Un Natural Dyeing

Two posts in one day! Not because I have a lot to say but because I have a lot to show. I did a bunch of dye painting on silk and felt yesterday.  Two unusual things happened; I managed not to have all the yellow wash out AND I am pleased with most of the results. I will use most of the silk for nuno felting.

I wanted to make some things that I could use as back grounds. This will be cut in two. The next photo is after the silk was steamed, rinsed and dried.

This next piece I painted was a piece of folded silk so I can have either two pieces that match...or a reflection?

And of course I did one of my typical land and sky things.

I also did some plain ole dyeing...and LOOK! one of the pieces is NOT blue and green!

And I am very happy that the only square I did that has finished edges came out so well. I like it so much that I probably won't felt it... I may need to start wearing scarves! 

The felt pieces were all over dyes on pieces that I was not happy with.

This one I did at Joei's house but I didn't like how the white wool came through so much. Below is a before and after dyeing.

I over-dyed another nuno felt piece that I was not happy with good results. This piece has been through many different stages over many months.

It started as a piece of silk that I painted...but the colors washed out.

So I laid down wool in colors to coordinate with the silk to make a nuno landscape.

Then I added bits of colored silk and other goodies on top of the painted silk.

But this was when I was having trouble with some color (especially yellow) washing out, so the resulting felt was disappointing to me.

I like it better now...

And this last piece I liked better before I steamed the piece.

but who knows...I may do something else to it and find I like it. That is what I love about doing this kind of art. There are so many options and ways to (possibly) improve a piece!

Now, I have to go clean up my dye mess!