Monday 30 May 2011

Recycle and Renew

It's dull and damp outside.  Time to do some stitching and
 dust down my sewing machine.

First up, I renewed a pocket on my man's favorite shorts.
A mere fifteen years old - bought on a trip to Australia.  
Stitched a loose pocket on his camera bag.





Yesterday a little skip dipping to retrieve these baskets.


Resting over the bath after a wash down under the shower.
Woven willow, possibly posh kitchen drawers.  Too good to ignore.

An old Indian block printed cover, now a little 'ripe' as we say
here in Dorset.  Faded in the sun, but still good enough to recycle.
Bags to store fabric for dyeing.  There's organised.



Almost lunch time, but first a tidy up ready for this afternoon.
I have a basket full of dyed cotton scrapes that will be made
into a quilt top.   Something to have on hand when I am not
in the dye pots - a little slow stitching.   





Wednesday 25 May 2011

Time Out


in the garden - and checking out my Happy Wednesday present,
a Lumix camera - the macro setting is pretty good!

A little light weeding, dead heading and thinking time.



Monday 23 May 2011

A Fishy Tale

or, an epic in the telling

Last week, over two days, I helped make a rather large fish
from water bottles, corks and other recycled bits for The
Great Rinising.  A story of water, or lack of.   It takes place at 
The Pump house, in the future when water is scarce.
 Ancient stories of garden hoses and hot water bottles.
A production by Wimborne Community Theatre at the
beginning of July - see http://stateofplayarts.co.uk




The concept of Theater Designer Pip Nash, it started like this

Bottles were attached to the main frame, nasty teeth in the
front, and embellished with odds and ends,


the top of the spine



Jenny adding the finishing touches

ready for walkies


past amazed visitors to the Mill
over the River Allen bridge, stopping traffic
turning left on to a country lane


almost there


The wonderful Victorian Pump House
in the background


and relax


If there's a problem, press here, here and here







Sunday 22 May 2011

What a difference

Yesterday Chris, Jill, Babs, Eleanor and Catherine came along 
to the experimental block printing workshop.  It was a great day.
All sorts of objects were experimented with.   I managed to
grab a few photos before the end of the day.  Little Indian
printing blocks seem to be the favorite tool here.   So many
more great prints over the day.  Ideas whizzing about.

Experiments on paper



several colours on the stamping pad




design ideas - elements for a bag

then direct on to fabric


a calico bag given a wash of dilute paint
and then stamped - an African feel with
Indian print blocks - interesting


prints to be utilized in a quilt


and something different - blocks made from foam and
soft board.

A lovely light in the conservatory for working.  The day was warm
in the morning, but, goodness, in the afternoon the heat
 All windows and doors open, one student decamped to a 
table outside.  Methinks a fan might be a necessary purchase!



Friday 20 May 2011

Where did the week go?

A chaotically different week.   Indigo shop parcels sent hither 
and thither. Two days working on a community theater 
project which involved constructing a 15 ft fish from 
recycled water bottles.  Pictures later when I get time to 
sort them out.  Dyeing, mainly blue, not as colourful as this


turban cloths drying in the sun, viewed from
Meherangarh Fort, Jodhpur, Rajasthan


Now I am preparing for an Experimental Block printing workshop 
here tomorrow.   I wonder if the students will notice that the huge
chestnut tree next door is no more.   The tree surgeon did the deed
yesterday.  We are now flooded with light at the back of the house.

What a difference.   Plans are being hatched for the autumn.
Our garden of shade loving plants will be transformed.
A vegetable plot, fantastic.   A new greenhouse.  I have
negotiated shed space for the indigo vat, so all is well.

Saturday 14 May 2011

A splash of colour


Early morning shadows.
It's around 6.30 am and I am preparing for
a dyeing workshop in the conservatory.

Students arrive, and there is a lot of shibori
happening, plus batik.   Nice pieces I think
will emerge after rinsing and washing.



Now they have all gone home with their little
parcels, and wrapped poles.   I have a very
creative mess to clear.


Amongst the newspapers I found this - a nice bit of batik.
There might be more buried treasures, who knows?
Better get back to the clearing up.

Wednesday 11 May 2011

From the wax pot

Just for a change


brush strokes


lines


and spots

on each piece a dark indigo background,
the marks are medium and light.  By
design, of course!



Monday 9 May 2011

In the garden

Wonderful thunder and lightening storm, and great dollops of rain,
during Saturday night,  Just what the garden needed.   But first,


I dyed up some threads


recycled my hairy string

then, planted up herbs, and this


Excuse me while I check the spelling on the plant label.
It's an osteospermum.  Beautiful colours.  Think I might
need more of these.


Friday 6 May 2011

Job done


If you look at the right hand column you will see this.
As if by magic, one click will take you to my new shop.

So, not only have I been enjoying indigo dyeing, I have
been sitting side by side with my man who kindly gave
me a page on his web.  What a nice chap.   Another
huge learning curve!   So, it's out there.

Any hints, tips or suggestions gratefully received.





Sunday 1 May 2011

Bound and unbound

different sorts of 'circles'


bound with thread which gives an organic shape

then


bound with marbles - it looks like a fabric sculpture

result


different shapes altogether - some look like little trees,
others like flowers

Now, a big thank you to Jude Hill who has added
me to her resource page.   I am honoured to be included
along with the other incredible artists.   Gosh!  

So...... over the next few days I will give my store a 
makeover and add my new indigo collection.