Avalon for Evaleigh

I wanted to make something special for my two new grand-nieces. My silk inventory included 2 silk scarves, 35" square each. As I waited for an inspiration, one morning I woke up with these words:

 In the beginning, when God created (name of child), 

He smiled and said, "This is My beloved in whom I find great delight. 

I have loved you with an everlasting love. 

I have drawn you with loving kindness. 

And lo, I will be with you always, even to the end of the age."

So I had the words and the material, but no design.

When I charted the words around the edge of the scarf, I was pleased to see the serendipity that the words fill perfectly without any manipulation.

Now, what to do with the BIG middle piece, especially since I didn't have a frame to work on such large pieces of fabric? One of my great-nieces is in the States for just a little while longer, so I started with hers.

Following the muse, I set up a design with her initials and the date of her birth.When I applied the 3 colors I chose, I was very disappointed that my plan failed. It was a big mess! I thought it was a total flop. Until my abstract artist friend Kate came over. Since she had no attachment to the way it SHOULD look, she was able to see what was THERE.

Do you see a face?

In person, this resembles a mountain lion with a heart for a nose.

Background on this little girl's family: her parents are Christian missionaries in Uruguay. 

A family favorite is C.S.Lewis's Tales of Narnia, a series of allegories where Christ is represented by a lion named Avalon.

In my world, what I understand is that my human design was trumped by a Bigger Design, One called Avalon who will be watching over this little girl in her travels and her life.

NATURAL DYE MADE FROM RED CABBAGE

Finished Hand-Dyed and Signed Devore Satin Scarf

Bamboo and Underwater Patterns  of shimmering Rayon Satin on a sheer background of Silk Chiffon

Approximately 15 x 78" including 18" of fringe

SOLD

FIRST BATCH:

SECOND BATCH: Used same dye.

Same dye batch. Salt created this rich purple color.

Lighter shade of the first one.

LIMITED EDITION SILK REPRODUCTIONS

Original designs hand painted on silk.

Then digitally printed on satin silk.

10" X 70"

Each comes with its own message.

Only a few left. Truly, a limited edition!

FULL BLOOM

Message with Full Bloom: 

Let the Light of Who You Are

shine in all its brilliance

and color.

GIFTS OF LOVE

Message with Gifts of Love:

Don’t wait for an excuse

to be generous

with yourself

and with others.

LOVE EVERLASTING

Message with Love Everlasting:

Know that you are loved

NOW

and for all times.

SURPRISE

Message with Surprise:

It is true after all:

Being fully present

is the best present of all.

Available in my store.

NATURAL DYE.. Great Egrets, Black Beans and so much more!

I've read that black beans can make a beautiful blue dye. I forgot, however, that unlike most natural dyes, it's important NOT to heat the soaking water or you'll lose the blue. (Oops!) So to recover, I added pickled beet juice to the mix and got this lovely cranberry color below.

 Feeling so encouraged and still wanting some semblance of blue (beware of attachments!), I thought how lovely it would be to have the tips be blue and fade into this rosy color. I added salt to some of the red dye, and while it looked navy in the jar, looked what it did IMMEDIATELY!

 Not at all wanting grey, I thought to return to the red and see what that would do on the grey. It looked promising. Maybe now I would have purple, grey, and rose. (Hmm, more attachments.)

 So I soaked just the tips and thought that since the silk was already soaked and dyed, it would be limited in how far the color ran up the scarf. I learned time is a factor, and left to itself long enough, the new color would saturate the entire scarf.

 After drying, there was a two-toned effect. The speckled parts are the salt residue in the dye with shades of all three colors.

Once washed and dried, what do we behold? Not cranberry, rose, blue, purple, but an elegant, shimmery gray with multiple subtle colors. Not remotely what I had planned and once I let it be what it was, I could recognize the beauty in it.

Possible lessons: Read the directions before starting. Stop while you're ahead. Let go of attachments. Things aren't always as they seem. Whatever the outcome, enjoy the process!

These Great Egrets in flight are hand designed on 11" x 60" Habotai silk. (Design modelled after photography of Bill Anderson's.) Hand wash sparingly in cold water. Iron face down.

SOLD

NATURAL DYE-- TURMERIC AND YELLOW ONIONS

Finished Hand-Dyed and Signed Devore Satin Scarf

Leaf Pattern  of shimmering Rayon Satin on a sheer background of Silk Chiffon

Approximately 15 x 60"

SOLD

PINK RIBBON SCARVES 11x60"

All these are one of a kind originals, hand painted on 100% Habotai silk. 

11 x 60"

Hand wash cold water. Iron face down.

More images available in my online store.

PINK RIBBON DANCER-SOLD

PINK RIBBON POLKA DOTS

PINK RIBBON HEARTS

Available in my store.

Natural Dyes- Camellias and Hibiscus Tea

 Finished Hand-Dyed and Signed Devore Satin Scarf

Underwater Pattern  of shimmering Rayon Satin on a sheer background of Silk Chiffon

Approximately 15 x 78" including 18" of fringe

I had some dye left over from my Pink Perfection Camellia blend I posted a few days ago. But not enough. So I added some water and a few Hibiscus tea bags. 

Before rinsing

Camellias and Hibuscus with Fringe

SOLD

Natural Dyes--Mango Onion

Finished Hand-Dyed and Signed Devore Satin Scarf

Underwater Pattern  of shimmering Rayon Satin on a sheer background of Silk Chiffon

Approximately 15 x 60" (no fringe)

15 x 60" Original, signed, SOLD

Some pictures from the process.

Rinsed, dyed using mango skins and cinnamon. Too light for my taste.

2nd dyeing using yellow onion skins.

Unrinsed silk after dyeing.

Finished. Darker than it really is.

True to color.

Natural Dyes--Lantana Tumeric

Finished Hand-Dyed Devore Satin Scarf

Curls Pattern  of shimmering Rayon Satin on a sheer background of Silk Chiffon

Approximately 15 x 60" (no fringe)
SOLD

Some pictures from the process.

Lantana petals from the neighborhood.

Silk after simmering in lantana juice and tumeric

Silk drained before rinsing.

Silk rinsed with leftover dye.

Voila!

Natural Dyes--Pink Perfection

Finished Hand-Dyed and Signed Devore Satin Scarf

Leaf Pattern  of shimmering Rayon Satin on a sheer background of Silk Chiffon

Approximately 15 x 60" (no fringe)

SOLD

I've been noticing a huge, laden camellia bush from my kitchen window. I'm thinking most camellias have come and gone this season, but this one is still going to town. Upon closer look, I confirmed that it is the one called Pink Perfection. I was curious to see what possible dye might come from it. The flowers on the ground half-filled up a grocery bag. I noticed a few red camellias nearby, so I threw those in too.

Here are pictures of the process.

Camellias and silk simmering.

Silk scarf after simmering. I chose not to strain the petals out of the dye.

Rinsed silk with the residual dye for another piece.

Dried and ironed.

Signed, one of a kind.