10/14/2013

Tossing in the whole shirt

49



After the workshop with India finished, my feet did not touch the ground
for about two weeks.
The first dye pot to hit the little hot plate on the porch 
became a native "soup" ... still riding high on inspiration,
I took a gamble with a weedy willow by the back pond
and after a vigorous haircut ~ leaves, branches, twigs, bark and all ~
simmered up some [surprising] tannin-rich color.

Then I decided to dye an entire shirt ...

yes, me ~ the one who only dyes small scraps of things.

- spent innards from the dye bundle & the wrapping stone -

During a jaunt to the village earlier in the week there had been a gentle query:
had I ever used  those leaves  [pointing to a purple-leaved maple] for dyeing? 
to which I replied, no.
When it was heartily suggested that I give them a go,
I knew that not heeding this very wise voice of experience
would be foolish.

A carpet of windfall was conveniently at hand on my next visit.


- saving string -

It was a challenge wrapping an entire piece of clothing.  I hadn't done it before
and found myself imagining where the stronger marks would appear; 
should leaves be face-up or down; would I
wrap around a piece of wood so as to float half submerged, or a stone,
to sink to the bottom.

This wrapping string

Red Silver Maiden Grass ~ Miscanthus sinensis 'Rotsilber'

had quite a lot in common with the plumes of the maiden grass
next to the house, I thought ...



which relates to the outcome in a way, too.

Everything is so connected in this arena
of the natural world.

Echoes everywhere.










I am so comfortable here.


Now, if I only had a tad bit of tailoring ability I'd be able to
deconstruct this silky number and turn it into something that fits.
[must keep that in mind the next time I decide to save a whole shirt from the scrapper.]

:::


When next I post, it will be my  200th  ... how is that possible?
Perhaps we should celebrate, mark the event with a small *giveaway* ...
a name-in-the-hat thing for those of you who visit.

I'm so grateful.

Oh yes, this could be fun ... I'll see what I can come up with.  
Maybe dawg will have a paw handy 
to pick the name.





49 comments:

  1. oooooooooo gads! I LURVE the shirt! what a success! what a triumph! (can you feel my greenish gaze from way over there?)

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    1. ... kinda fun to have the green running the opposite direction, ronnie ;>]]

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  2. What a beautiful shirt... thank you for sharing the beginning to end of the process... so artful and creative and fascinating to me who has never tried to dye anything... the whole idea of using plants and rocks and wood seems to connected to nature.. . very zen.

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    1. If anyone could make it so in their work, Donna, that would be you ... perhaps there are some *scraps* that await your attention.

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  3. Oh my gosh - this is heavenly! I wouldn't worry about wearing it -- I'd hang it up as a work of art!

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    1. ... hangs to me knees at the moment
      so the wall it is. Still smells like willow bark ;>]

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  4. This is fabulous!
    I'm so envious of you having taken a workshop with the great India Flint! Her book is on my wishlist!

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    1. There's TWO books, Gill, both worth every centimeter of space on a bookshelf!
      Hope you treat yourself.

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  5. great job. it turned out gorgeous. i've only done one big piece....a jacket. it turned out well but not with the wonderful leaf markings you've achieved here.

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    1. Do you wear your jacket, deanna?
      Would so love to make something [besides a scarf] that I can actually wear ...

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    2. yes, i have worn it and will wear it now that the weather is getting cooler. it was actually an eyelet blouse with a zippered front that i converted into a jacket. glad i came back here or i would not have seen your reply.

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  6. Ohhhhh your shirt is spectacular! You must be delighted. As I was looking at the images, I thought, this medium really suits you and then I read your words.... I am so comfortable here... indeed!

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  7. This is a lovely post and the shirt turned out great! I reconstruct clothing (and give classes) so I'm looking at it and see possibilities! I think you could figure something out but keep dyeing!

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    Replies
    1. Lorri, I shan't give up
      and just try and stop me from dyeing!

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  8. As usual, I read your posts and it sets my creative self on fire. You would probably put me in a pot just to see what would happen. Thanks for sharing this experience. I love the shirt.

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  9. Replies
    1. I'm so grateful for ALL of it ... every single moment.
      Have my *Suzanna Sweetpea* here on me desk ;>]]
      Thank you!

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  10. Beautiful shirt... and I'm a hopeless tailor, are you going to give altering it a whirl?

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    1. Yes, V., I may. {{{{{ gulp }}}}}
      But first, think I'll do a bit of practicing on something else - you know, as a warm up.

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  11. When I started eco dyeing 3 years ago I began with a similar silk shirt, but I took apart the whole thing so I would have as much silk fabric as possible to practice with. I used every last scrap of it down to the collar and sleeve cuffs. It was so much fun and I had such fun trying different plants on different parts of the shirt. Now when I see your shirt it brings back lovely memories of those first dyeing days and it also inspires me to go big and dye a whole shirt as you did. Lovely color.

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    1. oooh Peggy, did you then sew that shirt back together???

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  12. What a great outcome, Christi - the shirt is fabulous! I am cheering you on from afar.
    -sus

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    1. I can hear you, sus!!
      All best wishes from this western front.

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  13. What a fabulous shirt! I have something similar, an old cotton shirt that I eco dyed a couple years ago with local oak. I wear it all the time!

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    1. Think I've got some "remade" clothing options soon to be on my horizon ~ thanks for adding to my inspiration, Connie.

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  14. Fantastic result, India is inspiring so many people now that eco dyeing will soon be known and practised all around the whirled.

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  15. Tis a beautiful thought, Debbie
    and I hope it comes to fruition.
    We'll keep spreading the word right along with her!

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  16. grrr. blogger ate my post!

    summary... I was away. Now I'm back. Your shirt is swoony. Current obsession is clothing as art ... how did you know?

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    Replies
    1. ... so we're doing it again are we, Jen?!
      Wanna talk ***project*** soon?

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    2. Indeed we are. the connectivity is scary accurate!
      Yes. Project. Donning me thinking cap. You too. then let's talk!

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    3. passing this on : http://womanwithafish.wordpress.com/
      specifically: http://womanwithafish.wordpress.com/2013/02/11/my-5-favourite-embroidery-stitches/

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    4. GREAT, Jen! I bookmarked it under my "stitching ideas" file. Especially love the darning stitch.
      tankie ;>]]

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  17. Fantastic result, I love the effect of the grasses.

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  18. wow what echoes....you master in looking around what IS

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    1. Nature has such a voice! It may seem quiet out there sometimes
      but the symphony is always going on and on ....
      ;>]]

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  19. the shirt is fine. and you could adapt it somehow--

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    1. Vision, Velma ... vision is what I need [and maybe a little hutzpah to snip.snip.snip]
      Thanks for the support!

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  20. it's lovely me dear...and you could always transform it by referring to the page on shirt-into-apron in Second Skin....
    :)

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    1. Pulled out Second Skin just last night. crikey, had forgotten the enormous abundance of ideas in there!
      Yes, I'm going somewhere with this ... maybe I'll know better after a plunge in the Puddle.

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  21. I am willing to help you reconstruct the shirt, Christi... I see several wearable possibilities in it. If it didn't work to your liking, at least you'd have more totally beautiful small pieces. We could do it here or there, as you wish. Whaddaya think?

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    1. Hi Robin! Well golly, very nice of you to offer. At the moment, I'm mulling over some ideas about which direction to take with it ... even toying with the idea of cutting off some and adding different dyed pieces onto it. May go a bit wild. Then again, may chicken out. First tho, gonna do a sea dunk & let the colors settle longer. I'll keep you updated & thanx again!

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  22. Good plan to let it rest and be as it is until something jumps up, calling to you "Do it; I dare ya!"

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  23. What a gorgeous blog you have, thankyou for sharing these poetic thoughts and stunning photos. Beautiful!

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    1. Thank you so much for stopping by & leaving such very kind words, Gina ~ much appreciated.

      Christi

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