March 13, 2013

Something Blue

Okay, not all in the post is blue, but I have been rock weaving or weaving on rocks. I can't wait to show them to you. Me and the rocks! You see whenever I travel I always gather rocks and until now I just had them in a container in the bathroom as decorations. I came across a photo on Pinterest showing weaving on an acorn. The penny dropped! I thought that I could do the same using my rocks. 

I also have some finished projects and some that I have just started to share with you. So here it is, my weekly posting with more than just something blue...


I made this one for a friend on Instagram. It's for a surprise gift. I hope she likes it. I haven't met this person, but because she left me such a lovely comment I thought I would make her one. What wonderful virtual friends we all have!


This was the first attempt at rock weaving that I did. I had this rock lying around my work station for a while. Then I got inspired by some photos on Pinterest. I just picked the first rock I could find and started weaving. I used a very fine twine I already had and made a length of cord as a necklace. 


It was fun weaving with rocks. I just love it that each one turns out differently. I have got a lot of twine from my basket weaving and now it comes in handy for rock weaving as well. I showed them to my Wednesday craft group and now they all want to learn to make them too. 


This year for Valentine's Day I managed to finish little heart quilt I started a while ago. I took a one-week workshop called LOVE Workshop with Tracy Bakkelokken. It was a good opportunity for me to finish this little quilt. Now I can bring it out every Valentine's Day. 


I also started a quilt for "Seabird" (the beach cottage). This is the second quilt I'm making for Seabird. Both quilts are made from vintage Japanese fabric. The fabric for this one comes from two cotton Yukatas. I have always wanted to make this block Arabic lattice. Having lived for over ten years in Arabic countries I would like to make a quilt to honor those places. I love to piece these blocks and they are going quite quickly together too. I might not have enough fabric for a whole quilt, but I've already got two more Yukatas to complete the single bed quilt. 


I made a few of these Hussefs (Housewife). When Jacky and I visited Maria Cook's exhibition Kimonos Journey I got all inspired by her Hussefs she had on display at the exhibition. I use the leftover pieces from my "Trip around the world" quilt I'm making for Seabird. These would be great for gifts for birthdays and Christmas. It was quite fun whipping them up. 


I can't let the opportunity pass without showing you more indigo dyeing that Jacky and I did last Sunday. We  were only supposed to meet to prepare our workshop, but we ended up dyeing a couple of pieces in the old vat. The photo above shows a piece of Itajime, a clamping method (result in the photo below). The piece of fabric was folded and clamped between two pieces of board and secured with clamps, dipped in the indigo vat for about 30-60 seconds and when first pulled out the color was yellow green. As soon as it touched the atmosphere it started to oxidize and turned blue. I dipped it a few more times to get the color blue I wanted.  


This is the result after I unfolded the Itajime piece above. I'm really happy with how it turned out. I'm planning to make a cushion cover with this piece. 




A few more Shibori pieces that Jacky made. They are lots of ways to do Shibori. The more I learn the more confused I get, but it is all fun getting different Shibori fabric to play with at the end. 

Our first indigo dyeing workshop is this Saturday. We are both looking forward to it. Thanks to our lovely friends who signed up to support us. With the indigo plants starting to flower now, at this rate we could be dyeing using our own indigo in the near future!!!

Until next time
Nat


15 comments:

Lis Harwood said...

As ever Nat you have been busy busy busy being creative. Juts tell me though, is the weaving glued to the rock? I can't see how it would hold the rock otherwise but maybe I'm missing something :-)

Bev C said...

Hello Nat,

The rocks are amazing, reminds me of years ago doing Macrame. The fabric that is like stained glass is so lovely. I just feel like touching it.

Great to see you making another quilt for your new home.

Happiness is a home made quilt.
Bev.xoxo

Judy Martin said...

Nat, you are so busy with so many creative balls in the air.

I love your rock weaving. !!

And that clamped indigo is gorgeous. Your indigo vat has done you well this season. You are a natural dyer I think.

xx

Needled Mom said...

Those rocks are really amazing pieces of weaving. That is such a great use for the collected rocks.

I love your heart quilt and that fascinating Arabic lattice block. It will be a wonderful Seabird quilt.

The indigo is gorgeous. I can't wait to see your first piece dyed with your own indigo.

Jeannie said...

Love the woven rocks! I also collect rocks when we travel, although some of mine are lunchbox size, but some weaving in jute would be fun in the garden. Your indigo is gorgeous. Soon, well, three more months and my vat will be up and running. I miss it. Your quilt for Seabird is gorgeous. I love blue and white quilts and for an ocean home, it is ideal. Have a wonderful rest of the week.

Queen Of The Armchair aka Dzintra Stitcheries said...

Awesome post Nat....love that rock weaving and all that blue!

apiecefullife said...

I just love those 'woven' rocks. I have seen worshops in that kind of thing and wondered what possible use it would be but now I see. I a piece of new Zealand Greenstone.....
And your housewives are great: better than mine!

deanna7trees said...

the rock weaving is wonderful. do you secure the rocks at the top with a fixative or is the twine tight enough to hold the rock within? and i'm loving that Arabic lattice pattern...beautiful.

Astrid said...

The rock weaving is amazing! Love the necklace with the 6 stones! Your dyeing is amazing too! Love the heart quilt and the one for Seabird, it's going to look great!

Tracy said...

Oh, I've missed visit here, Nat... so much inspiration, as always! :o) LOVE the stones tucked in their woven hats. And your heart-themed quilt turned out sooo BEAUTIFUL! I like the new quilt you have in progress--fun shapes. The newly dyed cloths are dazzling...wow... Just now surfacing after 2 weeks+ I've been down with flu & migraines--slowly mending. Fist chance I've had to post and visit friends. So great to catch up with you. :o) Happy Weekend ((HUGS))

Terry said...

Now I've got some special travel rocks too. When can I have a lesson?
The indigo is more amazing every time and preperations for Seabird bring it closer can't wait till I can come visit. Or youuu can come up to the big smoke.

yvette said...

ooo mai you busy bee
i don't want to want more.....the weaving
how tempting!
i leave mine in the jar for now

love

ria vogelzang said...

Oh Nat, you reallu are such an artist!!!
I'm just catching up reading on al the blogs..... and yours is just a diamond!!!!
I admire the way you dye your fabrics! All those gorgeous colours!
And rockweaving......: I didn't even hear of it! Gorgeous!
Well, with all my love!!!
XOXOXOXOXO,
Ria.

ARTISUN said...

My high school textile art students and I visit your blog often for inspiration. They would like you to see what they are up to www.artisun.blogspot.com They are learning shibori, felting, weaving, spinning, eco-dyeing and so much more. Your latest indigo vat pieces were amazing, the blue so rich and wonderful. And those rock woven pieces are so much fun. I'm thinking my students would like to give them a try. Could I possibly buy one from you to share with them? Look forward to hearing back from you . Deb

ParisMaddy said...

Oh, my, oh, my, I'm swooning from your delectable offerings. Everything is BEAUTIFUL. Simply adore the little rock gems. I want... to be bathed in those glorious blues.

Happiness and love... xo

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