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First of all, where is everyone? Did you all go on vacation at once and you didn’t let me know? Yesterday, was my first post without a single comment, since I can’t remember.
On with the photos from my fantastic shibori class. Here is class work from yesterday. We are all discovering the elusiveness of indigo. It can get too much oxygen and become “tired.” Then you have to add more indigo and warm water and let it rest for a while. It is also important to soak the pieces in warm water to get a better penetration of the indigo.
Here is some stitching that I did on some linen. Al the stitches have to be pulled up tight and tied off. This piece is still drying so that it will be easier to remove the stitches
Yesterday, we used synthetic indigo and today we mixed up a batch of natural indigo. It comes in a lump that has to be ground to a powder.
Here is the work that I brought home to wash and dry.
The upper left is linen that was folded and ironed and clamped with wooden triangles. the one next to is is a previously folded and dyed piece that I got from June Underwood. I folded this on the diagonal first then folded it in the other direction and clamped it with rectangle wood pieces. The top row of reddish pink pieces are dupioni silk dyed in Brazilwood with different mordants — copper, rust and alum/ I have no idea which is which. The bottom pieces were dyed in logwood. The smaller indigo piece is one of the dupioni pieces from yesterday that I overdyed by scrunching it on a pvc pole. The first of the longer pieces is a chiffon scarf that was folded in triangles and then wrapped on a pvc pipe with string — arashi shibori. The next piece was a very ugly lime green chiffon scarf on which a batiked image did not show up very well. I wrapped and scrunched it on a pvc pipe and I really like it now. The last piece is silk organza that is done arashi style — wrapped on a large pvc pipe then wrapped with string. Here are the arashi pieces waiting to be dyed.
Tonight I am going to prepare the scarf in the background for overdyeing by wrapping it arashi style.
Here are some closeups of today’s work that are clickable for larger views.
Lime green to begin with, overdyed with indigo, I’m assumin’. Hey, all I had to say yesterday was “say hi to judilee for me,” but I’d already told you that in person, so I didn’t post it. Ain’t she great? And it looks like you’re having fun. Indigo really is a living, dynamic substance; you’ve got to feed it and coddle it and keep it happy. I do love the way you can watch a piece turn from green to blue as the oxygen hits it.
No comments, eh? All you had to do was ask! This looks like big fun. That green you are getting is really wonderful. Is it indigo too? I’m confused.
I wanna come play…whine, whine,whine. What fun! When ever I get in the doldrums all I need to do is to be active and make fabric….
Love the work you are doing with the indigo dye….looks like lots of fun. Keep posting pictures so we can see the wonderful work you are doing.
I always was a denim girl but I am coming to love blue even more and more. Your pictures nearly make me hyperventilate. Why am I sitting here at work when other people are getting to do cool stuff like this?
Of course, you know that I’m in love with the chartreuse scarf too! I love all of the arashi wrapped pieces. Fabulous work, Gerrie!
But my question to you is: is this style too predictable for you and too tedious?
xo
Hi Gerrie!
I am not on vacation, read your blog everyday, but never reacted until now.
Your posts (especially the ones on surface design as this is my ‘thing’) are highly appreciated by me, I will try to react more often and I have decided to start my own blog somewhere in september (sorry, need my son for that and he is coming over from Holland). Thanks for sharing your experiences, best regards,
Regina, Sint Maarten (DWI)
I’m still here, lurking between loads of laundry. Shibori always amazes me. Indigo too. I have huge respect for anyone who does either in any serious form. I really like your stitched examples.The stitches seem to honor the process.
Ooh! Ooh! This is gorgeous! Looks like great fun and your tedious stitching is paying off!
I’m here. I was just so in awe of what you are doing that I couldn’t think of words to express myself. Wow!