Silk scarf

I bought some silk yarn a while ago and I was scared to dye it - it's expensive and I hadn't dyed it before. So, I worked up the courage to dye it and I liked the blue but wasn't thrilled with the pink/green.  It sat around for a while and I tried to decide what to do with it.

I was itching to get something on the loom, so I warped with the blue without thinking about it too much.

Then I wove with the pink/green. And I was pleased. As I wove I saw the potential and the beautiful sheen and I felt happy!

Off the loom, a wash and a dry and WOW! You just can't photograph something that is shimmery, but this is so shimmery and the colours set each other off beautifully!

Sometimes I take a chance when I make something and it turns out badly. But then sometimes it turns out brilliantly and that is such a joyful feeling.

I'm putting the scarf in my Etsy shop for now and we'll see if anyone else likes it as much as I do :)

Silk, beautiful silk!

I love silk, don't you? Not just for the way it feels when you wear it or the way it takes dye so beautifully, but also for the way it's made - so cool!

So, I thought I'd share with you some of the work I've been doing with silk of late. I've been implementing a lot of Japanese dyeing techniques with excellent results.

Arashi - meaning "storm" creates these wondrous waves.

I cheated - this is bamboo, not silk, but I love the results so much I couldn't not share it!

Crepe de chine, different to silk habotai but equally wonderful in it's qualities.

Some of these scarves have already sold but others have only just been uploaded to my Etsy shop, so pop over for a gander if you see something you like - they make wonderful gifts too :)

Been painting

I love painting silk. It's fun, it's relaxing and it can be as random or planned as you want.

This silk scarf is in my Etsy shop now.

I painted red and light black ripples then salted heavily with rock salt to get the patterns. A bit bolder than my usual colours - my husband liked this one.

SOLD - Thank you Mary Jo!

Still loving mandalas!

The weather is perfect here for dyeing at the moment so I couldn't let the opportunity pass.

8 point mandala on 44x44 inch habotai scarf.

Very challenging for my photographer (my son) to take good shots today - too bright outside, too dark in!

16 point mandala on 44x44inch habotai scarf.

Both are in my Etsy shop now.

I hope it's sunny wherever you are today and if not I'll try to send you some!

Hand painted scarf

I really enjoy hand painting on silk, particularly at the end of a busy day when I'm desperate to do something creative on my own. I find it really relaxing.

I took inspiration from the ocean to paint this silk habotai scarf.

In keeping with the ocean theme I used sea salt resist to represent movement of bubbles.

In my Etsy shop now.