A Little Eco-Printing

I've been a bit preoccupied with natural dyeing this summer and going into fall. I love using local plants and extracting the dye from them and getting them to print onto textiles. I've been printing on linen, cotton, silk and wool.










I've also been using repurposed silk and linen garments to print on.

And some new socks. Aren't these fun?

Sumac, goldenrod, biddens, Queen Anne's Lace, leaves from various trees have been used. Like I said, I'm trying to use local plants to see what I can create. In the midwest, we have many plants that give color. I'm sure this winter I will be going further afield and using madder and indigo.

Above is sumac and wild sunflowers. I love how sometimes the sumac has lavender color tones to it.
Below is a sweet gum leaf. One side is more black but the other side printed a bright yellow.

I must tell you that these are some of the best prints of over two months of work. Yes, months! It is not expensive dyeing except it is labor intensive. Gathering, gathering, gathering. But I am enjoying it.

One thing that has thrown me off recently is new cria babies. Most years, I will breed 6 of my girls and 2, maybe 3 will breedings will take. But last year, all 5 of the girls I bred took! Yikes-a-hooties Batman!! I have been on baby watch. Here are the first 2 girls.

My son is a film student and is taking a photography class. He is melding his love of the packies with a new passion for photography. Here is one of his photos:

I am so looking forward to seeing more of his work! This weekend is the Weavers' Guild of St Louis' Annual  Sale and alot of my work will be offered this year. Check out their web site if you are interested in attending. Talk to you soon,  Tammy

Tequilla Sunrise

Tequilla Sunrise is the name of this tunic I made for the fashion show at Midwest. It is wet felted wool on silk in the nuno felt technique. I used up cycled silk for the trimming and vintage bakelite buttons. The china silk and silk gauze were dyed by me.

I am pleased with how this one turned out, too. The name came after the dyeing. Remember in the 80's, ok! dating some of us! when a tequilla sunrise was a fashionable drink? Doesn't the color remind you of one? It does me! lol

The back of the tunic. I used an
inverted pleat for some shaping.

A close up of the detail and the bakelite buttons.
The loose fitting wrap around tunic is fun to wear and very 'flow-ee'.

I'm thinking I might be keeping this one for myself. I need a new frock.

And lastly, the matching fascinator sitting on the front of the tunic. Yep, a hat to match.


Talk to you soon,  Tammy

 

Midwest Fiber and Folk Art Fair

So far it has been a crazy, busy summer. Things are normal
around here!
Its been hot (heat index over 100) for days now and much of our time is spent with the animals outside. Although it is hard of me physically, coping with the heat, it is a bonding time for us with the packies. They are so appreciative of a water shower!

I have had some bluebird issues. I have a few 'up-ity' sparrows that keep taking over the bluebird house and running the bluebirds off. I finally have a pair in the house by the barn but they are elusive and I have not been able to capture a picture. The house by the kitchen window remains empty. sigh.....

I have a drop off cat that has claimed me as hers. no, really! She follows me around, comes in the workshop and hangs out, in the house, out in the pasture, back in the house. She jumps at the front door. Jumps straight up about 3 feet high so she can look in the door's window to see me. Yeah, I have a cat now.




This is my latest nuno felted dress that I worked on this spring to enter in the Midwest Fiber and Folk Art Fair's fashion show. It is made with over 8 yards of silk gauze and china silk that I dyed. The corsage is felted into the dress using up cycled fabrics. It has an empire waist and I put a zipper in the back.

Here is a close up of ruffles and corsage.



It did not win at the fashion show. sigh....needle felted wool on silk garments won.

It is not that I don't think the winners are not good felters. Their color and design elements were exceptional. I feel they are inexperienced felters. Its just that wool needle felted onto silk is not stable. It will pull apart easily. Needle felting is one stage in the process. I own a rolling machine and a needle felting machine that I use regularly. But not exclusively. My dress is still awesome and will be able to be seen at the Weavers Guild of St Louis' Annual Sale. Yep, I'm putting it in the sale. and now she steps down from the soapbox......

I have been working on several projects and will be sharing with you again. After surgery, while recuperating, there is a lot of down time to think of all the things you want to do again. And I am now starting to do them!

Talk to you soon,  Tammy