Not knowing, but learning
I haven’t felt like blogging for a week. Every day, I say, I’ll post today. Then I don’t. Who knows what that’s about. I’m getting used to not having to find a reason for everything. I’m reluctant to blog about things that I make but that seems to be what’s interesting.
I’m taking a class. Online. It’s time consuming. It’s called Out of This Earth. The teacher is Claire Benn. This class is about treating cloth with soy milk and then painting it with pigment paint. The paint is made with pigments and soy milk. I find I’m really embracing this process because of the soy milk and the earthy look of the cloths produced. I can make soy milk with beans I grow and dry myself – although I have bought dry soy beans from the market as well. I could harvest pigments myself too (but I bought those also, for now).
Some time ago I treated cloth with soy milk for botanical dyeing. It seemed to work really well, although I didn’t know much about the process. Now I know more.
Here’s a few sample cloths.
And I’m stitching triangles and other organic shapes onto squares. While I’m loving the process, I’m not smitten with this layout. I think I might put these with solid colors at some point. Right now, I’m just making them. A few every day. To relieve the blankness.
Gosh, that class looks amazing! I can’t wait to see even more of what you create.
Those little squares…like a grouping of small canvases on a gallery wall 🙂
I will try to show more as I go. I’m not really sure what I’m doing yet.
I was wondering what pigments you are using … and that recalled the milk paint that Don was using for several years … hmmmm
Right now I’m using vine black, red iron oxide, titanium white, yellow iron oxide and green earth. From Earth Pigments.
I come here because I feel replenished when I look at where and how you live, your massive oh so good garden, how you use what you grow, to nourish and to create/ Tje beauty of your land, your way with words and your makings, all tell a wonderful story of .life lived to its fullest. Some days I think it is easy to share, other days, maybe not so much but here’s the thing: I am not a blogger but I read many and the ones that I come to and often share a response are those that have connected, touched me in a way that says, let’s continue this conversation… so in that sense: soy milk as a mordant.
When I first started naturally dyeing, I was thrown by what I felt were such scientific approaches to mordants and then grace gave me India Flint’s book, Eco Colour and it all began to make sense and a way of creating opened up for me. 13 years later I am still at it using alum, about soy milk,etc. to get cloth ready to receive color and markings. from what I forage.. I don’t do as much natural dyeing as I used to but when I do, I still use grocery store alum and soy milk and what comes from these simple items, is a wonder of a story…much like your using pigments to create natural magic! And I am so glad that you write about it, share it and I can come here and learn…
Thank you for reading, Marti, and your words are so much appreciated.
does the cloth become stiff? I tried and found it hard to stitch through…
It is stiff. But some of the samples I did with soy and botanical dye are very soft. I’m still trying to figure out the difference. I haven’t tried stitching through it yet, we’ll see. I seem to really want to be able to add color to cloth.
love your growing set of squares!
Ever-growing – eventually I will see them together and finish my quilt top. Meanwhile – fun.
pigments…you and Deb G
i wish it was me too, but…alas…..
so i watch you both
i love the science of it which is magic
It is compelling. I remember bringing red dirt home from Prince Edward Island years ago, wanting to use it, having no idea how.