tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-202525112024-03-10T21:59:25.853+13:00Shirley Goodwin - Dyeing2DesignMusings of a dyer and fiber artist from Lord of the Rings and Narnia country, the South Island of New Zealand. Shirley Goodwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479768160284996206noreply@blogger.comBlogger865125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20252511.post-10034398198002704152016-04-24T10:28:00.000+12:002016-04-24T10:28:45.681+12:00Solar dyeing revisitedIt's a month since I tried solar dyeing of wool using my black/purple pansies. Here are the results!<br />
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The jar with the frozen flowers is on the left. You can see that the colour didn't penetrate all through the wool with the fresh flowers on the right.<br />
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That jar also developed a bit of mould on top, though it didn't affect the results. <br />
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Here are the 2 skeins out drying. I was expecting more of a purple shade, but it's come out a lovely blue. Clearly, frozen flowers work better, so I'll use those in future. <br />
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If you want to try this, add your skein to a 1 litre glass jar. Mix hot water with 2 heaped teaspoons of alum and 1 teaspoon cream of tartar. Leave in a sunny position.Shirley Goodwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479768160284996206noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20252511.post-12100290342551589622016-03-25T14:35:00.003+13:002016-03-25T14:35:32.149+13:00Dyeing with flowersI've been interested in dyeing with flowers ever since I got India Flint's book, Eco Colour, some years ago. However, there's been a lot on my plate since then - overseas trip, earthquakes, moving south, doing an arts degree, moving north (a bit) again, getting established here and so on. I've been busy over summer too, and so I've missed a lot of summer flowers. No matter. I planted some black and purple pansies over a year ago, especially for dyeing, and had some stored in the freezer. Although I've removed some of the larger plants (they are pretty vigorous), there's lots of small ones coming up so there'll be plenty of flowers for next year. <br />
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I decided that, while I have several days free over Easter and no commitments, I'd play with some of the things I'd put on the back burner, and this was one of them. I had some spare wool, which I wound into skeins. Then, following directions I found here <a href="http://www.thejournalforwsd.org.uk/,">http://www.thejournalforwsd.org.uk/,</a> I made up 2 jars of pansies for solar dyeing.<br />
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This is jar #1, with wool in the bottom, alum and cream of tartar added as the mordant, and the frozen flowers on top, all topped up with hot water. <br />
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You can see the colour start to come out of the flowers almost straight away. <br />
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I moooshed the flowers around in the jar to get the colour down to the bottom. It's looking good. Then I prepared the second jar the same way.<br />
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Jar #2, with fresh flowers. <br />
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No colour happening here, even when I push the flowers around. I'll be interested to see if I get any colour from these fresh flowers. The jars are now sitting on a windowsill wrapped in black plastic (it's not exactly the optimum time of year to be doing this, but I'm not in a rush).<br />
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I went out and picked some other flowers to put in the freezer - dahlias, penstemons, roses, nasturtiums, cinerarias and fuchsias. I'll try these out another day. <br />
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When i think the pansy wool is done, I'll post photos of the results.<br />
Shirley Goodwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479768160284996206noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20252511.post-56228939669846533382016-03-01T14:45:00.002+13:002016-03-01T14:45:18.224+13:00On the design wallIt's 1st March - time again for my beginners' Electric Quilt class to start up for 2016. EQ7 is a great piece of software, and I've had this version and earlier versions for quite a few years now. But it's also very complex, and it can be daunting. I know a few quilters who have EQ but who don't really use it, or just use some very basic bits of it because they don't fully understand it. The reference manual that comes with it is comprehensive, but it's that - a reference manual. It's not called "How To Make A Quilt with EQ" - so that's where this beginners' class comes in, because it IS about how to make a quilt. We get familiar with what's in the software; the Libraries where the preset blocks and fabrics are; the different quilt and border layouts and options; how to use the colouring tools and much, much more.<br />
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So....what's on my design wall from EQ? <br />
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These fish are simplified versions of the ones found in the Applique Library. They are destined (along with 9 more) to become a child's quilt. I can see how this whole quilt will look when put together by using EQ.<br />
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This is a portion of a quilt big enough for a bed. I bought the gorgeous batik fabrics for this lovely geometric design - easy to draw when you have EQ. There's lots of secondary patterns going on here!<br />
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With EQ7, you can make design and make quilts like these. Join the Beginners' Class at http://academyofquilting.com/ and you get full instructions, screen shots and videos, plus access to the tutor (me). Everything is downloadable, so you can save it all to your computer. The class starts on Friday (Saturday in NZ time), and is open for enrolment now.Shirley Goodwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479768160284996206noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20252511.post-68553377294775011532015-12-22T12:25:00.001+13:002015-12-22T12:25:21.661+13:00Day 22 - where I remember the one star hotel in Paris...Ah, Paris. I finally got there in 2010 when I did my Single, Solitary, Overseas Trip. I went to the Louvre, where I was more interested in the marble floors (great patchwork designs!) than many of the artworks - though I DID see the Mona Lisa (a tiny little thing behind a perspex screen, roped off to keep people away) and the Venus de Milo (somewhat more accessible). <br />
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I ate the best cheese of my life in Paris (Roquefort). Here is the selection of goat cheeses that I found in a fromagerie in Montmartre, where I was staying.....<br />
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...which brings me to the one star hotel. French hotels and motels are not like those in New Zealand. A one star establishment is a room with perhaps a wash basin, or a shower if it's a double room. There are no other facilities. The toilet is along the hall and shared with others on that floor. I was on the 4th floor, accessible only by a spiral staircase.<br />
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After a night in a room with panoramic views of the back alley, I asked to be moved so I could see the street - this became my view for the next few nights.<br />
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I was able to open the big windows and pretend I was on a balcony. It was summer, so I spent the evenings sitting there knitting and watching life in street below. This is the <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall04/PATTclapotis.html" target="_blank">Clapotis </a>scarf/shawl that I was knitting out of merino/silk bought in Essex. I remember Paris whenever I wear it.Shirley Goodwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479768160284996206noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20252511.post-60915720555341703802015-12-17T14:24:00.003+13:002015-12-17T14:24:54.751+13:00Day 17 - where I take on Amy Butler and cure a bad case of Wavy BordersFor those who are not quilters, Amy Butler is a well-known American fabric designer. Several years ago, I bought some Rowan fabrics from the local quilt shop, and as I normally do, I dyed some fabric to go with them. Usually I dye in single colours, but these were multis. Here they are together:<br />
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Now, what to do with them? Looking for some fast inspiration, I decided to use someone else's ideas. I've always loved circles inside squares, and I came across this free Amy Butler pattern called "Belle", designed around her fabric range of the same name. </div>
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Oh dear, Amy, you may be famous but you're not Kaffe Fassett. I really don't think these fabrics work well together. Aha, I hear you saying, do you think you can do better? Well, yes, I do. I won't even comment on the pattern's corner blocks which were simply rectangles that you "cut down to size". They created the worst case of Wavy Borders that I've seen for a long time. I had to unpick both my original borders, measure, nip and tuck and redo the whole outside. The new border still looks somewhat wavy but will be ok when quilted. </div>
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You'll see that I've added in some acid yellow fabric as well. I think this is much better than the original, but feel free to disagree. If you love Amy's version, leave me a comment with what you like about it. </div>
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<br />Shirley Goodwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479768160284996206noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20252511.post-68577456590233382952015-12-16T09:20:00.001+13:002015-12-16T09:20:49.283+13:00Day 16 - in which I remember ProvenceI didn't get to do my big OE (overseas experience) until 2010, when I was 55. I love looking back at the photos I posted on my blog at the time because, sadly, I lost all the photos in a hard drive crash several years later so these are all that remains.<br />
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I stayed with a sculptor and her family in a little hilltop village in Provence, where I went to help put earth plaster on their straw bale studio in the neighbouring village. I should explain that I was travelling with Help Exchange, which is like WWOOFing - working on mostly rural properties in exchange for board and lodgings.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDSb5jK4tEjrsKN_kInZrUS6hVoeJ75uHTusFvJ5YaNds43KktrOGq7zEz-4EU-46LAgA-hfXuMjgr2SBjXQTZ5-MMOSJ-MHW2jvb62zfd2sSBDa9fd3BUV4r_hgi_CJg6ZWHVQ/s1600/DSC04345.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNDSb5jK4tEjrsKN_kInZrUS6hVoeJ75uHTusFvJ5YaNds43KktrOGq7zEz-4EU-46LAgA-hfXuMjgr2SBjXQTZ5-MMOSJ-MHW2jvb62zfd2sSBDa9fd3BUV4r_hgi_CJg6ZWHVQ/s400/DSC04345.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The town, Regusse, had some 12th century stone windmills.</div>
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All the houses had to be similar colours, including the new ones. I loved these bright blue shutters.<br />
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There were sausages of all kinds at the market in Aups. I declined to buy donkey sausage.<br />
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I was allowed to photograph this wonderful display of spices if I gave the vendor a kiss - which, of course, I did.<br />
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I'm not sure that I'll ever get back to France, so I treasure the memories I have. More of these in future posts.Shirley Goodwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479768160284996206noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20252511.post-79993493004555592692015-12-15T08:39:00.000+13:002015-12-15T08:39:36.838+13:00Day 15 - when life throws you scraps, make a quiltYes, there have been times in my life when things have been tough. I try to not dwell on the bad times, but I'm convinced that they make us stronger, though it's hard to see any positive at the time. <br />
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I've usually found that it helps to throw myself into something creative to take my mind off my problems. At the end of 2010, I was in such a position. Here's a couple of quilt tops I made then (and I'm embarrassed to admit that they have never been completed):<br />
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For some reason, I adore teapots. As usual, these are my own design and not taken from a pattern.<br />
<br />Shirley Goodwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479768160284996206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20252511.post-89909116281995349252015-12-14T17:59:00.000+13:002015-12-14T17:59:07.805+13:00Day 14, in which I muse about children growing up quicklyToday, I was looking back over my blog in early 2010 and found these photos of the quilts I made for my friend Jill's children -<br />
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A pink quilt with ballerina fabric for Ivy;<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMNh7aZ9q5C3yCaqHKH_l2Z5pN_LTFg-uouaQRLS6fw_lhNsydAadLdXD60imJhzny8-M_oEkrq9dtsiwJMshBVPMPTvyCG_bQezvuUSvnq86FNteXv963JMips_htgMGJAiGwA/s1600/DSC03617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMNh7aZ9q5C3yCaqHKH_l2Z5pN_LTFg-uouaQRLS6fw_lhNsydAadLdXD60imJhzny8-M_oEkrq9dtsiwJMshBVPMPTvyCG_bQezvuUSvnq86FNteXv963JMips_htgMGJAiGwA/s320/DSC03617.JPG" width="282" /></a></div>
a pink and purple quilt with fairy fabric for Melody;<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHRFTaAsyMsgivpO-DeAYrUbHQJxQc5gTiI-QaXsHFEKRrxLoXu6wXi8gWtNxhlTs7qI5OlgZ1sB7RZOl1PIrkZtuGGqVIHMtA8EWmLgfjGFAl_P2OHhTA5bvvuHMpxe3cC8SLQ/s1600/DSC03618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHRFTaAsyMsgivpO-DeAYrUbHQJxQc5gTiI-QaXsHFEKRrxLoXu6wXi8gWtNxhlTs7qI5OlgZ1sB7RZOl1PIrkZtuGGqVIHMtA8EWmLgfjGFAl_P2OHhTA5bvvuHMpxe3cC8SLQ/s320/DSC03618.JPG" width="263" /></a></div>
and a blue quilt with frogs and lizards for Cruz. As usual, I did not use a pattern, and drew the appliqued shapes myself.<br />
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Now they are almost 6 years older and living overseas. The passing of time is so noticeable with children, but not the same with adults. We just get a few more grey hairs, a few more wrinkles, maybe a few more kilos. Children, on the other hand, grow tall and mature and stop being children. Maybe some day, I will have grandchildren. I hope so. And I also hope I will be able to live close to them so that the passing of the years is not so evident because I will see them often. Shirley Goodwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479768160284996206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20252511.post-8651888891929462132015-12-13T19:54:00.001+13:002015-12-13T19:54:30.702+13:00Day 13 - in which I show off a bit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In 2006, I was approached by Patchwork & Stitching magazine, an Australian publication, to show some examples of my work that they wanted to feature in their magazine. They chose a quilt that I called "Home is Where the Hearts are", and I duly mailed the quilt to Australia. <br />
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It was photographed, and published in Volume 6, No. 6 (July 2006) along with the instructions that I had supplied. <br />
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It wasn't the quilt that I would have chosen as representative of my work. It's a raw edged, quilt-as-you-go quilt, made entirely from cotton - but not from flannel, as most of these quilts are. There's a small quantity of a commercial Batik print in it, but the rest of the quilt top and backing is made entirely from my hand dyed fabrics.<br />
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The quilt is sandwiched with cotton batting so is 100% cotton.<br />
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One thing I remember about making this quilt is getting very sore hands from all the snipping that has to be done to produce the fluffy raw edges.<br />
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It's always been a teeny bit of a sore point with me that one of my quilts has been to Australia, but I haven't.<br />
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This time round in Oamaru, I'm not living in a stone cottage, but the quilt is still with me, and is used as extra bedding or as a large rug when it's cold.Shirley Goodwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479768160284996206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20252511.post-30500542023247945302015-12-12T17:20:00.000+13:002015-12-12T17:20:20.528+13:00Day 12 - where I show some work that has sold<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXm5la_ijuGjG2pZYx2j9fpj6oxvQ77ofTe9755JLCXlFXrwLo1JgICfP3AeY2s06lCKJU5lrXcvVqM7O7P9dWO36mHH05CU_tvqUyffIjtpC2i-Ji1IrWPx44SDFdGpe_jGjEnQ/s1600/DSC00442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXm5la_ijuGjG2pZYx2j9fpj6oxvQ77ofTe9755JLCXlFXrwLo1JgICfP3AeY2s06lCKJU5lrXcvVqM7O7P9dWO36mHH05CU_tvqUyffIjtpC2i-Ji1IrWPx44SDFdGpe_jGjEnQ/s1600/DSC00442.JPG" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5tDKraf8eX8zbblgu0WR9qKdERdbIc6ijk9XcQZRurWy6jlAR6GyBDMQ9BD2aML6t8DUC-7H4_U6jGFuuMK0TlL-HPwa2bYFv-dU3DuPXDDDhDxjWtJHY92BISOAGXYpUwPLHA/s1600/DSC00441.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy5tDKraf8eX8zbblgu0WR9qKdERdbIc6ijk9XcQZRurWy6jlAR6GyBDMQ9BD2aML6t8DUC-7H4_U6jGFuuMK0TlL-HPwa2bYFv-dU3DuPXDDDhDxjWtJHY92BISOAGXYpUwPLHA/s320/DSC00441.JPG" width="320" /></a>These are some 2 colour pieces of fabric that I made in 2009 by wicking - half of the fabric length (they are 1 metre pieces)was placed in a tray of the first colour, and the the other half in an adjoining tray of the contrast colour. The fabric was soaked in soda ash to start with, so that the dye travelled into the spaces between the trays and ensured that there were no white gaps left between the colours. <br />
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I plan to so some fabric dyeing over the holiday period, so maybe I'll make some smaller versions of these. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9936N2zOpi5rvtGwyKffJv_W5gYYZAVckSpi0mSeKS-jStOUyWoj6HfuVorrm07ivbxrjStcF8SPZ0bPa0TPc_xa9T1Ae-8MSVq9ZzP00P73YcWlIop7IcSZy0xi4hXlrrevMWQ/s1600/DSC03314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9936N2zOpi5rvtGwyKffJv_W5gYYZAVckSpi0mSeKS-jStOUyWoj6HfuVorrm07ivbxrjStcF8SPZ0bPa0TPc_xa9T1Ae-8MSVq9ZzP00P73YcWlIop7IcSZy0xi4hXlrrevMWQ/s400/DSC03314.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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This is "Comfortably Numb", an art piece mounted on a canvas. This sold at TOTE's Art Exhibition earlier this year. I also made this in 2009. </div>
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One thing to come out of this 31 day Blog Writing Challenge is not just how productive I have been in the past; nor just how much I've forgotten about what I've done, but also how long it can be between starting something and finishing/selling it. It's embarrassing to realise that some quilts I started 6 or 7 years ago are still unfinished. However, I DO have plans to turn some quilt tops into duvet covers over the summer, so watch this space. Sure, they won't be quilts, as they won't have 3 layers, but at least they'll get used.</div>
Shirley Goodwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479768160284996206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20252511.post-56788561877743188882015-12-11T20:21:00.000+13:002015-12-11T20:21:44.927+13:00Day 11 - where I revisit some lino cuts from the south of France<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5I-_6Us6T99rBBQycKLlR4TFbcVn9Oi6CJ5yz0-fWSYGctH_MSO6v7qDMSWXaMM7gP93CXz1A_hEmXBYKwoblwgaTlbF-mDRxG5gemBqXG7nJO1sfOxHLtcBKaHA8wf63kXZgA/s1600/DSC04542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5I-_6Us6T99rBBQycKLlR4TFbcVn9Oi6CJ5yz0-fWSYGctH_MSO6v7qDMSWXaMM7gP93CXz1A_hEmXBYKwoblwgaTlbF-mDRxG5gemBqXG7nJO1sfOxHLtcBKaHA8wf63kXZgA/s400/DSC04542.JPG" width="327" /></a><br />
In 2010, I did my Big OE. This was my only overseas trip, unless you count some to Raratonga and Western Samoa when I was a baby and which I don't remember.<br />
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I spent a month in France (amongst other places) and during that time, I stayed with <a href="http://origidij.blogspot.co.nz/" target="_blank">Dijanne Cevaal</a> at Le Triadou in the south of France. It's a wee hamlet about an hour's drive from the Mediterranean. Dijanne was running a lino cutting class while I was there which I joined in with. Lucky me as I had access to Dijanne's lovely linocuts as well as making my own.<br />
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The first photo is one of Dijanne's that I played with. Rather than using a roller to apply paint, I used a paintbrush to apply the colour so that I could have different colours for the background and foreground.<br />
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The second photo has a painted background, and then has African painting applied to it - I used Dijanne's pomegranate stamp as inspiration for the design. I really enjoy lino cutting but it's not always easy to get good soft lino at a reasonable price. I have all the cutters, so I must remember to play around with this over the holidays (when I am having some play time).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq5I-_6Us6T99rBBQycKLlR4TFbcVn9Oi6CJ5yz0-fWSYGctH_MSO6v7qDMSWXaMM7gP93CXz1A_hEmXBYKwoblwgaTlbF-mDRxG5gemBqXG7nJO1sfOxHLtcBKaHA8wf63kXZgA/s1600/DSC04542.JPG" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSq1jN5cFZKVhyGLeKwj8_8xPqBIOSRIoied37uSk9rs7V0Fp_tH6ieHAP4XSfpVQ13Yclg8Uf6U7BwKHdfj4wxSE9LYG9c2cj6I51rghhgwrw3um0UxWL8PJ03HoQasiWtj8YQ/s1600/DSC04544.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSq1jN5cFZKVhyGLeKwj8_8xPqBIOSRIoied37uSk9rs7V0Fp_tH6ieHAP4XSfpVQ13Yclg8Uf6U7BwKHdfj4wxSE9LYG9c2cj6I51rghhgwrw3um0UxWL8PJ03HoQasiWtj8YQ/s400/DSC04544.JPG" width="265" /></a>Shirley Goodwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479768160284996206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20252511.post-75680750979136641512015-12-10T08:35:00.005+13:002015-12-10T08:35:54.358+13:00Day 10 - featuring the colour Burgundy (but not the wine)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMFVJd2fj9QegPOrTCSzBBdMgcouFkc887LjZAauYhbL-ggyB5AeLYRiyqvnvZiCm7axIuU5Wndu3D3nDu-Qk2NOxSCMOwHdn9I3r9yw-k6OO3NcCGH1mo9cu2sLrj4jazhioFQ/s1600/IMG_2593.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMFVJd2fj9QegPOrTCSzBBdMgcouFkc887LjZAauYhbL-ggyB5AeLYRiyqvnvZiCm7axIuU5Wndu3D3nDu-Qk2NOxSCMOwHdn9I3r9yw-k6OO3NcCGH1mo9cu2sLrj4jazhioFQ/s640/IMG_2593.jpg" width="465" /></a></div>
This is a sampler of shibori designs, all dyed with the same burgundy dye. I really like this colour, as it's a blend so you get some splitting of the colour, which I think enhances the results. <br />
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To make this, I used 12 fat quarters, tying or clamping each in a different way and recording what I did - for example, some of the designs were ironed; some dyed with the fabric dry; some pieces were wrapped around objects and so on. I don't usually do this, but I wanted a sampler of designs that I could come back to and refer to.<br />
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I plan to do some more shibori over the holiday period, so all I need to do now is locate the book with all the information in it..Shirley Goodwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479768160284996206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20252511.post-65582054587469935752015-12-09T16:19:00.001+13:002015-12-09T16:19:25.202+13:00Day 9 - in which I heave a sigh of reliefToday, my homestay went home. I have had homestays, mostly Chinese, on and off for the past 4 years as a means of bringing in extra money. Many were teenagers; some were older. Some were a pain, and some were delightful. I have decided that there will be no more of them, so now I have the house to myself again, which I enjoy. However, it's time to tighten the belt.<br />
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When there's not much money, you have to take your pleasure where you can find it, and that is in small things. A beautiful morning, a lovely garden, dyeing wool while the dogs sleep peacefully.<br />
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Here's a photo of the sun over Cape Wanbrow - at this time of year, it's rising in a very easterly position. This photo was taken in 2006, so the Cape is covered in large pine trees which have now been milled.Shirley Goodwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479768160284996206noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20252511.post-77012372925638137092015-12-08T14:47:00.001+13:002015-12-08T14:47:24.169+13:00Day 8 I didn't post yesterday as it was my day to work at the Textile Emporium store. However, the photo is one I took yesterday morning while walking Tilly in the public gardens. The cabbage trees (Cordyline australis, for the horticulturally inclined) have magnificent blooms this year, as you can see from this photo of a couple of mature specimens.<br />
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What I enjoy about walking early in the morning is that you can smell the scent of the flowers as it wafts on the breeze, while later on, it gets lost in the heat of the day. Shirley Goodwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479768160284996206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20252511.post-21140342218831295562015-12-06T14:48:00.002+13:002015-12-06T14:48:21.631+13:00Day 6 - in which I discover something I made that I'd forgotten about<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNsoe2k9QctiLcSGL9Qsro8GZ4vURq0OO6li0507PtT6n_U7HIztkhJ5pwLfFW4AKpsT7sJ87_tqbjl2lKkebfI2PIPAZ5WYY-PNvhQRaeMGm8z3H61svHtUCrRG48_klJkxgIA/s1600/DSC02652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNsoe2k9QctiLcSGL9Qsro8GZ4vURq0OO6li0507PtT6n_U7HIztkhJ5pwLfFW4AKpsT7sJ87_tqbjl2lKkebfI2PIPAZ5WYY-PNvhQRaeMGm8z3H61svHtUCrRG48_klJkxgIA/s320/DSC02652.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
This is a cot quilt I made in 2008, but I have no idea who I made it for. I had no pattern - I designed and drew the chickens myself. <br />
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I hope the baby I made it for enjoyed it.Shirley Goodwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479768160284996206noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20252511.post-49279127426691479962015-12-05T13:35:00.002+13:002015-12-05T13:35:16.872+13:00Day 5 - yarn porn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL39TFitCxDbZUEDjzUYeV65Wv3cozMnYTmalRaya8b-lM36Tx06Ik8i38JIPxThD5zrrjqvU1hEwDJyRlzekzrCQhOc7QsTnKyv4QSDefhp_zFgZ0228NrBGjQ3NhPj10tbbASg/s1600/IMG_2536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL39TFitCxDbZUEDjzUYeV65Wv3cozMnYTmalRaya8b-lM36Tx06Ik8i38JIPxThD5zrrjqvU1hEwDJyRlzekzrCQhOc7QsTnKyv4QSDefhp_zFgZ0228NrBGjQ3NhPj10tbbASg/s640/IMG_2536.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Here's some delicious skeins of pure New Zealand wool that I dyed the other day - colours inspired by the NZ summer.Shirley Goodwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479768160284996206noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20252511.post-65627871338881214152015-12-04T07:52:00.003+13:002015-12-04T07:52:24.682+13:00Phooey to you, Pantone..<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjonAPnTktFq3sq3mJXPIM7xVg2u98NIycYnKb4Xl6d2nIyCaO-IBKFb9NTiWyi2lPnjA1npzRNw_yQOuU916zdpgqEtS8m0jLXGVxyuQxx1FmQrLPWCKkm-ViVVFAm-Hnidrz4OQ/s1600/serenity_rose_quartz.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjonAPnTktFq3sq3mJXPIM7xVg2u98NIycYnKb4Xl6d2nIyCaO-IBKFb9NTiWyi2lPnjA1npzRNw_yQOuU916zdpgqEtS8m0jLXGVxyuQxx1FmQrLPWCKkm-ViVVFAm-Hnidrz4OQ/s320/serenity_rose_quartz.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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"Pale pink and blue are my favourite colours" said no-one ever. Not even if you call them by fancy names.<br />
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Here are MY colour choices for 2016:<br />
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Turquoise and teal. I have a big tin of turquoise paint, and I'll be using it. Watch this space.Shirley Goodwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479768160284996206noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20252511.post-37716087780195794282015-12-03T15:20:00.000+13:002015-12-03T15:25:10.493+13:00Day 3 - some little-known factsLooking back at my blog in 2007, when I wrote a record 168 posts, I discovered this post when I was tagged in a meme to tell 7 little known facts about myself. Here they are:<br />
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1. I spent about a year living in the Cook Islands and Western Samoa as a baby (don't remember any of it) but haven't been anywhere overseas since then.<br />
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2. I vividly remember the very first time I ever put my head under water. Funnily enough it was here in Christchurch at a place called Coe's Ford (not many swimming pools around back then).<br />
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3. I have chewed my nails on and off ever since I started school.<br />
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4. I started work at the tender age of 16 years and 2 months.<br />
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5. I didn't learn to drive until I was 32.<br />
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6. I have additional blind spots at the back of my right eye due to having measles as a child.<br />
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7. I used to be a commercial orchid grower when I was married (plants, not flowers). I still grow some orchids.<br />
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Since then, #1 has changed as I went overseas in 2010. Also #3.<br />
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Here's a few more:</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.2px;">8. I love the fact that my grandmother used to live on a lighthouse.</span><br style="line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="line-height: 18.2px;">9. I can speed read.</span><br style="line-height: 18.2px;" /><br style="line-height: 18.2px;" /><span style="line-height: 18.2px;">10. I can't swim.</span></span>There! Too much information? Then here's a gratuitous photo of my beautiful cornflowers - I've grown blue and pink ones before, but the seed mix this year has these lovely purple flowers. Bees love them.<br />
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Shirley Goodwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479768160284996206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20252511.post-10582871717021747132015-12-02T09:03:00.001+13:002015-12-02T09:03:51.794+13:00Day 2, 31 Day challengeFirstly, thanks to my blog friends who have started reading my blog again! <br />
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Looking back over my blog is fun - you forget a lot of the little stuff. Here's some yarn porn from 2006 -<br />
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I didn't even remember that I was hand painting yarn back then. According to my blog, this was around the time I went to a Creative Fibre (spinners & weavers) retreat in Queenstown. Some of the Textile Emporium members were also there, although I didn't know them then. I was asked to go to the retreat to demonstrate dyeing in the microwave. I remember that some of the women were quite sceptical when I whipped the hot wool out and stuck it straight under a cold tap. They were sure that it would felt but of course, it doesn't - to felt, wool needs both heat and agitation. <br />
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Here's my more recent skeins. These are all single colours, with light, medium and dark variations. I currently have 1 kilo of wool that needs dyeing, and I hope to get that done today while it's fine and sunny. </div>
<br />Shirley Goodwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479768160284996206noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20252511.post-36379177743440248042015-12-01T08:44:00.002+13:002015-12-01T08:44:45.076+13:00Day 1 - 31 Day Blog Writing ChallengeLet's go right back to the beginning, which is 10 years ago. When I first heard of blogs (short for web logs), I thought they were pretentious and narcissistic. Until I started one, of course. Then I found out what fun they were! I joined the Artful Quilters webring (a group of blogs based on the same theme - in this case, art quilts), and started reading and commenting on blogs and bloggers I found interesting. The other bloggers did the same, and we linked to each other via our blogroll (a list of said blogs in our sidebar).<br />
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When I went overseas in 2010, I was lucky enough to stay with some of these lovely women, who kindly invited me to visit them - there was <a href="http://lizplummer.com/blog/" target="_blank">Liz Plummer</a> in Wales, <a href="http://artmixter.blogspot.co.nz/" target="_blank">Marion Barnett</a> in UK, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lou.heron?fref=ts" target="_blank">Lou Heron</a> of the Isle of Man (now in Timaru), <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lolaffo?fref=ts" target="_blank">Lorna Lafferty </a>in Ireland (not a blogger but she had taken a dye class of mine when in NZ), <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AuFilduJardin?fref=ts" target="_blank">Veronique</a> in France, and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/margo.bimler?fref=ts" target="_blank">Margo</a> in France. There were others whom I didn't get to meet. They were unfailingly generous and kind to me and I will always appreciate their hospitality. <br />
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At the time I started my blog, I had recently moved to Oamaru for the first time. This was me in Victorian costume:<br />
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More on my adventures tomorrow. </div>
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<br />Shirley Goodwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479768160284996206noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20252511.post-20117333688087038942015-11-30T19:59:00.002+13:002015-11-30T19:59:58.565+13:00The 31 Day Blog Writing Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I came across this on Facebook, and having already decided that I needed to get back into blogging, I decided now was the time to do it. It's being run by Cheryl Sleboda, who is not a FB friend (she already has 1000, no sense in cluttering up her page with more) but she IS a friend of 35 of my FB friends, so that's close enough. <br />
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You can read more about the challenge <a href="http://muppin.com/wordpress/index.php/the-31-day-blog-writing-challenge/" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
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I love looking back on my blog, as it's a record of what I've been doing over the past 10 years. It's also got many photos that I no longer have, thanks to a computer crash. More recently, I've been mainly doing small posts on FB and neglecting it. I'm going to try to resurrect this part of my life. Read along with me, and do comment!<br />
<br />Shirley Goodwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479768160284996206noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20252511.post-38580250598790907002015-06-11T17:45:00.001+12:002015-06-11T17:45:16.700+12:00Do you have Electric Quilt software?Not feeling totally confident with using EQ7 (or earlier versions)? <a href="http://academyofquilting.com/class-schedule-2/online-class-details/?classesID=106" target="_blank">My beginners' class</a> is about to start, so jump in and enrol. The lessons feature screenshots, videos and plenty of helpful tips, and they can all be saved to refer to later on so if life intervenes, you don't miss out. <br />
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And it's not all hard work - look at these 5 versions of a quilt pattern coloured in totally different ways. Do all the designing before you cut into your precious stash.<br />
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<br />Shirley Goodwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479768160284996206noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20252511.post-6533478833849805252015-01-25T10:44:00.005+13:002015-01-25T10:50:06.403+13:00A spot of shiboriOr "tie dye", as some may know it. In addition to dyeing colour gradation bundles of fabric for the Textile Emporium shop, I have been doing a spot of shibori. Firstly, some silk scarves.<br />
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The shibori effects were very subtle on the scarves as they are so thin and fine.<br />
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Above are the bundles of colour gradations - just plain colours here.<br />
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Then I took 8 fat quarters of plan fabric and tied and bound them in various ways. You can follow the progress of the various shapes below. <br />
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Here's the first tray with the dye on. The bags contain leftover dye that I have used to overdye some dull commercial fabric.<br />
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The second tray. <br />
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The reveal! The green one had small unripe peaches tied in it.<br />
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The blue one was rolled around tiny ceramic tiles.<br />
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The burgundy one was clipped and tied.<br />
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The purple one was pleated and tied.<br />
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The yellow one was wrapped and tied.</div>
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The turquoise one was folded into triangles and clipped.<br />
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The coffee one was also pleated and tied.<br />
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The fuchsia one was folded and resisted with cardboard.<br />
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Here they all are ready to go to the shop.<br />
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<br />Shirley Goodwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479768160284996206noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20252511.post-34372019138572373062014-12-01T19:29:00.004+13:002014-12-01T19:29:48.619+13:00Round the World Blog HopI have been invited by Clare Smith of <a href="http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.claresmith.blogspot.com&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNF2Z17KuREbfJCaK0CJ5eWgeKna9g">www.claresmith.blogspot.com</a> to participate in this Round the World Blog Hop. Clare is a Kiwi dyer and textile artist, and I love the work she is doing with dyeing fabric while in situ in a gallery. The rules of the Blog Hop are that we have to answer some questions about our work, show what we are doing, and then nominate some other bloggers to do the same.<br />
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Here are the questions:<br />
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<span class="s1"><i>1. What am I working on? </i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">OK, this is a tricky one. I have moved away from quilt art towards makings textile-related things for sale in the local Textile Emporium - in other words, I have gone from making stuff to look at to making stuff to sell. However......I have become very interested in eco printing, dyeing with plant material and Slow Cloth. What is Slow Cloth? It's my own offshoot of Slow Fashion, where I will create either accessories (eg cushion covers, scarves, bags) or garments from plain natural fibres (eg cotton, linen, silk) that I have transformed by slow methods such as shibori, dye bundling with plant material, solar dyeing, rust dyeing and so on. </span></div>
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I am only just starting this journey, so haven't much to show yet except these 2 scarves:</div>
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<span class="s1"><i>2. How does my work differ from others of its genre? </i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">The Slow Fashion movement is still in its infancy, and slow cloth is even newer. In many ways, though, it is older, as this is how cloth used to be made - when craftsmanship and artisans were valued and there was no mass production. As far as I know, there are only a few textile artists embracing this style.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">3.<i> Why do I create what I do? </i></span></div>
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<span class="s1">Because it interests me. I have always followed my own interests with cloth and dyeing. My work has never been popular or trendy, but that doesn't worry me. </span></div>
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<i>4. How does my creative process work?</i></div>
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I sneaked a look at Clare's answer and positively chortled! I have also gone to art school, but at an advanced age, so I write nothing down! It is all in my head and I prefer it that way because it changes constantly. I do my best thinking when I am lying down. I think things through in quite a lot of detail this way.</div>
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Because I am somewhat late at getting this done, having been at work (unpaid) at the Textile Emporium all day and because I didn't read about it properly in advance, I am going to nominate 2 other bloggers without warning them - I hope they will be able to spare a few minutes to participate.</div>
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1. <a href="http://lizplummer.com/blog/" target="_blank">Liz Plummer </a> from Newport in South Wales. Liz is a fellow blogger from the Quilting Arts blog ring who kindly invited me to stay for a few days when I was in the UK in 2010. Liz is also a textile artist doing exciting things with fabric.</div>
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2. <a href="http://origidij.blogspot.co.nz/" target="_blank">Dijanne Cevaal</a> who flits from France to Australia and back again. Dijanne was an early dyeing influence and will be known to many. She will probably curse me for this as she is producing a book and doing a squillion other things. However, I wanted to include her as she has also been a huge influence on my work - I love just about everything she does. I stayed with Dijanne in the south of France when I was on my overseas trip and had a blast. </div>
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Shirley Goodwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479768160284996206noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20252511.post-3012970557856484662014-11-06T12:20:00.002+13:002014-11-06T12:20:29.366+13:00It's been a long time coming.......I have been neglecting my blog in favour of posting on Facebook. However, this blog has a long history and I have made many friends through it so I don't want to lose that. Here's what I'm up to at present:-<br />
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Back to my dyeing roots. I have just been accepted as a member of TOTE (The Oamaru Textile Emporium, based down in the Historic Precinct) so I now need to ramp what I have available for sale.<br />
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In addition, I have another class of EQ7 Beginners' Patchwork starting on 7th November (US time) - details are here http://academyofquilting.com/class-schedule-2/online-class-details/?classesID=106. If you have Electric Quilt software, this class will help you get the best from your programme. If not, and you love designing quilts, it's worth having EQ7. Being able to test designs, colours and layouts before cutting into any fabric is hugely beneficial for quilters, given the price of fabric these days. <br />
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I'll post more soon about the things I'm making for TOTE and my new direction towards slow cloth.Shirley Goodwinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01479768160284996206noreply@blogger.com5