Saturday, March 17, 2012

Dreaming in Blue

Today I chose some more fabrics I was drawn to overdye with indigo. This Japanese cotton has such a great feel and texture. It was formerly a pale plaid. And I'm pleased with this moon blossom:

I am dreaming of indigo nightly - and last night several were ideas of what to try next. Here I sewed together a variety of fabrics - nine different silks, cottons, and linens and then dipped it. The photo of it blue is when it's still wet - and I think I prefer it before - but I have plans to add one of the moons to it and work it further. This came together really quickly and I had a sense of my native style - some sort of inner indication that I'm on the right track.


And another Japanese plaid overdyed with indigo:


It was a beautiful day so I planted this rhubarb from a friend while I was out weeding. Rhubarb leaves can be used to make a mordant in natural dyeing, but they are also poisonous. I will definitely put the stalks to use, but will decide whether to use the leaves later. I find that I am using the natural indigo vat almost entirely - with only a few dips into the chemical one because I don't like it's smell or toxicity.


I also wove strips of indigo dyed fabric and dyed five other pieces exploring other things. I wonder what I'll dream up tonight?

8 comments:

deanna7trees said...

wow. you've really gotten into this. i so appreciate your posting all these things you're doing with the indigo vats.

shiborigirl said...

yvonne-you posted to the wrong blog. you posted to the shibori workshop blog, not the indigo forum...

Penny Berens said...

Hey Yvonne your blues are coming out amazing and what surprises me is the time of year! Are you keep the vat warm on the stove-top?

Jennifer said...

Your overdyeing of textured fabrics adds even further dimension to them. Keep having fun ....

Chimo,
Jennifer

Mary Helen-Art Saves Lives said...

You are making so much beautiful process ...I love the circular development in this series. Are you cooking you vats with some sort of heat??? Stove top?? Microwave??? Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

magicmoonmusings said...

All your indigo fabrics are gorgeous! The over dyeing looks terrific.

grace Forrest~Maestas said...

Yvonne...that last one, just before
the rubarb is truly elegant.
such energy in it...i LOVE it.
AND wish i had rhubarb. can
make a killer rhubarb custard
pie. it's been years.

Yvonne said...

Deanna - thanks for your appreciation and I appreciate you coming to have a look!

Glennis - I figured that out and reposted - oops!

Penny - what is really great is that I'm using my hot water and laundry sink and it is doing the trick!

Jennifer - I can see you have a keen eye!

Mary Helen - hot water in the laundry sink!

Marie - thank you!

Grace - I like that one too - and rhubarb custard pie - now that's a really good idea! I've noticed that in grocery stores now, they sell rhubarb - fresh in season and frozen in bags, even! I had one planted before but it didn't fare well where it was, so this one is in a hopefully better location.