This and That

I have been busy, but not much to show here. A bit of this and that going into my life these days. I have to say that I'm content with myself and my creativity even though I don't have many finished projects. 

I have been going through the garage looking through boxes we had in storage before we went to Abu Dhabi in mid 1990s. When we came back from Abu Dhabi we brought back even more 'stuff' but our new house was smaller, so much of the 'stuff' was left in boxes. We decided to have a thorough look this time and make some room in the garage for car! We took car loads of 'stuff' to the op-shop and another load to the tip, but what I can't give away are my craft supplies. I saved some wool fleece for spinning, plant fibres for basket weaving and old quilting fabric that I will use one day to make charity quilts. I'm happy to say that I managed to find room for everything. Now I have an empty three door wardrobe in the garage to store all my book making and jounaling supplies in as well. I can't wait to get them out of my sewing room and make room in there for sewing instead of for storing!!!

A little bit of stitching I have been doing is this eco-dyed moon to use as a center for bojagi cloth. I started piecing it from the center out using log-cabin method.  I'm really just randomly added new pieces on in circle motions. I enjoy stitching it a lot in the evenings when I don't have anything else to do haha!

The blanket I started pinning here is finally basted down. It lived on my dinning table for far too long before I got around to finishing it. I can now clear my table and work on some Christmas gifts. 

Natural dyed threads from different batches of dyes. The latest one is the yellow  thread from turmeric. I just love stitching with them. They go well with my dyed fabric. 

Do you spontaneously start a new project out of the blue? It happens to me all the time. I was happily working in the garage when I found the plant fibres I stored there. Before I even knew what I was doing the basket frame almost started itself from the handle I must have made years ago! 

Out of all the crafts I'm doing I think basket weaving is one of the things I love most. This type of basket is called melon or egg basket. You start with two circles in any sizes. You tie the handle to the body using a technique called 'god eye'. You add spokes and you are ready to start weaving.

In this basket I used mixed plant fibres of Red hot poker and Watsonia leaves. Red hot poker is called the golden threads by basket weavers. Watsonia is more fragile, but it keeps its colour even after it is completely dried. The basket measures 15" long x 8" wide and 9" tall. It's only a small basket, but it took quite a lot of fibres because I like to weave it tight to make it strong when using it to carry stuff in.

I have been dyeing again after the workshop I did at Jude Craig. I know you are not surprised.  I have more leaves to experiment with so what to do, what to do? As you can see they are quite a few colours and patterns on them. More fabric to use in my bojagi cloth. 

It's easy to make imprints on fabric when you dye, but I prefer a more spontaneous or incidental result. The cloth above was wrapped around a giant spring that is stuffed with eucalyptus leaves. After steaming I left it for days before opening it. I think it's an exhibition piece. Talking about exhibitions, I've booked an exhibition space at the Monash Gallery of Art for 2013. I know it's a long way off, but if I don't do it now we won't get in. So watch this space for more details.

For the first try with Kangaroo paw. I read somewhere that they dye too, but it might be the red kind. We will have to wait and see. If all else fails, the eucalyptus will dye!

The last of the cotton tote bags I brought back from Bangkok. I shibori it in turmeric dyed bath. It's really that yellow. Turmeric gives a true yellow, if you are looking to dye yellow. 

Why have an empty bag if I can add something on it? Pieces of indigo fabric make perfect patches on this bag. I only pinned them on so far. Another project to work on during the Christmas holidays.

The weaving project is still on the loom. Not a lot of moments left in a day to weave, even though I love it. I have already dyed some warp threads for the next project. I can't wait to get started on that. 

I will leave you with the high tea. Remember the tea cosy I knitted here? It was a lovely day last Sunday so time to bring out my new tea cosy. High tea with home made scones and jam, yum! Cup of tea anyone? 

Thanks again everyone for reading my blog. I have not been very active lately. Considering I have been blogging for 4 years now and still going strong, I think I'm doing well. I still enjoying blogging, but I do like to show some finished projects. It's harder and harder to get things finished these days. 

Life is full...!

Until next time

Nat

Naturally Dyed Workshop

Every blogger loves photography. I love photography. I take photos everyday when going for a walk, working in the garden, doing creative stuff at home, or going out for a cup of coffee. I usually find something interesting to photograph. I have been posting on my "daily inspiration" blog every day for nearly 100 days now. Thanks to my iPad that enables me to make a quick post each day. I just love this technology! 

Last Sunday I went to a dye workshop at Naturally Dyed with Jacky, Dot and Ro. Apart from having a great day dyeing at Jude's studio I really enjoyed taking photographs of what we did. There are lots of photos on this post, so I've grouped them together in sets. You can double click each set to make it larger. Enjoy...

I like dyeing threads to use in my stitch projects. Natural dyed threads give me that soft muted colour that goes so well with all my work. In the above photo from top left clockwise, liquid amber, eucalyptus leaves, eucalyptus leaves in iron pot, and turmeric dyed baths. This is my favorite photo for this post. 

Jude has so many rusty objects, copper pieces, metal rods and pre-dyed strings ready for us to use. You do get inspired looking at them. You can see the potential of what can be used in eco-dyeing.  

Then there are various leaves you can use to dye with. Jude lives in an ideal place for a dyeing workshop. The house is surrounded by eucalyptus trees of every species. Most of the plant materials were dried, but on that day Jacky took some eucalyptus mistletoe, and I took some fresh eucalyptus leaves from my university. I also took a piece of purple carrot and turmeric to share. 

Here were four different dyed baths Jude had going that day. Starting from the top left: Eucalyptus, turmeric, purple cabbage and eucalyptus in iron pot.

Jude was holding a bridal veil in the dyeing process. I can't wait to see how it turns out. Dot and Jude on the top right photo sitting out enjoying morning tea. In the bottom two photos were bundles ready to be opened.

In the top left photo was the collection of Jude's dyed fabric waiting when we arrived. In the top right photo were wedding dresses Jude collected to create one of a kind for a lucky bride. Jude is preparing a naturally dyed wedding at the moment. This is such an exciting project. This might be the first natural dye theme wedding in the world! The two bottom photos were some of our fabric we dyed that day. 

The most interesting piece I dyed that day has to be this pair of Japanese workman's trousers from Ziguzagu. It is old and well worn, but in good condition. On one leg I resist dyed it, and on the other leg I wrapped lots of eucalyptus leaves and hoped for the best. I love how it turned out. I couldn't have wished for a better result. I just love it!

What is really interesting is the text on the trousers. At first I thought it had been written using a marker pen. After a few washes the marks didn't come out, but getting cleaner. I had a closer look and realised the marks were woven into the fabric!

This was the trouser bundle, just before I opened it. It did look rather strange I must say! 

And here is what one of the legs looks like after it was opened. I left it lying about the house for a day and the intensity of the imprints darkened.

Thank you ladies for a great day. Thanks Jude for letting us come to play in your beautiful home. You are so generous and sharing. You are a true artist Jude. Good luck with the wedding; I'm looking forward to seeing the photos.

Until next time.

Nat

Steaming Away

I do use the steaming method in my house quite a lot. I use it for Eco dyeing of course and in cooking as well. The steaming method is a way of preserving all goodness and flavour in vegetables, fish and fruit. 

What have I been steaming lately? My steamer is always going for my Eco dyeing batches. I used to do that with my domestic cooker, but when I was in Bangkok I brought back a single gas burner and now I'm steaming out on the back deck. I do miss that eucalyptus smell from steaming. So what do I have to show you from my productive week today? 

When I was in Bangkok I picked up some tote bags, plain ones at that. It's getting harder and harder to find just plain of anything these days, so I was thrilled to find them in an Eco-Green shop. I dyed it with mulberries. Together with other mulberries dyed silk and vintage Japanese silk I applied some boro stitching  on the bag. I added a few buttons and this tote bag turned out gorgeous, I must say!

I used the same kind of tote bag as above, but this time I dyed it with eucalyptus leaves. I used boro patches with mixed dyed fabric and as you can see it's a very earthy and cool looking bag. I have used it once already when I went to the opening of Ziguzagu's exhibition a few weeks ago. 

You can't do steaming without a steamer. Up until now I have been using any old steamer, but my dyeing production is picking up so I need to be more efficient with the steaming. This is the same type of steamer that we used in my family home in Thailand. It's a double steamer with two layers of steamers and one base. I can boil the dye liquid in the base with bundles and at the same time I can have bundles steaming on top. How economic and environmentally friendly is that! 

This was the first time I used this new steamer. So out I went gathering those precious eucalyptus leaves again on my daily walk. There are couple of Eucalyptus Cinerea trees in my campus that I keep good eye on for falling leaves. These are sure to give me orange prints. I also found some Eucalyptus Silver Drop trees around my area that only had few leaves left from last year. I know they will dye because they give out strong scent.  

Plenty of leaves left over for the next batch. I have a feeling it will be soon. Oh I must tell you that I'm going to a workshop with Jacky and her friends a Naturally Dyed this Sunday. We went there this time last year and we thoroughly enjoyed it. 

These are the first three bundles to start the new steamer off. One bundle has vintage silk and mixed green and brown eucalyptus leaves. The second bundle has only old leaves I found on Monday morning when I got to work. I used  prunus leaves on cotton for the third bundle. I'm not sure about the cotton on this one, but we will see!

I have this lovely and soft piece of woollen fabric I found at an op-shop a while ago. It's a perfect backing of this Eco blanket I'm piecing. I would like to showcase the whole piece of the dyed cloths so this is a good way of showing them. So far I only pinned them down. Next I will go back and do invisible basting around the edges and then start stitching. Lots and lots of stitching will go into this one. I think it is a stitching project for next winter. 

Now for steaming of a different kind. Steam food parcels. Every Greek household has at least one grapevine growing. We have two, one vine for fruit and one ornamental vine. The ornamental vine hangs on the railing of the deck. At this time of year (Spring) the young leaves are a beautiful luscious green. For me it's the time to make dolmades (stuffed vine leaves). 

This is a wonderful recipe for meze or tapas. Easy to make and most of all I can use vine leaves from my very own grapevine. You can also buy vine leaves at a good delicatessen, either frozen or in the can. 

Here they are all wrapped up and ready for steaming. Here is a traditional Greek recipe from an old Greek cookery book that I have had for more than thirty years. Enjoy!

Stuffed Vine Leaves:

50 vine leaves, fresh or canned

 2 cups rice

 4 medium-sized chopped onions

1.5 cups olive oil

 1 lemon 

 1 cup chopped parsley, dill and mint leaves

1/4 cup pine nuts

 4 cups water

Salt and pepper to taste

Filling:

Fry chopped onions in olive oil until golden brown. Add pine nuts, rice and other ingredients and a cup of water. Cover and let simmer for 10 minutes. Allow mixture to cool.

In the meantime blanch vine leaves in boiling water for 1 minute, drain and cool under running water. 

Take each leaf with the shiny surface on the outside. Place a teaspoon of filling in the center of each leaf. Fold like an envelope and roll lightly to allow for the puffing of rice.

Place 3-4 fresh vine leaves at the bottom of heavy base saucepan. Arrange the leaf parcels on top, side by side and in layers. Add 3 cups of water, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, a little more salt and the juice of one lemon.

Place some fresh leaves on top, press with a plate and cover the saucepan. Let simmer for about 45 minutes or until the water is absorbed. Uncover and let cool. 

Remove carefully, one at the time, so that the leaf parcels do not unfold. Serve hot or cold. 

Until next time

Nat