Friday the 13th arrived early

It was calm and sunny Thursday evening when I was working outside. I had just used the hose next to the patio and then walked around to the front of the house to water some flowers.

When I returned to the back patio this big branch was laying a few feet from where I had been standing earlier. It fell from at least 40 feet up the tree which accounts for the whooshing sound I heard but could not identify when I was out front.  I think I'll be eco-printing some black walnut leaves.

Might be nice to do some rust resist with them too.

A long way up to the shattered limb.

Remarkable Reversal

 I've been disappointed sometimes when I get color shifts after neutralizing or washing my rusted silk.  See an example here from June 24, 2012 (only the after pic comes up). I never quite knew what was the culprit.  I've experimented with different types of soap, different amounts of baking soda, shorter or longer soaks, etc.  But I did not approach this problem scientifically.  If I'm making scarves, I'm not about to sacrifice one to being cut up to satisfy my curiosity.  I live with the results, and just complain about it afterwards, ha!


Here are two shots of the same scarf just unwrapped yesterday.  In the  post prior to this one you can see it hanging among other pieces on the clothesline where these photos were taken.  The silk is dry.  I was really pleased with the gray and black tones and hoped to preserve the light creamy and gray background.  I took the scarf inside to neutralize the rust and wash it.

 

Similar sections of the scarf--as you can see I have pink tones now.  I used about 2 T of baking soda, probably more than needed but I finished off an old box that had been sitting open and added some fresh in dishpan of water.  Click on the images to enlarge.  BTW, I used Dr. Bonner's hemp soap to wash.  It's not that I don't like pink--I do like the many variations of color that I can get with one method. Sometimes the color turns much darker almost maroon.  But this time I wanted the lighter grayer tones.

While I was doing this bit of laundry, I was also on Facebook where a message from a friend about the neutralization process had me going back to something that Kimberly Baxter Packwood had written to me when she and I were sorting out some ideas several months ago.  I am definitely not a chemist (and Kim has degrees in chemistry and textile science) so she KNOWS these things.  She was explaining about ph / salt vs acid.  Baking soda is considered a salt and has a higher ph than 7.  Then I found her comment about sometimes being able to reverse a color shift.

after the vinegar

A little lightbulb started blinking in my brain.  I fixed up a solution of vinegar and water--don't ask, I didn't measure.  Dipped the cloth in and viola!  The pink dispappeared!  Mind you this was after washing and pressing it.  I immediately did same with the other pieces as all were showing up pink.  I was able to restore the original color.  



The black areas have a definite purplish cast, but the overall gray tones are saved.

Not sure it will work everytime because there are other variables to consider of course, but I'm a happy camper today.  Makes me wonder if scarves I did ages ago can be transformed.

BTW, when you check out Kimberly's blog, you'll find she is a very busy lady.  She has been writing books and blogs for years on natural dyeing, and a host of other interests.  Thanks Kim for the inspiration!

The Heat is ON!

It was about 103 degrees when I wrapped up these four pieces yesterday.  I survived by using my new mister fan.  What a fantastic thing that is!  Course I was soaking wet by the time I finished, but I was cool.  Unwrapped today without aid of the fan, a bit later in the day.  It was only 100.  Was quick to unwrap, rinse and hang to dry then back inside with the air conditioning.  Whew!  The long pieces are shawls.

The shawl on the right has been washed and pressed.  Dr. Bonner's hemp soap (castile) leaves the silk feeling luxurious.

I've made several pieces now using my auger and I love the effects I get.  Would love to find a larger diameter auger for big cloth.

Alice in Wonderland, Elizabeth in Dartmoor

In the deepest part of the shade in the middle of this pic will soon be a small fire pit so I can do eco printing next to my outdoor studio while I'm rusting a few feet away.  Can't wait.

My oakleaf hydrandea's blooms are turning from white to pink.  I have so few flowers in my yard that I get goosebumps looking at this plant.  Alice (variety)-my big oakleaf is doing well in this acidic soil under the walnut trees.  She survived nearly 3 years in a pot before I got her planted. 

One of these days I'll have to get some gardening advice from my dear friend Elizabeth.  Now SHE has a garden!  Can't ask now though as she is in England having the time of her life and coincidently is traveling with my rusted scarf again--this time in search of Sherlock (rather than Doc Martin).  Read all about it at her lovely blog 2ndhandpaper here.  Gorgeous pictures!  Thanks Elizabeth! 

Here's Alice in all her oakleafed glory cozying up to my studio lattice fence.

My helper

Darcy likes to get involved.  Actually she attacked the fabric as I spread it out because the wind was lifting it.  Despite having only one eye she is pretty dang quick with those claws.

First Crop

So glad to be back in studio.  Injured knee has prevented me from getting around on the uneven ground since before Memorial Day.  Feeling a little braver now.  These are soaking wet after hosing them down.  Expect a shift in color when they are washed and dried.  Seeing some pale yellow now which might not be clear in the photos.  

Water and tea--no vinegar this time around.

Both ends are pinned to clothesline here to prevent the wind from whipping the silk and ruining the hem.  Really gusty today, but oh so beautiful outdoors.

Fabienne's Gift

Fabienne Rey, a dear online friend from the Netherlands has sent me a wonderful gift.  The package arrived last week, chock full of crocheted doilies and embroidered dresser scarves with little bits and bobs of color.  I haven't photographed the color pieces yet.  But here are the doilies.  The one at left was knitted rather than crocheted.  It only measures 5 inches across!

I have a collection of doilies that started with saving ones my mom made.  I've added to it over the years and found several last year on a couple trips to antique stores. Recently, I've become very interested in square doilies.  Fabienne sent me two.  This pinwheel design is gorgeous.

Some of the pieces are really small.  Perhaps they were meant to be coasters, or placed under a vase.  I'm not sure.  This one (at left) is only about 3 1/4" across. 

Below is the largest that Fabienne sent.  Heavy thread and stiff with starch, this one measures 14 1/2" in diameter.

It has occurred to me to continue what I started last year in the collaboration show-- of incorporating the vintage doilies into my rust work.  I will have to think on that a while. 

I've never seen a doily like this one.  It is unique in color and pattern. 

This is a pineapple doily and was my mom's favorite pattern.  We had doilies similar to this over our house.  There are lots of variations on the pattern.  Mom once started to crochet me a pineapple table cloth.  The portion I have is over 30 inches in diameter and far from finished.  Unfortunately I don't know how to crochet! 

In closing I have to announce that Fabienne's beautiful work with eco dyeing and printing is now on exhibit in France.  I wish I could sprout wings and fly over to see it.  You can see pictures and read all about it here.  (use the translator if you don't read French!) 
http://manomanie.over-blog.org/article-exposition-captures-d-empreintes-textiles-de-memoires-105406646.html
Thank you Fabienne for the fabulous gift.