My eldest, Barley Boy.
My eldest, Barley Boy.
My eldest, Barley Boy.
The fabric is still wet, white areas are to become yellow later on.
Me painting silk crepe de chine with cochineal extract. I'm using a water based gutta as resist.
Surface Design With Natural Dyes
I've been working on some gutta resist with cochineal and other dye extracts.
Looms
I have my mothers original bead loom as well, the small one from Tandy Leather, the box is still with it but no instructions.
I suppose I could use my Navajo Loom for my project, but it's huge and in another room right now.
I suppose I could use my Navajo Loom for my project, but it's huge and in another room right now.
Here's the long expandable end of the loom. My father built the loom for my mother, when she out grew the little one from Tandy Leather (it wasn't wide enough). It's well over 3 feet long.
The other end of the loom.
A better view of the loom.
Moms beadwork still attached to the loom.
A view on how it's attached.
Bead Looms
Above, as I'm sure this is how the blog will post this, are pics of my moms bead loom, it still has her beadwork attached. Now to figure out how to get it off, preserving the beading, and rewarp it for my own personal use.
Diving up the blog
I'm hoping to figure out how the divi up the blog so that people who are looking for dye info can get that readily, and for those who want to see what I'm up to can read that as well. Any ideas out there???
Mom at my wedding
Mom in her natural state.
Pictures of Mom
Here are a couple pics of my mom, one in her natural state, and one at my wedding.
Dyeing with Blue Green Algae
There's no way to be rid of the smell while dyeing with Blue Green Algae, not only will flies flock to you but so will cats, small varmits such as racoons, and maybe even seagulls!
--Every time a customer tells me about the smell I split a gut laughing. I have this memory of one very determined and psychotic feline trying to get into my dyepot. There were fish in that pot and he was determined. --
Blue Green Algae works best on silk fabrics. I mix it with either water/vinegar or a water/alcohol solution and tannin can give other colors, depending on the tannin source. Remember to premordant your silk with at least alum. You should get a blueish green to green color on silk, depending on your water quality.
Dealing with smelly fabric afterwards: I use a very mild wash of surf laundry detergent, the one w/o stain removers or oxidizers as this will strip your color, your hard earned stinky color. This laundry soap will remove the "hog lot" smell out of any fabric!
Y0u can get the Blue Green Algae here: http://www.prairiefibers.com
--Every time a customer tells me about the smell I split a gut laughing. I have this memory of one very determined and psychotic feline trying to get into my dyepot. There were fish in that pot and he was determined. --
Blue Green Algae works best on silk fabrics. I mix it with either water/vinegar or a water/alcohol solution and tannin can give other colors, depending on the tannin source. Remember to premordant your silk with at least alum. You should get a blueish green to green color on silk, depending on your water quality.
Dealing with smelly fabric afterwards: I use a very mild wash of surf laundry detergent, the one w/o stain removers or oxidizers as this will strip your color, your hard earned stinky color. This laundry soap will remove the "hog lot" smell out of any fabric!
Y0u can get the Blue Green Algae here: http://www.prairiefibers.com
And this fella was the lucky rooster.
My dad reported to me that this fella tasted pretty good.
Reference Books the door is to the studio closet. (This room used to be a master bedroom)
My Flute Block, scented cedar. Tis won't be a flute now, it was accidently left in hubbies truck while we were gone to the funeral. It split like you would not believe.