Compost Dyed Quilt Fabrics

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Here are some of the cloths on the line at dusk. I used alot of millet, dahlia and goldenrod in the compost dye mix and am really happy with how they turned out. For me the most dificult part is the PATIENCE it takes to wait for the magic to happen. Fortunately it has been so hot that the process is going as fast as it ever will.
The small pic to the right is a closeup of one of the cloths. It looks like marble. It is going to be difficult to part with some of these but that IS the idea afterall. This coming weekend is my first time ever vending at a quilt show. I hope the attendees enjoy these fabrics as much as I do! The show is the 37th annual Sully Quilt and Fiber Arts Show and Sale on Sunday Sept 12th at the Sully Historic Site in Chantilly VA. To make for an interesting weekend I'll be doing a craft show in East Berlin PA on Saturday. I managed to talk my friend Kipp into doing the same thing. After this schedule it may be 'former friend' Kipp!

First Felt Kitty

I certainly have a house full of models to look at! I introduced a handful of felted wool cats at ArtSpace Gallery in Bloomsburg last week and they all found homes rather quickly. Yesterday was the Lewisburg Arts Festival and some more were adopted. It is a good feeling when a new product is readily accepted. As always, I wish I could work faster!

Felt Stargazer

Finally got a chance to finish my felted flower. This is my largest wool felt creation to date. The main portion was done with wet felting and the finishing work was needle felted.This homage to a Stargazer lily is 24" across and the center is about 17" high. I have been sort of obsessed with lilies ever since I went to the Philadelphia Flower Show last year. There were some magnificent displays and I am looking forward to going there next week, after I get back from Boston. Yes, I am heading north to Bean Town in FEB for my first big craft show of the new year. I've never done shows in that area, know nothing about Boston, so it should be an adventure!
Gotta start packing now.

Small Felt Flowers

These natural dyed felt flowers are about 5" high and 10" across. They are perfect for a votive candle or candies. I have been making them in the wool colours I just dyed, yellow, red, pink and I just made a blue one! I am planning to introduce them at the New England Home Show (booth # 364) in Boston this month. The show is held in the Seaport World Trade Center Feb 25th-28th.

Felt Flower Begins

I weighed the fiber for each petal and cut a mat board stencil for the shape. I layered the wool inside the petal cutout and lightly tacked it with a felting needle to hold the shape. This large pile of wool was moved to bubble wrap, covered with a net curtain and wetted out with warm soapy water. I should have known better, well I DID know better but chose to be foolishly optomistic. The wool that I dyed lovely shades of pink and the natural white are two very diferent types of wool. I did manage to get them both to felt, however they really didn't felt to each other all that well. The colour migrated quite a bit...I have quite a bit of finishing work to do...my own fault. Will I learn????

Colourful Wool Batts

In spite of the cooooold basement, I finally got to dye some more of the wool I'd cleaned . The yellow is a mix of dried marigolds and some goldenrod that I canned so it didn't smell bad this time. The indigo vat is acting funny, I think it is too cold. Today I chose to work up near the stove for a while. I started another large felt flower in pinks and white. Unfortunately the white fiber has an awful lot of hay and stuff in it even after washing. I hope I'm not making a mistake by using it.

Lakefront Property

It rained on Sunday, at night even harder and then kept pouring Monday morning. By 10:00 am this is what my back "yard" looked like. The creek, that is not normally visible, could not handle the runoff from the hill in front of the house. Once again the driveway got washed out, water in the basement and septic system flooded (not funtioning still)... Today is sunny and beautiful and I have to find a septic repair dude. More $$ that I don't have out the window for shit, literally.

Felted Lily Runner

This project used up the last of the wool felting fiber I had dyed. I washed and dried two fleeces during the past week. I carded the first one and cooked it in alum/tartar so I could start dyeing today. I used an old (fermented) jug of goldenrod dye and the funky smell stunk up the entire house even though I dye in the basement! bleh. I have some nice candles taking care of the problem now.

Water Lily Table Runner

I just put the finishing touches on this hand made natural dyed wool felt table runner. The base is a combination of indigo, logwood and millet. The colours cried out for water lilies which I had never done before. I added a few beads to give a little sparkle in the center. I am happy with the way it turned out. In fact I am happy just to be working in the studio two days in a row! I have been working too many in the flower shop. The pay is low, but now... my shows don't start up until next month. I do need time to get inventory ready though.