Eco Printing Paper - Just the beginning

After much experimenting and several steam baths, these are the handmade papers printed from my favorite leaves.

The leaves are from the sugar maple trees. They print on silk really well.  Not so well on paper.  I had to brush alum mordant on the paper twice before stacking them into a bundle.  The brown edges are from some wild mushroom growth I purchased a local farmers market.  It dyed silk very well but didn't keep its color on the paper. Good lessons to be learned.

This print is ok.  I printed this one twice.  It is obvious by looking at it.

What I didn't photograph are the papers which printed some live eucalyptus leaves which I found at a local florist.  Those prints were very pastel and the leaf print is boring - no detail.

Now, what else to do with these. I have been thinking about it all day!  

Gradation Dyeing of Cotton

For several years I have created yards of fabric that have been dyed in gradiation of color.  I used black which is the sum of all colors.  Photography shows it slightly brown. In reality, the color ranges from light grey to a very dark grey and green.

 From the bottom, this is four of the dyed pieces, the lightest value at the bottom,  They are 9 x 45 in size.  When I surge them together or sew them on the machine, I get interesting effects.

Here is part of a skirt I surged together.  The skirt has a zipper.  It is my simple design but I love it.

This is the skirt back.   There are more photos on my Etsy shop.

Etsy again!

  It is time to try old things again!  My friends all tell me that Etsy is where it is at!  So, today I have posted two upcycled blouses on my Etsy site.  Take a look and see what you think!  I will try to keep posting new art to create more interest.

I particularly like these two blouses.  The photography does not do them justice.  The local vegetation has so much color now that it is very inspiring.  I am collecting every day!  No wonder I found a worm spinning a nest in my art studio last week!  

This is the beginning process of eco printing on a silk blouse.  The leaves are still pliable.  I find them in my driveway!

Here is an upcycled silk blouse using the sugar Maple leaves, Sumac, carrots, etc.  One never knows what the final colors will be.  This was very purple before it was washed.  The Sumac leaves which are quite yellow in this photo were very green when they came out of the steamer.

Currently, these blouses are being sold at the Walpole Artisans Cooperative.  I will also have some for sale at the Keene Art Tour on November 8 and 9.

Beautiful Fall Colors

It is very fall like here in Northern New England!  As the leaves turn, there will be less and less vegetation available for eco printing and dyeing.  The Sugar Maples are wonderful for Eco Printing and I am fortunate in that my neighbor has this beautiful tree right next to my driveway!

I really don't like to clean up the leaves but look at this pile of color!  I will scoop them up!Today I will create some silk printed blouses to post here on my blog.  Right now, they are soaking in an alum mordant solution.  I will also be walking around Keene today so that I can harvest some rhubarb leaves, purple petunias, marigolds, etc.  All of these will yield some interesting results.  I already have my purple cabbage, blackberries and carrots.  No wonder my refrigerator is so full! 

Birding! Come see the flock!

Aren't these birds wonderful!  All created from hand dyed fabric!  That means one of kind, made just of you.

Stop by during the Keene Art Tour in Keene, NH on May 3 and 4 to see the birds!  Yep, they are for sale, too.

The Keene Art Tour in May!

The Keene Art Tour is this week-end.  It is the first time we are doing an art tour in May.  The weather is predicted to be good.  It will be a great time to walk around Keene, NH!

Super Soft Silk Purple Dyed Scarf or Shawl.  It is truly a lovely feel.

Lots of textured Scarf which is Cotton/Linen.
It is stitched shibori dyed in blues.

Beautiful colors in this lovely silk scarf.

Any of these and/or many more will be available this week-end on the art tour.  Perfect for Mother's Day!


Jody Holliday will be here with her lovely jackets, handbags and hats.  Stop by at 103 School Street, Keene, NH 03431.
See you Saturday or Sunday!