Looks like three inches to me …

which is less than most people have had, but is quite enough, thank you.

[I would like to point out that I thought of this measuring technique quite independently of Mr Cheddar, who has posted a similar image on Facebook. Although a snazzy red ruler -  and more snow.]

As I haven’t posted a picture of the cherry tree for a while – here it is this morning. That is a colour photo, believe it or not.

 

 

 

 

 

As is this – our little lane.

 

 

 

 

 

Despite the quantities of snow available, I didn’t get round to snow dyeing - but I think there will still be some tomorrow. I have put the fabric into a soda soak, and this time I remembered the threads. I had assistance in winding the threads into hanks – Quality Control has only been going out when she absolutely has to, and so has some surplus energy, best used up by assisting with thread and yarn related activities.

I’m not sure why I didn’t get round to the dyeing, as I don’t seem to have achieved much in my day off-  apart from taking a few photos. O.K., 80+ photos.

I did draw this, described in the British Museum pamphlet as a ‘plate’. Those are, apparently, one-legged beasts biting each other’s necks.

 

And I pondered on this, which is the printed silk inspired by the fractured goldfish.  As you can see I added some couching. What you may not be able to see is that I then added some seeding, running stitch and free cross stitch in a failed attempt to make the jar opener shape stand out. And it’s all a bit blah.

I think I may have found a solution – we will see.

 

While I was out with the camera I took some photos of my favourite apple tree. The one that appeared in my C&G sketchbook.

 

 

 

Like this –  a credit card print, layered on a weaving and then tinted – several times …

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze ...

although 'wind' would be more accurate.

When I was going through my photographs looking for yellow ones I realised that although I have a lot of pictures of yellow flowers - I didn't have any of my favourite flower.

So this morning I rushed outside and took one.


Unfortunately it was quite windy so they were difficult to photograph.

And although I have been trying not to post any more pictures of the cherry tree - I couldn't resist. Aren't they beautiful? I love the little circle of darker pink dots formed by the stamens. I understand why the Japanese so love cherry trees.




And finally - another experiment. These are three explorations of adding black stripes to neutral, dyeable, fabric - or, in a couple of cases, polyester which won't dye. Some of the black stripes are piped.

They look pretty similar [if my sewing was more accurate they would have been identical] but one has felt underneath, one has cotton wadding, and one has cotton flannel.

Since I took the photo they have been through a hot wash to see how much they shrink. When I took them out they looked as if they had shrunk about the same amount, but I'll measure them when they are dry.

They will be dyed some time this week - I hope. In two places I layered sheers over a base fabric - in one case cotton organdy over poly, in the other sparkle organza over cotton - to see what happens in the dye bath.

Watch this space.

Rising to a Challenge

I tell myself I shouldn't because it gets in the way of what I 'really' want to do [if I only knew what that was] but I keep signing up for challenges.


I have mentioned the BQL challenge before - this is February's. One for the pink and lime green fans out there.


I think it looks a bit boring and probably needs some stitch.

I am also a member of the Textile Challenges Yahoo group, although I haven't, up till now, got my act together to participate. I found February's challenge a bit scary as it required - nay insisted - on spontaneity - to make an ATC in 15 minutes from whatever was available. Then I realised I could use the left overs from the BQL challenge - so I did. Actually it took me 25 minutes, partly because I had machine problems - you can see that the bobbin thread was pulled up to the surface despite slackening off the top tension.

Then there are my personal challenges. This is the result of the first lot of snow dyeing. [The lump of crud is the threads I dyed, which, despite putting them in a net bag to wash, still ended up tangled together. Good job I enjoy untangling threads.

The top piece is the viscose velvet which has come out beautifully. Bottom left is cotton jersey, bottom right is UK muslin. I seem to be in a pink and green phase.

There is some bluey purple muslin in the washing machine right now, which may be the last snow dyeing for this year. There is still some snow outside but I don't have time to do more today and it is thawing. More snow was forecast for later in the week but that has been downgraded to rain - can't say I'm sorry.

Speaking of rain - that was this week's challenge on 'The title is ...' if you want to look at my effort and several others.

And my stamp making challenge today involves minimal stamp making. Jackie commented that she liked yesterday's image of weeds in the snow - and so do I. So that is today's image, although it doesn't lend itself easily to stamps because the lines are so fine.



On Creative Sketchbooks we were taught credit card painting - not the type where you smoosh paint around with a credit card, but the type where you print with the edge.

That technique seemed to me to lend itself well to this image.










The current challenge on yet another group is to make a journal quilt which is painted - this design may actually be translated into fabric - white satin, I think.

I added some nature printing, using the seed heads of the plant in the photo - not sure what it is, a long stemmed dandelion-like weed. [My mother, who taught me a lot about wild flowers, would not be pleased with my inability to remember what this one is.]

I also tried using the seed heads on their own - they gradually collapsed as I printed giving some interesting shapes.

Walking in a winter wonderland

to coin a cliche. I didn't build a snowman, though. Perhaps Ronaldo's snowy ball will do instead.

I have done some more snow dyeing today, before all the snow disappears. Or not - the forecast is for more of the same. I'll show you the first lot tomorrow - it is currently drying after being washed. Looks OK but may be a bit pale when it has dried.

I have managed a second stamp, too. When I was looking at the image of the rock church for the first stamp, I was struck by this shape in the roof.

So this is stamp number two. If you think it's a big eraser - it is a fake £5 note/eraser from Hawkins Bazaar. Not quite full £5 note size but still big for an eraser.

I was going to add the stripes of the glazing bars but when I got this far I decided not to.

I tried various lay outs, including as a single image, which reminds me of Mt Fuji.

You'll notice that I haven't completely carved the background away - I think the lines give movement.

I tried a half drop arrangement, having had my memory jogged about such things by my friend A. who is recording her much more interesting stamps on her blog. Check out her travel mug inserts as well while you are there.

This is the very atmospheric scan in inverted colours. Free edge applique with sheers, possibly? If I made a textile piece inspired by this I think it would be a much freer interpretation of a landscape, but with this sort of feel.

Question: what is the opposite of 'Making hay while the sun shines'?

Answer: snow dyeing while you've got snow.

You may never have heard of snow dyeing - I had only heard of it because there are keen snow dyers on 'Dyehards', the dyeing list I belong to. I don't usually take much notice, due to a shortage of one essential ingredient, but when we were affected by a 'severe weather incident' I decided to take the opportunity to try it out.

I consulted the experts on Dyehards and Googled [although several of the hits were from the blogs of members of Dyehards].


There are a number of methods.

You can bundle the pre-soda-soaked fabric [UK muslin in this case] over a grid. I don't have a suitable grid, but I tried this sweater dryer [which usually has drying papers on it]. I did pop another piece of fabric [cotton jersey] under the grid, and some threads, to catch the drips.

Then you spread snow over the fabric and drizzle dye over the top. I suspect this choice of colours may result in several shades of mud.


An alternative method is just to put the fabric into a tray, add snow and add dye. There is a piece of viscose velvet under all this lot.

There is a third method which involves putting the dyes directly on to the snow outside, which I may try tomorrow if the snow is still there. Good job the neighbours can't see into the garden ...

And finally - I mentioned that at the end of January 2008 I had posted a picture of the flowers on our cherry tree.

This is what it looked like this morning.

Please take this as today's photo, although I don't think you will get a stamp to go with it!