Ecological Methods of Using Natural Dyes with Michel Garcia

I recently attended a workshop at Big Cat Textiles in Newburgh on natural dyeing with Michel Garcia.  It was such an amazing experience, intense learning but very much worth it.  I plan to mordant many metres of linen and cotton this weekend in preparation for dyeing over the coming weeks.  Michel is a passionate tutor and very knowledgeable and I was lucky to be with a great group who were all very keen and eager to learn too.  Here are some images of my dyed samples :

Natural Indigo on Linen and Silk

Natural Dyes on Linen

Natural Dyes on Silk

Michel at work

River Tay

 

Salmon Sculpture in local park

About a book................

Exhibiting in Newry Library with Ceangailte, the group responded to the theme of About a Book... for this exhibition. 

Accordian book on handmade paper rusted and tea stained

Irish Linen and encaustic with stitch

Below are works from other Ceangailte members in a variety of media

Mixed Media Encaustic Textiles

Here are some of my latest pieces, some of which will be exhibited in the coming months.

Mixed Media with Encaustic

These are works created on wooden panels and some scrap wood - fabric with stitch and encaustic :

100 Years of Heritage - Exhibition

An exhibition is taking place at Listoke in Drogheda of work by members of Louth Craftmark - on until 30 September.  These works below are on display there :

This is made from Irish linen dyed with avocado, turmeric, tea and coffee then waxed.

Linen and silk on panel with encaustic

Choice

I'm delighted this piece of work has been chosen to be exhibited in CIT Wandesford Quay Gallery from the 3rd - 27th August with Cork Textiles Network.  The theme of the exhibition is 'Play' and I have used noughts and crosses as my inspiration.  The work is discharged linen and saffron dyed linen with rust which has been stitched pojagi style and waxed.  This is the work before it has been buffed and a further coat of wax added.

Natural Dyeing Follow Up

Here are the results made with the fabrics dyed with avocado, really liking the combination together, more to follow .......

Encaustic Wax

I have just finished a 4 week course with Joanna Kidney at her Outpost Studios in Bray experimenting with encaustic wax.  Lots more to learn and more experimenting with how to work it into my fabric pieces but it was very enjoyable.  Joanna has great patience and was very informative and giving - definitely a worthwhile workshop.  Here are some images :

and this one is avocado and saffron dyed linen with wax - pojagi style - probably my favourite:  

Natural Dyeing

I have been dyeing with avocado, saffron, turmeric, tea and coffee over the past weeks and getting some wonderful results with different fabrics, here are a some of them :

Linen and Paint

Here are some new works as part of a series I am working on with Ceangailte.  The first is  rust dyed linen with print, stitch and encaustic followed by some textured acrylic paintings.  More work is underway but its a slow process these days.

Proclamation Exhibition at Drogheda Arts Centre

I am delighted that I, along with some of my Ceangailte Art Collective friends had some works accepted into the Drogheda Arts Centre 'Proclamation' Exhibition which opened last week and will be on display until 8 January.  The main image 'Valour' was made specifically in response to the exhibition and they also accepted some other works which had recently been shown in the Sean Holywood Arts Centre.

R-Space Lisburn - Helen McAllister Exhibition

I was at the launch of the new exhibition at R-Space in Lisburn showing the works of Helen McAllister.  Helen has some amazing intricate and delicate embroidered works which she completed over many years and this exhibition is a must see.  Here are some images from the event :