Author: JP Dawes Artist

Poinsettia Petal dyeing

| JP Dawes Artist

Poinsettia petal cold processed jar

My poinsettia [Euphorbia pulcherrima] plants from Christmas died. I had 5 small ones that were red and pink. Rather than toss the dropped petals, I put them in a jar with a vinegar solution to see what would happen. I bundled a few of the petals [leaves actually] in a soda ash treated cotton cloth, rolled and bundled it and dropped it into the jar. I left it for a couple of weeks and couldn’t stand it any longer. This is what I got.

I have dried the cloth, then I will heat set it with the iron. I will drop in more cloth bundles and when they come out I may use some post-mordants to see what I get.

This is just so much fun!!!

 

Oh NO, not again!

| JP Dawes Artist

You know that rare heavy snow storm that kept those of us in north central Arkansas holed up for days because the highway dept. couldn’t seem to get roads open?  Well, it looks like we are going to get it again. The snow is coming down in sheets already. It isn’t a gently falling snow for a winter wonderland. It is coming in sideways and wet.

The prediction is for 2-4 inches accumulation but it wasn’t to start for another couple of hours. I hope the early start isn’t foreboding of more inches.

BUTTTTT…..just in case the snow builds up;  yesterday and this morning  I have been scouring cottons and making pearl cotton skeins for some more exciting snow dyeing. It isn’t exactly making lemonade from lemons, more like the joy of creamy vanilla ice cream from the snow. Hmmmm…I wonder what pure vanilla would do as a dye? I still have large bottles left over from Mexico…..

Yippee Skippee

| JP Dawes Artist

Another notch on my calendar for an accomplishment achieved.  I was notified that I am one of 28 artists chosen for the Art Odyssey Studio Tour 2014. There is a meeting on the 25th for headshots and bios to be published in the magazine.

More info to follow with a link to the list and photos.

My Dye Spot 2014

| JP Dawes Artist

dye spot 1_014

Here is where I have tried to organize my natural dye stuff. My sweet DH is so understanding,

This used to be the office as you can tell by the real wood blinds and Ralph Lauren paper on

the walls. The Oriental rug has been taken to storage leaving the concrete floor.

acorn stew 1_14

Old Patron liquor bottles make wonderful dye extraction jugs. These were put together

this morning with acorns, the one on the left with ammonia and the right with alcohol.

I love that the extraction was almost instantaneous and you can see the dye coming off the nuts.

I lichen it

This is a tray of lichen we gathered on our walk the other day. After it is dry, I will crush it to extract the dye.

The color will depend a lot on the mordant I use.

I hope you enjoyed this little peek inside my  spot.  We have our eyes open for an old kitchen sink and cabinet to make a wet area.