circa Oct. 1939: HMAS BERYL II [ex-HMS BERYL], minesweeper for rent, 111 pounds 12 shillings a month - RAN.

Circa Oct. 1939: HMAS BERYL II [ex-HMS BERYL], minesweeper for rent, 111 pounds 12 shillings a month - RAN., originally uploaded by Kookaburra2011.

Just a piece of trivia today. This is the minesweeper my grandfather Stuart Ganley served on during the second world war. Minesweepers needed a wooden hull so they wouldn't set the mines off that bobbed around just under the surface. Their job was to keep the sea lanes open and free of mines so troop transports, aid and the injured could be ferried back and forth between ports. HMAS Beryl doesn't look like it could withstand a summer swell- but it did, bringing Pa back home to his family in one piece at wars end.

And finally!

Arriving today via the post to The Thread Studio, Dale's new colourway Marrakesh. This was inspired by a photo of spices in a Morrocan spice market.

Penelopeslinenloft

Really pleased with how this piece turned out. This is antique handloomed hemp I purchased from Penelopeslinenloft on etsy. Oh, and the cute bit is it's french.
Iron was the mordant and it was simmered over a camp fire. I have no idea which Eucalyptus leaves they were. I try to pickup as silver hued as possible.

The Cackling Witch

Brianna really likes her music teacher Celeste. She wanted to make something for her birthday so we came up with this. I dyed the silk ciffon scarf with KraftKolour's citrus colour and gave it to Brianna to put rubber bands up and down the length of it to create 'resist' areas. Once that was done, I overdyed it in Wild Raspberry to create the delicious dark fushia colour. Bri says Celeste loved it.


What else have I been up to? Well, Rae is at Halls Gap selling our wares at the annual textile event and so I have been cooking up clothes with the silver leafed eucalyptus we have in Warrandyte. When it's hot, the leaves become more silver and I seem to be able to coax more colour from them. I've put some fabric pieces in the shop today because I have SO MANY ! I didn't relize how much I put in the pots when I'm in the zone.




Also keeping me busy is the small piece I'm stitching at the moment out of the scraps from Venice I sent to TheThreadStudio. I'll post those results hopefully this week.