Working on...

Last blog I showed you my screen with dye poured on to it, resting over the bath. Here it is screened on to the white silk, although I selected only a portion to work with. When I do something like this I put the soda ash into my dye solution, and not pre-soak the fabric in a soda ash solution. The reason for this is so that when I wash off the excess dye residue after cold batching, it does not get grabbed, and stained, by the soda ash in the fabric. This is a huge advantage if I want any of the fabric to remain pristine white.

The next stage underway, defining some of the spaces.

I hope you like this spectacular photo that Clare Plug sent me. It is of the public gardens in her home town of Napier, NZ. I recall my mother planting livingston daises, and marigolds, in her summer flower beds; in those days these were probably all that was on offer, not like today where we have such a variety of annuals from which to make our choice.

Oh yes, only 35 days to my exhibition.

Back home again

I am now back again after the Hamilton Craft and Show. Certainly a busy event with many many people moving through, especially on the Thursday. The numbers always seem to decline as the event comes to a close and on Sunday, not surprisingly, so do the sales! However it was a good event and it was lovely to see and speak to so many people that I know. Some said they actually followed this blog so that was extra nice!

Here are a couple of photos of my stall.





I have almost sorted and packed everything away again and am ready for that final spurt towards my solo exhibition. Only another 39 days to go now; gosh, where does all that time go! Being away with a change of focus certainly was beneficial; I am already back working on a piece just started before I went away. Below is the beginning of what could quite well be one of a diptych. My large screen was placed over the bath with some cold water in it. I then poured dye solution over the screen - very hands on is this! The excess dye drained into the water below (and no the dye doesn't stain the bath). When the screen was dry, it was screened on to the fabric.