Welcoming 2017 ...

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!!

2017 - Indigo Smocked Book 

Matchbox Book #3 ...

It's October and I had the opportunity to make another piece of  "Matchbox art",  to raise funds for the Yorkshire childrens' cancer charity  Candle Lighters  .... I couldn't resist!  

Exhibitors at this Novembers Crafted by Hand, 5th and 6th November, have been asked to make pieces of art that will fit in a matchbox. Visitors to the event will be able to vote for their favourite/s and buy them too, proceeds will go to the wonderful Candlelighters and the winner receives a prize from craft-and-design-magazine.

...  so, using: scraps of Madder dyed fabric, images and text copied from my Imperial Dictionary (published in 1882) ,  I made a 'Rose Madder' Smocked Matchbox book ...

2.6 cm x 1.2 cm spine: rounded, backed and lined ....

'Rose Madder' smocked matchbox book 

Madder Red ...

I received an open invitation to contribute to the Ethel Mairet Dye Project  - 'Dyeing Now' . A research project aiming to create and catalogue every natural dye recipe from Ethel Mairet's 1916 "Vegetable Dyes" publication.

I've always wanted to have a go at Madder red. So I chose Ethel's recipe 'Red for Cotton and linen', pg 105, and just as quickly abandoned it when I noticed 2oz Arsenic(!) in the ingredients list. I used the safer '3 step Alum and Tanin' mordanting method and cobbled together the Madder dye based on my own experience. 

Now then, I do chuckle when people use the words "Natural" and "Eco" when describing dyeing with plants. Any dyeing with plants needs to be undertaken with care and an understanding of which ingredients can be toxic. ( I steer clear of the toxic/ lethal ones!). 

Madder Reds and Pinks

Madder linens and leather. Madder was traditionally used to dye cricket balls

 

Madder and Indigo Smocked books -2016

If you are interested in taking part in the project please do contact:  lucy@ditchlingmuseumartcraft.org.uk

Dye samples in situ: http://www.imgrum.net/media/1351542129478327055_3262616452

More Indigo (and a few things from my compost bin)

Golden Rod, Avocado, Onion and Walnut over dyed with Indigo ...

 Using up scraps of cloth and book trimmings ...

 

The smocked books are currently taking part in the From the Earth Exhibition exhibition.

Book scraps will be comng with me to Crafted by Hand, July 3rd

Indigo saddened with walnut ... (and a little smocking)

I found this post lurking in my 'drafts' , I'm not sure why I didn't post it back in November? Probably because my head was down, producing stock ( a girl has got to eat). So here it is now ... a mere 6 months late. 

Welcoming 2016 ...

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!!

2016 - Indigo Smocked Book