Thursday 2 August 2012

Wednesday 4 July 2012

Shibori experiments


I am trying to perfect my dyeing techniques so have decided to experiment with methods of creating pattern using buttons:







Thursday 21 June 2012

Printing with Natural Dyes: Using a logwood paste

I have been experimenting with the idea of painting or printing my natural dye pigments onto fabrics so have made up a 'paint' solution using logwood extract, gum tragacanth and water. Here are the photos of the logwood paint just after it has been printed:





These images below show the final dyed fabric once the paint has been washed out. They create a subtle yet beautiful effect of the indigo dyed cotton drill but are bolder on the silk fabrics:

indigo cotton drill

cochineal silk

walnut silk

close up of walnut shibori and logwood print on silk

Monday 18 June 2012

Using red cabbage dyed clothing to test for acid rain.




I thought I would share with you this amazing project that has been undertaken by textile designer Dahea Sun. She has experimented with the pH value of red cabbage dye and applied it clothing so that it can be used as an indicator for acid rain. Below is an image taken from her website which demonstrates her investigations. Please follow the link to her website to check it out for yourself...it is a beautiful example of the contemporary use of natural dyes to aid science!

http://www.sundahea.com/rain%20palette.html



Friday 1 June 2012

The Arimatsu-Shibori Movie


Fabulous video demonstrating traditional shibori techniques- great for my research as I am currently putting all my energy into developing my dyeing techniques! Love it!

Tuesday 29 May 2012

The Sketchbook Project 2013

 
How exciting....my sketchbook arrived today! Really looking forward to getting stuck in and becoming a part of the Sketchbook Project!

Tuesday 15 May 2012

Dandelion Seed Photos



I love how elegant these little seed heads are. They look as though they are about to jump and skip off into the wind at any second.........very magical!

Friday 11 May 2012

Eco printing

Whilst researching mordants I have come across this fascinating blog that demonstrates the results of alot eco printing experiments which are really beautiful! There is also some information about using soy milk as a mordant....very interesting!!!

http://tondro.com/labels/dyeing.html

Sunday 6 May 2012

Textile Blog...natural dye processes

Loving this blog I have just come across. Full of info and advise about natural dyes, shibori and world textiles....and Nat even uses sea water as a mordant!!! Check it out:

http://notjustnat.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/coastal-natural-dyes.html

Friday 4 May 2012

Natural Dye Research

So I have been thinking recently that I really want to refine my dyeing processes and knowledge of natural dyes....especially the use of local natural dyes. This has inspired me to dedicate some time over the next few months (whilst I wait for my baby to be born!) towards investigating natural dyes and expanding my dye knowledge and process.

I have lots of notes from the ISEND (International Symposium and Exhibition on Natural Dyes)conference last spring in La Rochelle so I will be revising some of the information I discovered there.
http://www.isend2011.com/

Also thinking much more about working with nature. Here is a very interesting dye process that I have come across on the net. It has inspired me to not only try out some location dyeing but also to investigate the properties of using sea water as a mordant.
http://fibershed.wordpress.com/2011/01/06/seaside-day-of-dyes/

Wednesday 18 April 2012

Some exciting new work!!!

I have been experimenting with my natural dye process recently and have produced these new and dyed silk pieces. I really love the beautiful patterns that can be captured in the fabric surface and using silk is perfect as not only does it pick up the colours amazingly, it also has such a luxurious drape that compliments the watery patterns created in the cloth.