Fabric

Thanks for your comments everyone.

All the fabrics I am using now are my own hand dyed fabrics.

I love the process, and the surprise of the dyeing. I did some this morning, and used alot of dye and salt and soda ash, all mixed into the dye mixture, and the results are incredible. I had no yellow left, only a small amount of green from last weeks dyeing. So it was just red, blue and black, I will post pictures tomorrow, after another wash, as I pulled them out of the machine, and now my fingers are coloured, don't you love it!

xxx

School quilt II

This is the next quilt I have made for the school. It measures 39 1/2 x 46 inches. I like this one too. So I will finish the quilt and then work out which one I like more. 

Oh busy busy busy

Hi All

Sorry I haven't been updating much lately, but I have been busy with running errands and such, with the kids back at school etc. But from tomorrow, I will be back in the studio doing some work.

I am going to the gym today, for my assessment, so that should be good, and then back to some exercise. I am going to start a new blog, on what I eat, and what I am doing each day. If I get a chance, I will start it tonight.

But for now, it's feed the kids and get ready for school.
xxx

Finished chart.

 


These are the finished pieces. there is not alot of contrast between some of the colours, Hmm I don't really understand why. It was very time consuming, and quite frustrating. But I guess, that's life. Any ideas? 

Fabric in Cling Wrap

These are my little fabric cells, which will sit here for about 2 hours, and then I will wash them out, and see what happens.
I will post how I made the colour ratios when I have washed them out. 

Dyeing today

Today I got out the dyes, and instead of just throwing some in together, to get some ace results. I used some information I got from Ros http://www.rosdye.blogspot.com, she gave me some great information and this is my step by step.

Starting here, I have washed the fabric, and spun dry. Many people I have heard now have said to not use normal laundry powders, and they have whitners etc, so I used the LOC from Amway, as I can't stand the smell of pure soap flakes, grouse!

This is the fabric soaking in the soda ash solution. Ph Up, purchased from Clark Rubber.










This is tha fabric after it was spun in the washing machine, after the soda ash soak.









I have written up what a chart and using small amounts of dye and water made little packages of four inch squares, to get a master plan, of how much dye with water, creates what colour. It was fun. The most teidous was taking the gloves on and off.

This is the tiny piece of fabric which will be wrapped in the cling wrap lining the bowl.

Next post will show the colour ranges I have dyed..... 

Heating!!!

Well only one week to go, and the heating will be in the studio, yeahhhh! It is way too cold to go up there at the moment, but the good thing is, when the sun comes out, the studio warms up, as it gets alot of sun. The heater is a split system LG, so in Summer, when it's too warm to work up there, not anymore, it will be airconditioned, and in winter, nice and toasty. So they are coming next week Monday to install. The weather is meant ot fine up today, so I may be lucky enough to get up there tomorrow.

I have cut up, and prewashed my fabric, about 9 meters was left on the roll. I will go shortly and soak it in the soda ash solution, and then get to the dyeing.
The kids should be back from their dad's house anytime now, so the piece and quiet will be GONE!

xxx

Kids artwork

I had the idea for the kids to make some artwork for my mum for her birthday.

This first one was made by my daughter, It's plaster and gluem slapped on and manipulated, dryed and then painted. She wants to get some gold paint, and highlight around, so I will post that when done. She is 12 and loves art, I am very impressed.



This piece was done by my Son, who is 7 years old. he made it in about 5 minutes. I am very proud, I think it's wonderful. I begged to let me hang them in the studio, but they both said no, They are for their Omi. Bummer! They'll just have to mae some more...... :)

xxx 

Hail storm

We had some hail here yesterday, it looked like it had snowed. It rained and then hailed and then rained etc all day. Not one month ago we had 30C and yesterday, a top of 10C.

We went shopping today, and Craig bought me a heater for the studio, yeahhhh, I will be able to go and workin there soon. It's so cold I can't work out there. The heating goes in Monday week, the weather is meant to fine up a little I think, I hope so, as I have a few things to do, in the meantime, I got my soda ash, so a dyeing I will go.

xxx

 

Beautiful Trees

It's Autumn here in Melbourne, and the trees are changing, and it's getting colder and colder. I think it got to a huge 12C up here today. We are in the hills, which is always a little cooler, but the warm days are just as hot as in the city.
The photos are of a property up the road from us. I drive past these trees every day, it is amazing how quickly they change colour. I stopped today, I wanted ot get it on film, the colours are actually quite true in the picture. Very pretty. 

Take Two

I spent three hours in the studio yesterday, and this was the result. Alot more colour in this one then that last one. I don't think the orange strip goes. Maybe a dark blue, I will have to play with that one. Not stitched together yet, so that's easy. Good afternoons work.....
It was lovely in the studio too, the Autumn sun was coming in the window, and warmed me up a little. The radio on, the kids at the neighbours, doesn't get much better then that.

xxx 

Boundaries #1

Boundaries #1, 42" x 46"













This is the finished work, very happy! I have called it Boundaries, as I have pushed the quilt boundaries out of the way, and done what I want, it was alot of fun, and the results are stunning.

Have a great day... xxx

The Lake

This is our lake. It was empty yesterday, but today! We had alot of hard rain during the night, this lake is our rain gage. It's very pretty this lake, it would just be great if it held water. 

Quilting

Quilting has started. I am loving this quilt. The colours and the indepth quilting just standout beautifully, I want to keep it for myself, not give it away. But I don't think I will have time to make something else, but I am sure I will like that piece just the same. Well I can always make another one.







We have had so much rain here in Melbourne over the last few days, last night and the night before I have been woken up from the heavy rain on the roof. We got up this morning, and had a look at the "lake" out the front of the studio, it's really a dam, but Craig calls it a lake, but it's got over a foot of water in it, overnight! fantastic. It needs rolling, as the water keeps leaking out, soon! 

Playing

I started this piece, which is inspired by Melody Johnson's new work, I love it. Well I love her's, mine looks dull, well it looks dull here, it's alot nicer in real life. But it needs some more omph in the middle, hmm I need to think this one through a bit more. I love the background fabric though.... 

School piece

This is the piece for the school Trivia/Auction night, very exciting. I love it. I felt it was quite dark before, but the addition of the orange strip brings some brightness. Now to the quilting. I think it needs alot of quilting, I will put a piece on the machine to practice. 

School Donation

I have been trying to think of a peice to offer for donation to my children's school for fundraising.
I have been working on this piece, which I really like. It's not stitched together yet, but I am thinking whether it should be bigger, or made as a wall hanging. It measures about 1 metre square.

They are all my own fabrics, which I just love, and they look quite striking together.

I was planning to do some more today, but the weather has really cooled down in Melbourne, and it was so cold in there I couldn't feel my hands. So I did some cleaning in the house. It is now time to get that heater up there I think. 

And yet more fabric

Here is some more fabric, the fold doesn't show the beauty of the pieces. I did mean to take a photo before washing out, but forgot, next time.

I am looking to dye some pieces that have more depth of colour, but it just aint working. I will have to investigate how to get this done.

Any ideas??? 

March Journal Quilt

This is my finished March Journal Quilt. It is A4 size.
We are making these with a yahoo group I am with in Australia, and it's alot of fun.
The background is all quilted circles. The fabric is all hand dyed by me, and the cyclamen petals are not quilted. 

and the last two

Oh My I just Ironed this one, and it looks B E A utiful....
 

another one

 

More fabric

I had a play with some dye yesterday, again

T wanted some browns, but with some interest of coulour through it. The browny/green though these pieces are very Olive green, just gorgeous. 

March Journal

I know, It's April, but this was started in March, so It's March, okay!
All my hand dyed fabrics. Fabrics fused ah-la Melody Johnson. It's the size of an A4 piece of paper.
Now to the Quilting, that's this afternoon's job.

I have about 10 errands to run for Craig today, I have to buy the tiles for our bathroom floor, yay! finally it will be finished. We have only been in there for 5 1/2 years! Then I am off to the Crossroads Exhibition at Steps Galley in Carlton, it finishes tomorrow, so I have to get down there, I am very excited. I will let you know how it was. But I am expecting awesome. I hope I can take pictures..... 

More Dyed Fabric

I have been looking for some fabric to use for my dyeing. As I have my own business, I am able to purchase wholesale, so the search begun. I received this fabric from Fabplay P/L in Melbourne, and I am very happy with the results.









The piece on the left, I used for the background of the cyclamen, on my next post, I just forgot to download the pic on this post.
These pieces are much darker in real life.









This is the piece I will be donating to the school for an auction night in May. I am not sure yet if I will make it any bigger, no I don't think so. I think I should have used a darker grey/black on the left, I may pull it apart yet...... What do you think?