Life imitates art? Or is it the other way around?

Michael Kors Spring 2012 collection really resonates with the Vagabond's Daughter! The prints he uses are reminiscent of my eco bundles and pieces dyed with black walnut and chestnut. I have got to start posting more men's scarves and longies- traditional burmese sarong or pants that twist and tie. Super comfortable, and dare I say sexy!  

Indigo Me.

Sometimes singing the blues, can actually be uplifting.
I find working with blues the same.
Indigo dyeing is an ancient art, considered a sacred act in many countries, where ceremonies are preformed before the process and often there are alters nearby.
Here the Gods of color are hard at work to create this mystical color, blue, the color of the sky and water.
To me, what is of the Earth and natural is what is the most simply stunning.
G

Naturally Neon.

Okay- typically not my color palette but when you see these colors in nature and you can get these colors without harsh chemicals, why not go with the flow?
Lapis Lazuli flows into citrine, which flows into cornflower blue which flows into chartreuse. A combination of Osage orange over dyed with indigo and this high quality Paj silk make these vibrant prism like colors. I think it would be more difficult to achieve these colors with cotton fibers.

Vagabond Blue.

The most mystical and sacred of all natures contribution to the world of color- Indigo. A green plant that is composted and then fermented, it was the first and only blue dye for centuries. A blackish, oily looking green while swirling in the dye vat, it emerges and soon becomes blue once it becomes oxidized. Darkest blue the first dips, the color is absorbed by the fabrics until it is the palest of blues.
This silk organza shawl was dyed in indigo and then the dark end was soaked over night in the dregs of cutch and iron brew.

Indigo ombre.

One of the most satisfying dye techniques is accomplished when dunking one end of wet fabric into the dye bath and allowing it to creep and seep into the fabric, creating an effect called "ombre". Typically one end is richer and deeper and then fades out. That said, my experiences with dying prove nothing is ever really typical, and surely very difficult, if not impossible, to repeat! This randomness is also what makes each piece so special.
The Queen Anne's Lace printed over the dye adds another dimension.

Windows in the wild.

I am not a huge fan of drapes or curtains, but out of respect for my neighbors have come up with a light and airy solution. I made a series of curtains that would provide a veil of privacy yet still allow the light and feeling of the outdoors to come in. I used a logwood dye for the grays fro the fabulous Earth Hues, turmeric (from Penzeys Spice!) for the yellow, and Indigo for the blue.
The silk screen on the yellow drapes is made from the sage, mint, clover and bamboo in my garden.
The spiky flowers printed on the blue and white linen drapes and the gray and white ombre were Queen Anne's Lace from my now empty horse paddocks.

Shibori on the rocks.

It is said that sea water makes a great pre mordant for dyeing fabric, so I decided to take my project to the beach in Westport,CT. I was able to purchase the end of a bolt of Helmut Lang's organic cotton lawn to use for some big indigo scarves. This was the first. I used stones from the beach, much like the Japanese used river stones, to wrap the fabric in and then bound the bundles with silk string wrapped and wrapped around. Then I soaked the piece in the water from the Long Island Sound. When we got back home I soaked it in the end of the indigo batch, which is why it is such a light blue. I think the results are lovely.

Rags and Rox.

My friend Roxanne from The Quilters Alley and I got together for a day of Indigo dyeing. She also surprised me with a batch of black walnut dye that she had brewed up. A random piece from golden rod found it's way in and also we fooled around with some Poke weed dye I made. The pokeweed color was an amazing magenta, but not colorfast when washed. It would work for painting, but I imagine it would fade eventually.These are the results.We had so much fun, we plan to get together on Fridays when we can to experiment with dyeing and printing our own fabrics.