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

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/

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.

Heart Home Magazine

Check out my interview with Katie from "Confessions of a design geek". She writes a column for Heart Home Magazine and last month featured me and my work.

http://confessionsofadesigngeek.com/2012/01/24/heart-home-magazine-zoe-howarth/

Japanese precision ikat weaving

I love this video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVf220gfi1A&feature=related

Lobato Photography

Check out the amazing photography of Jerome Lobato. I love how he captures line within his work....so elegent  and beautiful!

http://www.jeromelobato.com/

Totnes Costume Museum

Very exciting that this week my work has gone into the window exhibition at the Totnes Costume Museum. The theme is 'Innovation with Fibres' and it shows some of my latest handwoven scarves that are made using a clever combination of fibres that collapse to create heavily textured fabrics.