I like storms. Somehow energy resets and new beginnings come to play. I like real time/pace in your videos, enjoying no rush, learning where these lovely shapes and dyes come from and how it happens. Hope it's ok to ask here, where and how do you keep reused leaves and for how long?
The answer is “that depends”….these came out of the shapeshifter last week, and had just been left on the table outside , wrapped in the cloth that had protected the garment in the cauldron
They were luminous for a while , but changed (see longer responses to other comments ) … which was interesting to observe, as I still have similarly printed samples that are over a decade old but still bright
This post is truly fascinating. I'd never have expected those colors but they're gorgeous. Love how you chose to embellish the hem and just let the dress pick up a little color. Thank you for sharing your creative process with us. Plus as I'm sure you are aware your voice is soothing to the point I could take a little nap after the video.
My father described my voice less kindly….and simply said that it was soporific (even sneakily recorded me droning on as a teenager and then played it back at me to illustrate his point). But it turned out to be very useful when narrating children to sleep.
As to those luminous colours, they changed as the garment dried, I think because I was not able to spin the excess liquid (rich in iron) out , given there was no power, and then some oxidisation occurred. If I had thought more carefully I could have hung it upside down…
Oh I see. That's something to consider. I'm hoping to do more eco dying this summer with my new set up in my 'summer studio' which is the pool house converted to work area. I'll have running water, and there is a creek behind the building which I'm not sure how to utilize yet but it keeps popping up as having something fun to offer and seems to want to play. The summer studio is screened in so here in MN I don't have to worry about being devoured by bugs and wasps and bees. And of course trees and plants abound although not a lot of variety. But still. I'd like to see if I can get the tea bags to take the eco dying process better. I've had great success with pounding indigo leaves into them, or running them through my etching press, and some success with pounding other types of leaves and flowers. But although the tea bags are quite sturdy, they don't seem to want to take the color during when eco-dying.
That sounds like a lovely setup :: as to tea bags, you might want to test them for synthetic content? Polyester isn’t the best dye-able substrate…and a lot of them look like paper but are a blend of fibres.
I grew up in Southern Africa where the storms are regular and often spectacular in the rainy season. It is one of the things I sorely miss living in the U.K. for an extended period. We rarely get a storm in the south of England. I do love watching your videos, India. You have such a lovely, gentle, well modulated voice that it is a pleasure to hear you speak. I totally agree that it is such a blessing to live in a place that is not being invaded by hostile forces. There are many countries under siege and I am grateful not to be in any of them. I had a look at Marlinspike Chandlery-what beautiful work that man does. Lovely piece of clothing!
Usually those brilliant second-bundle greens are constant, but when I returned home from my appointment this afternoon I found they had (I think) oxidised to a softer olive shade.
We also got that storm house shook and the thunder echoed over the ocean and bounced back. Good results!
your fabric journeys compel and transfix me. all day long i could watch this magic work.
Thank you, I’m so fortunate to have stumbled on an occupation that is so delightful , it rarely feels like “work”.
I like storms. Somehow energy resets and new beginnings come to play. I like real time/pace in your videos, enjoying no rush, learning where these lovely shapes and dyes come from and how it happens. Hope it's ok to ask here, where and how do you keep reused leaves and for how long?
The answer is “that depends”….these came out of the shapeshifter last week, and had just been left on the table outside , wrapped in the cloth that had protected the garment in the cauldron
Remarkable greens
They were luminous for a while , but changed (see longer responses to other comments ) … which was interesting to observe, as I still have similarly printed samples that are over a decade old but still bright
This post is truly fascinating. I'd never have expected those colors but they're gorgeous. Love how you chose to embellish the hem and just let the dress pick up a little color. Thank you for sharing your creative process with us. Plus as I'm sure you are aware your voice is soothing to the point I could take a little nap after the video.
My father described my voice less kindly….and simply said that it was soporific (even sneakily recorded me droning on as a teenager and then played it back at me to illustrate his point). But it turned out to be very useful when narrating children to sleep.
As to those luminous colours, they changed as the garment dried, I think because I was not able to spin the excess liquid (rich in iron) out , given there was no power, and then some oxidisation occurred. If I had thought more carefully I could have hung it upside down…
What would hanging it upside down do for it? And, anyway, I like your voice so there.
Oh I see. That's something to consider. I'm hoping to do more eco dying this summer with my new set up in my 'summer studio' which is the pool house converted to work area. I'll have running water, and there is a creek behind the building which I'm not sure how to utilize yet but it keeps popping up as having something fun to offer and seems to want to play. The summer studio is screened in so here in MN I don't have to worry about being devoured by bugs and wasps and bees. And of course trees and plants abound although not a lot of variety. But still. I'd like to see if I can get the tea bags to take the eco dying process better. I've had great success with pounding indigo leaves into them, or running them through my etching press, and some success with pounding other types of leaves and flowers. But although the tea bags are quite sturdy, they don't seem to want to take the color during when eco-dying.
That sounds like a lovely setup :: as to tea bags, you might want to test them for synthetic content? Polyester isn’t the best dye-able substrate…and a lot of them look like paper but are a blend of fibres.
All of the residual damp would have travelled away from the border, rather than gathering at it ?
And how so right you are that those of us who live in relative peaceful surroundings are very blessed indeed...
And if we look at history we also know that things can change in a heartbeat. Grateful for each peaceful day.
Oh how I love these unbundlings... to me, they are each a poem from nature
I feel the same way…and the reveal is a gift each time.
This is so lovely to read you again. I missed the old blog days where I first found you xx
And I was delighted to see you join the community here, Kailee 🧡
I grew up in Southern Africa where the storms are regular and often spectacular in the rainy season. It is one of the things I sorely miss living in the U.K. for an extended period. We rarely get a storm in the south of England. I do love watching your videos, India. You have such a lovely, gentle, well modulated voice that it is a pleasure to hear you speak. I totally agree that it is such a blessing to live in a place that is not being invaded by hostile forces. There are many countries under siege and I am grateful not to be in any of them. I had a look at Marlinspike Chandlery-what beautiful work that man does. Lovely piece of clothing!
The green color is magnificent!
Usually those brilliant second-bundle greens are constant, but when I returned home from my appointment this afternoon I found they had (I think) oxidised to a softer olive shade.