Haven't been very active here lately. My online workshop is almost at an end and I've signed up for a Shibori technique workshop with Glennis and a cloth whispering for mini hearts with Jude again in April. Then in May is my Silk Study Tour to Japan. I'm so looking forward to it. Through my online network I discovered that an annual Shibori festival is on in Arimatsu, Nagoya Prefecture while we are there. My friend and I will visit that too. How very exciting!
I have been doing some eco dyeing in the last couple of weeks with eucalyptus barks. The eucalyptus trees are shedding their bark in Spring. I collected some on my daily walks. To my surprise the bark produces a beautiful deep tan colour. Actually I have a dye pot going most days with various stuff. 
These are the 2 pieces of vintage silk dyed with eucalyptus bark. The piece on the right I scrunched into a ball and tied with rubber bands. The one on the left was pleated and folded into a neat bundle, then tied with rubber bands. I boiled the bark for about an hour and dropped the silk bundle into the pot and boiled it for another 45 mins. I left the bundles in the pot outdoors until they completely dried before I untied and rinsed the excess dye off.
To my surprise there was not any excess from the dye at all. The water ran clear. So this is a successful batch of dye and I will gather more bark next time I walk that way. I have been keeping a chart for all the dye I'm doing now. My daughter-in-law insisted I keep a dye chart for the future use. Good idea.
And here where the barks came from. The tree is bare after shredding all of it barks. The tree trunk is still have fresh pinkish bark on it. Such a treasure find!
Finished block 8 Cotton Boll of the Civil War Quilts block of the week last night. This block went together very well. I love that my 'F' fabric fitted in the block perfectly again. It's really surprised me how well any colour goes with the 'F' fabric. If you want to see more of the finished blocks visit flickr page for the CWQ 2011.
Hope everyone is well and keeping busy with your creations. I hope to have a chance to visit all your blogs soon.
16 comments:
You'll love shibori dying, it's so much fun to see the patterns at the end and what a wow trip you have coming up. the bark colours are very impressive, love it.Good for you keeping up with the CW blocks, another great one.
wow nat what a lovely post...that dyed fabric is beautiful...and guess what i have started to copy cw blocks...have fun, love dzintra
The bark dyeing is fantastic Nat...what a beautiful, rich tan and I love to see all of the bark laying on the ground (ready for you to pick up for the dye pot).
Another lovely block for the CW quilt...I love the 'F' fabric.
Jacky xox
I am amazed at what you can use to dye things with. It saddens me that people have forgotten how to use natural things to use in everyday life and turn to chemicals to achieve the same results. I am so glad that you are sharing these things with us. I have never heard of using tree bark.
Your block looks beautiful. Well done.
Willow
Eucalyptus is one of my favorite smells. Does dying with the bark emit the aroma? You find such interesting things to dye with, and the tan colors are beautiful together.
beautiful dye results. have you tried using the bark for basket weaving? i'm thinking of trying to use the crepe myrtle bark for baskets.
Nat, that silk is gorgeous -- hey, you don't need onion skins when you've got eucalyptus! And the trees just shed it like that, amazing. The square has lovely colors -- is the beautiful cream the "F" fabric?
Nat, you got beautiful color with the bark, i have to try it, my niece just sent me eucalyptus bark and leaves from California, hope I have enough for a batch!
Nice eco-dye. All eucalyptus will give color. If you can smell it it will produce some color. The color will also be more intense after a dry spell. Do you have plans for your lovely pieces?
CWQ block is nice. You are doing well at keeping up. I hve to do some extra to catch up. Ah!! LOL
Terrific, Nat. Miss you!!
Another lovely block and the fabric dyeing is fabulous!
Your dyed fabrics look great. I look forward to seeing what you do with them. The dye chart is a great idea. I'm sure you'll be glad of it in the future.
Nice work with block 8. I really like your 2 colours. Your "F" fabric really is very versatile. Great work.
Hello Nat,
I will never look at bark in the same waqy again. Interesting to see how it came out. Good luck with all your planned projects and trips.
Happy days.
Bev.xoxo
Does the tree shed it's bark on a yearly basis? Is this normal behaviour? So interesting, and so neat that you can use it to dye your fabric Nat!
Another successful block. I agree, that red fabric has consistently blended well with all your other fabrics. How is that possible? I think you've found the perfect fabric!
the brilliant thing about eucalyptus bark dye is that it will keep on giving for weeks
the longer you soak and cook it, the richer it can become
be careful with some of the sappy ones [like E sideroxylon] as they make a really thick syrup better for use on paper than on cloth
Love your dyed silk! And the picture you took where you get your bark from looks a bit like the pattern in the dyed silk. Great work, Nat!
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