November 4, 2011

Mulberry for Pink and B for Bojagi...

I am continueing to experiment with mulberry dye while the fruit is still plentiful on the tree. I only gathered from under the tree what the birds left behind. I had a big bag full the other day. I took a suggestion from friend to soak the berries to maximise the colour. I added a few balls of pearl threads and some pieces of kimono silk. The colour got darker after 24 hours of soaking. I then boiled it for an hour. The result for the silk was really pleasing, but it didn't do much for the pearl threads being 100% cotton. Now I can say I tried the soaking method! 


I posted this same picture on Facebook and I just love the comments I got from it. Some said it was good enough to eat and what it needs it whipped cream on top. Power of digital photography uh? 


Here are different pieces of silk from the dye bath. I scrunched the pieces and tied them with elastic bands so the inside parts didn't get direct contact with the dye. The result was a mottled effect. It's interesting to find that different kind of silks give a different colour. Being vintage silk, it's hard to know what kind of silk it is.


I started piecing the new bojagi cloth for DGD using some of the mulberry dyed silk from the first batch. I added more pieces since I took this photo. I am using the mulberry dyed silk throughout the cloth and on the border too. The bojagi cloth is very addictive. I intend to make a quilt size of it one day...!


Here is my first bojagi cloth I posted here, but look carefully at the dark patches! I have added sashiko stitching on those dark patches. It improved and added more charm to the whole cloth.


What is sashiko stitching doing on a Korean wrapping cloth? Crafts and textiles evolved and merged over the years with the migration of populations. The merging in this case is because of how I am. I like experimenting. After I added sashiko stitching on one patch I knew that this was what it needed...!

I will be away from my blog for just over a week. I will not have the Internet while I am away. Oh well, life without the Internet. Let's see how it goes! Wishing everyone a great week and be safe whatever you are doing.


Enjoy
Nat



21 comments:

Queen Of The Armchair aka Dzintra Stitcheries said...

Beautiful colours Nat...at least you gave it a go with the thread...this is all so very interesting...enjoy time out from the internet and catch up when you get back on air...love Dzintra xo

Jeannie said...

That truly does look like a berry pie sans crust and so tasty! Enjoy your time away and always have fun.

Anonymous said...

Oh yum....those mulberry dyed fabrics do look scrumptious Nat!!! Trust you to find a mulberry tree...he hee!
Your latest cloths look wonderful Nat.I love the Bojagi and you have been stitching up a storm. The shasiko looks great!
Looking forward to catching up with you and Tom when you return.
Have a great trip.

Jacky xox

Simone de Klerk said...

The picture of you dying the fabric and thread is already a piece of art!
Love the sashiko you added to your beautiful bojagi cloth. You really are inspiring, Nat!!

Nancy said...

Oh such colors!!! And I love your added stitches! Have fun during your time away :)

Els said...

Would love to see the pink and the blue Pojagi together ....

Betty said...

I love the colors that came from the mulberries. Just beautiful and that blue pojagi is just so cute. Just love what you come up with.

Janet said...

You've got some wonderful photos for sure. It's kind of neat that you used mulberries on silk, the two go together. I love the Pojagi cloth, the sashiko atitching really is the icing on the top.

deanna7trees said...

just love the sashiko stitching you added to the cloth. try soaking the cotton thread or cloth in soy milk before dyeing. it really worked for me. i soaked the cloth for a few days and just rinsed it off before putting it in the dye pot and it really picked up the color. safe travels.

blandina said...

Beautiful shades of pink, I have to try hand dyeing before we go to Japan.
And the blue bojagi is very clever with the sashiko addictions. I think that an artist (like you) can be forgiven for mixing different techniques, or rather, is obliged to!
Have a nice trip, I will miss you.

Hoola Tallulah said...

The colours are amazing, deep saturated so bright I almost wanna lick it colour, beautiful!

Needled Mom said...

Those pinks are really wonderful and they look fabulous in the bojagi. It does look like it needs whipped cream added!!!

LOVE the sashiko with the blue piece. It adds so much to the piece.

I hope you enjoy your time away.

Nedra said...

Such beautiful colors. And I agree, the first picture looks good enough to eat.
Have a safe and wonderful trip.

Anonymous said...

truly a feast for the eyes. love the sashiko on the blue. try the soy milk and/or mordanting with alum to get the cotton to take the colour. Have a great time away - how hard is it to live without the internet??

Anonymous said...

Those look really nice Natima.

Love Lynda.

Astrid said...

OOh! Indeed it looks yummy, served with vanilla icecream! :)) I love how the silk turned out, very beautiful. The sashiko cheers up the dark blue. The bojagi looks great! Have a nice stay - without the internet! You will survive! :))

Bev C said...

Hello Nat,

Just beautiful, that pink goodness is a delight. Enjoy your week.
happy days.
Bev.xoxo

Lis Harwood said...

Love your interpretation/development of the Korean cloth and am still adoring the pink! The cloth for your DGD is going to be so pretty. Enjoy your time away from the computer but keep a notebook handy!!

ria vogelzang said...

Ohh Nat, you are such an artist! Such beautiful colours and projects!
Every time it is a feast to visit your blog!
Thanks!!
Big hug, Ria.

Kim D. said...

You sure have a way with dyeing Nat, what a great idea to use Mulberry bushes, the colors are gorgeous. I've been MIA for several months and thought I would stop by to see what you've been up to. Love those fabrics, you are always doing something so fun.

Judy Martin said...

I think you are a natural dyer - your indigo in your most recent post, and the mulberry in this one are brilliant.

I didn't realize that mulberry gave such a hot pink. It's shocking, isn't it.

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