Wool Bundles

I'm hoping to open my wool bundles tomorrow finally!  It looks like it won't rain tonight fingers crossed, I'm really curious to see what they look like inside.

Mottled Golds

Osage Orange on Silk Organza Net that I left soaking in a shallow dye bath for several days. 

42x32 inches - Silk Organza Net.

Soft Mauve Natural Dyed Silk Velvet Yardage

Soft Mauve Natural Dyed Silk Velvet Yardage

2.5 Yards

Madder lac

More with Madder Lac

Crushed Haboti

Silk Organza Net

Silk Velvet

All four silk fabrics came from the same madder lac dye vat, I love how each fabric took the dye differently.

Deepest Wine Silk Velvet Fabric

Deepest Wine Silk Velvet

Natural Dyes: Madder and Lac
2.5 yards
It has some slight mottling which adds to the bruised grape appeal.

Three Winters Table Cloth

Three Winters Table Cloth after spending two days in a revived Osage Orange Dye Vat.

Five Year Silk Fibers

Originally my wool bundles were in the basket atop the silk fibers, sometime last summer I removed the bundes as the silk fibers were still in prestine condition.  Now the fibers have started to decompose and in a really interesting manner.  The silk cocoons have been dyed with natural dyes.

Five Year Bundles

Bundles of wool fabric that have been outside for approximately 5 years now.

Three Winters Table Cloth

Three Winters Table Cloth, vintage Damask, after being unwrapped.

After washing

Now in last years Osage Orange Dye Vat.

Moss and Rust

Three Winters Cloth

Three Winters Cloth sitting atop my indigo vat lid.  These bundles, wads would be a better description, of fabric, table clothes, and linen towels have been here for three winters/years.  I expected way more damage than what occurred.  There was some rusting (yeah) due to the fabric touching the iron grid next to the dye vat.  More pics later.

Five Year Old Cochineal Vat

I found this cochineal vat buried in my wet studio, it's been hiding in a corner for five years now!  I brought it outside thinking it'd have a good coating of mold on it but it didn't, I think I may have modified this one heavily with citric acid.

Revived Cochineal Vat

I scooped the mold off the top carefully and refilled the pot with water, the cochineal vat revived beautifully.

Overwintered Cochineal Vat

Three Winters Cloth

A five yard section of cotton fabric that has been sitting outside for the past three winters, it's currently in the washer and will go into a revived cochineal vat shortly.

Western Teaching Tour

This coming fall John and I will be doing a four week tour of the west! During this time, from September 16th through October 10th, I have several workshops scheduled, if you would like to host me for a one to three day workshop during this time please let me know as I would love to add your guild, organization, school, etc., to my schedule!

I can be reached at prairiefibers@hotmail.com or 515-232-0912 for additional information regarding classes, workshops, or speaking engagements, etc.