Cloth and Memory Salts Mill

I went to Saltaire to see the Cloth and Memory exhibition.  Wow.  There were some quite special works on display, some of my favorites were the embroidery frames by Caroline Bartlett - I could have looked at these for hours

 

 

Caren Garfen's embroidered ribbons on wooden reels were beautifully stitched and so poignant - each one a name taken from the local 1891 census.  Tiny objects were attached to some of the reels.  I wanted to find out more about the girls listed here.

 



Rachel Gray's layered stitched pieces brought English Paper Piecing into the 21st century,  another of those 'I could look at these forever' moments.

I loved Yoriko Murayama's spirals and Jeanette Appletons books.  We had a lovely day, ate a scrummy lunch and came away enthused.  I have more photos here

a little box

 
 
 

 

isn't it annoying when students do better than the tutor

This was taken on Friday, didn't they do well :) 

 

 

dyeing part 2

I scrunched and folded and basically bunged the white fabric into jars and pots.  Poured over the dye and walked away.  I did not poke, or shake or even breath on those jars for 24 hours.   Then I rinsed and rinsed and rinsed and rinsed and.....bunged it all into the washing machine.  Hung it on the line and ironed and ironed and ironed.  Folding the finished dyed fabric is such a pleasure, so I stroked and..

 

Dyeing is hard work and I send a round of applause to anyone who makes their living doing this. 



I didn't dye bright yellow or lemon, I know I have plenty of that, but I can see that I need more red..

 

 

I learned once again that I love cotton poplin.  I don't think I will ever buy any other fabric for dyeing again. 

Colours used were - top photo, lilac, purple, marine violet, magenta, scarlet, golden yellow, mustard, orange rust..  bottom photo, jet black, warm black, indigo, warm blue, robins egg blue, turquoise and lime green.

Friends came round for a dyeing day, I supervised, made the tea etc.  There were some bits of dye left over so I had a happy day using it up.  Then I mixed up a bit more :)

Sometimes I get more than I expected

sunshine for a rainy day

A gift from someone special :)

organiser box thingy

This pretty little thing is made from a 12" square

comments came

I may not have my sunflower back yet, but the judges comments came this morning.

 

 

happy dancing today :)