Fall Harvest

There is just enough time to collect materials before winter gets here for real!

Collecting leaves while the world marches on.

Shirt

To open or not to open, that is the question. On the one hand the longer it sits the better it will be-on the hand I am bored and I really want to see what's in it!

New Work

If there is anybody out there looking at this blog you have probably been wondering what the vacation snaps are about. I am trying to get back into gear as far as the internet is concerned. So I figured if I posted something-ANYTHING- it would get me into a routine. My Etsy shop is as schizophrenic as ever, now the banner, avatar and about page reflect natural printing and dyeing, while what is offered for sale is still the sun printing. One step at a time I guess. Here is a detail shot of a recent scarf, it contains eucalyptus, onion skins and plum leaves among other things. Now has to cure for a bit before it is washed and ready to sell.

Nooks and Crannies

Puddles

A small aquarium formed by the ocean.

Life of an artist

I recently went to a show in Anacortes, the scenery was pretty inspiring.

Garden Visitor

Off to Lake Oswego!

I am starting out very early in the morning to head to the festival in Lake Oswego. The great thing about eco-printing is that you can take it along. Over Memorial Day weekend I did a show in Port Angeles Washington. Some good friends put me up while I was there. Dan was kind enough to take me over to the Discovery Trail to pick up some goodies to work with and when we got back Kim lept into action taking pictures-now I finally have some with me in them!

Sorting through all the pickings:

Starting to roll it up:

No peeking!

Voila! Rusted nails and iris petals, among other treats!

Bundles

These will need to sit a bit. Hopefully ready for Art Fest.

Fungus is our friend

This piece of silk noile was steam printed with leaves from a eucalyptus tree that was covered with fungus.

Weeds

What a lovely use for knapweed!

Ok, maybe seaweed wasn't the greatest idea I ever had...

Steam printing with seaweed sounded like a great idea, it is all kinds of different colors and shapes, oh my how can a girl resist. Trouble is, think about the concept of steamed seaweed. Yeah, it smells just like that. While it did make some fantastic colors and patterns, I could barely stand to have it around. Trying to be as gentle as possible, I attempted to wash out the smell. Although a lot better, it took so much effort that most of the colors disappeared. They may have been transient anyway, who knows.
Anyway, I thought I would post some pictures of a little more successful experiment. The first picture is of a steam printed scarf using red cabbage. Yes, it has a smell too, but it doesn't have the staying power of cooked seaweed!

The next picture is of a scarf that was also eco-printed with red cabbage, but given a post bath in a light alum solution-voila! Blue!

Fun with Eucalyptus

Recently I went to visit a friend on the Washington coast and there in her front yard were two different types of eucalyptus! The first picture is a detail of the round leaf variety used with rusted nails.

The next is from the other tree, a variety with long skinny leaves.

The last is done with dollar eucalyptus, purchased from a florist.

So many plants to play with, so little time!!!

Seaweed Salad

I brought home bags of seaweed off the beaches of Olympic Peninsula, we will see what happens. Needless to say I did the steaming outside for this one!

Eco Printing Results!

I will be taking these to Best of the Northwest next weekend. In the meantime I will be fighting my way across Snoqualmie Pass to visit a friend. She lives on the peninsula where things are actually growing! I am taking an old dictionary and a phone book so I can press some leaves to bring back.

Mono printing with rusted nails.

Eco-printing with rose petals.

With deadfall leaves.

With eucalyptus.

And with fern leaf maple.

Cabbage and Beets and Onions

Here is today's batch, hopefully they will be ready to go to Best of the Northwest.

Off to the Show!

My new friend is in her seat and ready to go to Custers Spring Art and Craft Fair!

More Steam Printing

This a mix of wind fall and dried pressed leaves, the silk was pre-treated with steel wool.

Experimenting with Paper Mache

I haven't done this since I did it with a room full of over active sixth graders. It was a "never again" moment. But it's fun when it doesn't end up in your hair!
In progress;

Finished:

Fuzzy Scarves in the Making

Almost ready to sew together!

Bracelets

Lately I have had this Downtown Abby meets old hippy thing going on...

As promised, better late than never.

I have been having technical issues and finally just gave up for a bit. But I finally think I have it figured out. So here are some pictures of some of the eco-prints I have been working on this winter. Some are re-dos of the pictures posted previously. This one is steam printed cabbage.

This one is printed with rusted nails then over printed with onion skins.

This one is silk that was soaked in an iron pot first, then steam printed with Arborvitae. 

More to come!