natural dyeing, pokeweed

Freshly picked pokeberries

Pokeweed, also known as Pokeberry (Phytolacca Americana), a perennial plant that grows up to 6-8 feet in height. Like most weed, it is a hardy plant that can withstand poor soil conditions and is considered a pest in some parts of the country. It is a beneficial plant as some birds love the berries and it attracts pollinating insects to your garden.

The part that is used for dyeing is the clusters of deep purple berries that hung on reddish stems. The purple berries are pressed to extract the juice. When mixed with water and a mordant, such as salt or vinegar the juice becomes a dye solution. 

A word of caution: Although pokeweed is used medicinally, it is still considered poisonous and a risk to human and animal health; as the toxins are concentrated in the roots, berries and seeds. The berries may be tempting to young children, so it is best to plant it away from sidewalks.

Following are pictures from last summer depicting the results I got from pokeberry dye bath, extracted from the berries.

squeezing and mashing the berries

striking magenta red stained hands from the berries

simple tests with salt and vinegar

samples of silk and cotton from the berries

a silk top dyed with the juice

~Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Melinda Tai and Obovate Designs with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Thank you for visiting, I welcome all your comments.♥
“A smile is worth a thousand words, live happy, dye happiest.”

finally

After a short break, I am back finally! 

These past months, I had been busy with other activities and hobbies. I’d taken a workshop about the process of soap making and have been churning up batches of recipes in a variety of shapes and sizes. I’d also gone back to my sewing projects; and managed to finish three more large quilts. 

It occurred to me that a person can have many interests and hobbies. Just how many hobbies are too many for anyone? The answer is never too many for me. I love keeping my mind and hands busy….

Here are some photos I like to share.

hand embroidered, appliqued zipper pouch on linen

hand appliqued floral arrangement of dyed silk flowers and fabric leaf motif zipper pouch

the back view of it

king size quilt, I name this windows

another large quilt, of hexagons and stars

another king sized quilt, named tumbling blocks in vibrant orange, light and dark grey, framed in a black border

here are just a few of my deliciously soap made using the cold pressed method (more about this on next post).

pumpkin spice soap made with real pumpkin and 100% all natural oils…this is one delicious smelling soap!

this was my first batch of cold pressed soap, apricot freesia with a swirl top

~Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Melinda Tai and Obovate Designs with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Thank you for visiting, I welcome all your comments.♥
“A smile is worth a thousand words, live happy, dye happiest.”

poinsettia

flaming red poinsettia, the flowering plant for this season of love, joy, and cheer

This flowering plant with its large leaf-shape bracts in colors of red, white, or pink; with a yellow pistil in the center of the colored bracts makes a beautiful Christmas decorations around the house. The actual flowers, or cyathium of the poinsettia plant (Euphorbia pulcherrima) are the clusters of yellow cup-shaped structures that are located in the center of the colorful bracts. The flowers have both male and female reproductive organs and have no fragrance to attract pollinators. The showy red bracts serve that purpose and attract the insects to the poinsettia. When the flower detects a visitor, the cyathium glands ooze their nectar to lure the insects onto the surfaces of the flowers. The pollen from the flowers is transferred by the insects as they move from plant to plant feeding on the nectar.

the real flower of the poinsettia

close-up view of yellow flowers, or cyathium

The flaming colors of the bracts can be accelerated by placing the plant in total darkness for a period of time. This method is called “photoperiodism.” There are so many wonderful facts and stories written about this traditional Christmas plant, and the list is endless. Did you know that December 12th is Poinsettia Day?

With all the characteristics about this plant, I was interested to find out if the plant is a good source for contact printing. I was in luck, a local store was having a sale last week. I bought a few to decorate the house and a few more to experiment with. I am convinced that the green bracts will give some color; and the red bracts will need a modifier (iron water), in order to print.

For this experiment, I took a branch and dipped the plant in an iron solution (made from rusty objects), before I placed it on a piece of wet silk. Then the fabric, along with the plant material was bundled up tightly with strings, and left in simmering water for about 2 hours. I let the bundle sit overnight in the pot before I opened it the following day to see the results of my experiment. I am happy with the results as it does what I had predicted. Below are results and pictures from this experiment and I am happy to share. I would be back next year, happy holidays!

leaves and bracts of the bloom on wet silk

before and after

dark colored and no more red, a result from the iron solution

anxious to see the magic underneath the leaf

peeling the surface to reveal the result

a lovely stained leaf print in hues of green and speckled  grayish brown on veins

dark charcoal prints in center (red bracts), a result from iron oxide in the iron solution that reacts with the tannin in the plant materials

A special note: unlike mistletoe and holly, which are highly dangerous plants; poinsettia is not deadly poisonous–but it could still cause an upset stomach if consumed. The milky sap from the plant may be harmful to people with allergies and sensitivities.

~Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Melinda Tai and Obovate Designs with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Thank you for visiting, I welcome all your comments.♥

“A smile is worth a thousand words, live happy, dye happiest.”

in the news

A writer from a local newspaper wants to write an article featuring Obovate Designs. I am flattered and honored for this wonderful exposure. The article will be in print tomorrow in Tri-Valley Times. Below is the link that you can read online. Thank you.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/my-town/ci_29219930/livermore-patience-persistence-pays-off-fiber-artist

sell, sell, sell

my booth at Bedford Gallery, Lesher Center for the Arts

In October, I blogged that I was invited to participate as a vendor for the following community craft shows in November: Craft Fest in Bedford Gallery; and Mistletoe Madness. Both the events were well curated with a variety of different artwork and handmade artisan goods. Business was good and I am glad that I’d prepared a wide selection of inventory to display for both shows.

Selling at shows and craft fairs is a wonderful way to gain exposure and to market small businesses and local artists. These events also serve as a wonderful opportunity to bring the local community and local artists together and is something fun for everyone. Doing these shows gave me the opportunity to admire other artist’s work. The variety of ideas, concepts, craftsmanship and presentation is enjoyable and an education in and of itself. Finally, the experience of meeting your customers face to face and the immediate feedback is helpful in developing ones presentation and understanding the tastes of your customers. Below are some pictures from the shows, and I am happy to share. Happy Holidays!

silk scarves on a spiral rack

L-R: hand dyed tights; greeting cards displayed on an table linen with eucalyptus prints, and wool shawl on body form

my booth at Mistletoe Madness, a Christmas event. This was my second year as a vendor

handmade flower pins from wool tops and silk

hand knit acorn and leaves for the holidays

~Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Melinda Tai and Obovate Designs with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Thank you for visiting, I welcome all your comments.♥
“A smile is worth a thousand words, live happy, dye happiest.”

busy as a bee

Freshly dyed scarves

I am excited to be selected as a vendor at the Bedford Gallery Craft Fest event this November 7^th and 8th. Following the Craft Fest, I will at the Mistletoe Madness show in San Leandro (November 28). I have plenty of preparing to do for these upcoming events.  So far, I have got quite a bit accomplished and I am looking forward to the shows. Below is a sneak peek of some new pieces to my inventory.

this piece in a combination of turmeric and indigo dyed was inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night.

Arashi Shibori dyed silk necktie in lac dye

eucalyptus prints and Shibori dyed silk necktie in indigo vat dye

Fleur de Lys template (hand crafted by John) in plexiglass

Fleur de Lys, print in indigo dye

indigo dyed tote bag for my own use

~Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Melinda Tai and Obovate Designs with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Thank you for visiting, I welcome all your comments.♥
“A smile is worth a thousand words, live happy, dye happiest.”

colors of nature

an array of natural colors in warm browns, charcoal, reds, yellows, taupe, cream and greens

This was last summer’s solar dyeing project that I had forgotten. The marked jars are tucked neatly in rows inside the wheelbarrow where I had left them last summer. Already, the spiders and critters have made a home for themselves between the crevices of the dusty jars. I can sense the jars are “calling” for me to open them and explore its contents. 

Going through each of the marked jars, I found some of them had turned moldy and smell bad. It must have been due to the hot summer weather and also to my negligence to check on the jars. Nevertheless, it was fun opening the jars to explore the contents inside and retrieve the samples. Below are pictures of the samples with captions listed in the order of plant material, followed by fabric/fiber used.

hydrangeas; silk

society garlic flowers; merino silk

black tea; silk, merino wool fabric, wool yarn

basil; silk & wool yarn

tansy or golden buttons flowers; silk & merino wool

Gaillardia (blanket flowers); silk & wool yarn

Kalanchoe flowers; silk & wool yarn

Ratibida columnifera (Mexican hat flowers); merino silk

Anthemis tinctoria (Dyers chamomile); silk, wool yarn

Rue (ruta graveolens), merino silk

this one is my favorite….

eucalyptus; silk, rusty can

tied markings in random swirl in ocher and yellows

deep contrast in yellow, browns and burnt orange, a result from iron rust, and tannin from eucalyptus

an itsy bitsy scarf for me

~Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Melinda Tai and Obovate Designs with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Thank you for visiting, I welcome all your comments.♥

“A smile is worth a thousand words, live happy, dye happiest.”

indigo dyed dress

bold leaf prints from castor oil plant

This is the dress made from a fabric that was dyed and contact printed with botanicals and then pre-cut for a dress,  as described in last week’s post; “before and after“. This past weekend I assembled the dress that you see below. I love the somewhat wide and angular neckline and the 3/4 length sleeves that were finished at the edges in a lighter shade of indigo blue. Another feature of this dress is the wide flare on both sides; which it can be brought together, either front or back and secured with a button for a flattering A-line dress.

contrasting prints in charcoal on background colors in a variation of azure to cerulean blues

back view of dress

~Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Melinda Tai and Obovate Designs with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Thank you for visiting, I welcome all your comments.♥

“A smile is worth a thousand words, live happy, dye happiest.”

before and after

In this post, I am sharing with you a two-step process using a plain silk fabric that was first dyed blue in indigo vat dye; and then contact printed the dyed fabric with plant materials to create an interesting design and color. 

Indigo vat dyeing is an incredibly dyeing process! Just when the dyed fabric was removed from the vat dye, the dyeing solution oxidized from green to blue when the fabric was exposed to oxygen in the air. This was because the indigo dye molecule is soluble only in its reduced (oxygen-free) state when inside the vat; but when exposed to the air, the dye reduced back into insoluble form. This alchemy of nature happens instantly before your eyes–it is almost magic! The result is a beautiful and permanent blue dyed fabric.

Next, I arranged the following plant materials: castor bean plant (Ricinus communis); geranium (Pelargonium); silver dollar tree (Eucalyptus cinerea) that were previously soaked in iron water in a random design onto the dyed fabric. Then the fabric and the plant materials were rolled up with a rusty iron pipe carefully and tied with strings before it was steamed for more than an hour. Here is the result after it was taken out from the dye pot. See the finished dress when I sew it together on my next post.

indigo dyed, and ready for the next step

dark and coppery outlines and leaf print was a result from the iron oxide from the rusty pipe that reacts with the tannin in the plant materials.

close-up deep outline prints from large castor bean plant (Ricinus communis) and copper brownish orange from Eucalyptus cinerea.

more on castor bean plant leaf print

geranium (Pelargonium) leaf prints

a single leaf print from Eucalyptus cinerea in coppery brown

~Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Melinda Tai and Obovate Designs with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Thank you for visiting, I welcome all your comments.♥

“A smile is worth a thousand words, live happy, dye happiest.”

TGIF, friday’s necktie

chicks dig ties, a comic strip by Bill Watterson

Many companies have casual Fridays, if you still feel the need to wear a tie, this is the tie to wear. Trust me, no one else will be sporting a tie like this and the women at work will be asking you all about it.  This brings to mind, the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes, where Hobbes declares: “chicks dig ties”.  So, guys out there–you get the idea?

For this project, I bought a plain white silk necktie and eco dyed it with locally source plant materials. First, I gently removed the stitching along the length of the tie and pulled out the interfacing found inside the tie, leaving just the unfolded silk fabric. I then washed it in soap and water; and with the material still damp, I arranged plant materials along the length of the fabric; bundled it up with strings and boiled it in a water bath of onion skins and bark for an hour.

fresh out of my dye pot, and peeling to see what enfolds

bold blade leaf print from red ironbark (Eucalpytus sideroxylon)

the colors of fall

The challenging part was to stitch the necktie back together by hand. Since, this was my first time doing this, I had to examined some of John’s ties to see the actual construction of the tie. It took me a couple of hours stitching it back together. It was fun and now I know to make a neck tie from scratch. I am pleased with the results and happy to share. This tie is available for sale here.

front view of necktie

back view of necktie

~Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Melinda Tai and Obovate Designs with appropriate and specific direction to the original content. Thank you for visiting, I welcome all your comments.♥

“A smile is worth a thousand words, live happy, dye happiest.”