Category: FybreSpace the shop

Posted in Deliberation--do something you don't do--or haven't in awhile, FybreSpace the shop, Natural Dyes

i’ve been shot! and other good things :)

Posted on by arlee

Had my first Covid vaccination on the 13th and happy to report very few side effects, for me no more than a regular flu shot: bit of dizziness, sore arm and LOTS of sleep with LOTS of fluids. I’ve never been so excited to get a needle before 🙂 I was also lucky enough to get the Greyman booked before the system crashed so we’re rather happy Chez Stately Barr Manor. We’re still observing physical distancing and masks though, as we ain’t stoopid. Honestly, it feels strange *not* to mask up when out and about.

I’ve been farfing around with some new natural dye colours —-LOVE Lac for its wide range of reds, purples and pinks, similar to my Quebracho Rojo results, but feeling somewhat warmer on the colour spectrum. I also simmered up a batch of dried out eucalyptus that i bought way back in August of last year, set on a shelf in some water and then promptly forgot it was there/anywhere—this is the first time i’ve got some warm yummy sunset-ty orangey yellows and am just in love with it. Of course, the next batch i will buy will be different! I’d tried previously and got a rather insipid butter so am rather chuffed with this batch, especially on the cotton lace trim. I think it will go nicely with some of the indigo dyed lace, cotton or rayon, and silk on the first wearable art piece i’ve planned. (That got sidelined a bit with Life Happening, but i have a desktop photo to remind me how much i love the idea, and to GET TO IT!

 

I wanted to use the open eyelet trim i had used on “Tower to the Moon”, partially shown in the mock up photo above, but haven’t quite enough so will go for the more flowery one i just dyed–still very very pretty!

Remind me to rev up the indigo again………..

I’m trying to build some purple vocabulary with the Lac–i desperately need some purple family threads myself, and am hoping to get some in the shop as well. (And other colours there too as “demand is increasing”, as they say 🙂 )

I’m learning with/about a new mordant as well: Symplocos, a plant that is an alum accumulator, so we’ll see how that does too.

 

As to the shop, i have finally decided to “standardize” the size of fabrics offered. My velvets have always been either 6×6, 6×12 or 12×12, and i think that’s the way to go–6×6″ are small enough pieces to offer a variety for a reasonable price and be big enough to use and appreciate, and the 2 larger sizes (still very reasonable 🙂 ) for more impact in your work. I cringe sometimes (OFTEN) when i see the mingy bits some offer for a lot more coin (and in US to boot) and with no identifying dyes listed, just “botanical/plant/natural/vegetable dyed”…………

I’m also very pleased to let you know that i am now on Jude Hill’s approved list of trusted resources  for fabrics and threads.

 

Posted in Days of Honey, FybreSpace the shop, Natural Dyes, Probably talking to just myself

YUMSHUSNESS piles

Posted on by arlee

I’ve been dyeing all week:

Swanky Panky: Packs of teasing texture in pearlescent cotton damask, mellow cotton velveteen, sultry silk habotai, crisp cotton and slinky silk/rayon velvet, naturally dyed in madder, quebracho rojo, lac, marigold and eucalyptus with historically accurate processes.

AND
Earthing: A more rustic version of the Swanky Panky mix, each pack with a different fibre mix. Naturally dyed in madder, quebracho rojo, lac, marigold and cutch with historically accurate processes.

 

 

 

Making piles. Sorting bits. Prepping projects. Skeining threads.

And then it’s time to play!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

Posted in FybreSpace the shop, Natural Dyes

Shop update

Posted on by arlee

Mixed fibre packs (linen, silk, silk/rayon velvet,cotton lace, cotton) now in the shop: Ecoprints! Sprinklies! Solids! Bright colour for accents and enhancements! Malleable pieces of texture will delight your imagination and your needle!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assorted natural dyes done with historically accurate processes, from prep to mordant to dye. (Indigo, madder, quebracho rojo, marigolds, tansy, osage, cochineal and rhubarb.)

Posted in DillyDally Coat/Ragmates 2020, FybreSpace the shop, Probably talking to just myself

Flime ties!!!!!

Posted on by arlee

Where have i been? Nowhere. Like most of us. I did manage to get my arse shuffling faster for the Christmas season in the shop, but that stopped mid December, with Dog Duties taking precedence.

I made a plan, yes i did, on the 2nd of January. It looks looked good, but as of the 28th, i haven’t taken it to heart. As of today however, i’m going to. I like what i do, when i do it, so what’s the dealio? I look at the calendar and all of a sudden it’s the 25th, and precious little has happened. A little has happened, but rare to show and some mostly unfinished. Reading has been the stopper on the creativity bottle (not a terrible thing in itself), but not conducive to any expressed rather than just internal imagination. Might have to pretend the computer is broken, as my escape is all ebooks online though our public library!

The Ragmates2020/DillyDally Coat is still in my stitch corner, and somewhere along the way since August (?), i did do some work on it. I’m going to switch out one section from the sleeve to the back when i saw that most of the work would be hidden on the inside of the sleeve against the body. Shall have to be less flamboyant there 🙂

I’ve been fiddling with Itty Bitty Beaded Bits, thinking the focus might help. Mmmm, i do ♥♥♥ the look of these!

(In the shop!) Two more are still in the studio be be completed!

I’m trying to figure out a way to make my own studio space more enticing too. Is it that the sun doesn’t pour into this one? Oh i miss that sun in my eyes! 🙂

DogFaced Girl has done very well through her convalescence and healing period, with no problems with the incision or the use of the leg. We have concluded however, that Madame is a Madame, apt to whinge and whine, pretending things are worse if she doesn’t want to be bothered! Perfectly capable of going for walks and excitedly bouncing when “go get ready” is mentioned, but oh what a Prima Dona when told breakfast is IN the kitchen and will not be served to her in bed, a mere 10 feet away. She does need help getting into the car, but that’s a confidence issue with ice and a bit of height.

Not an issue now, that last sentence 🙂

She can easily get into the back of this one, just like coming in from the patio to the livingroom! It looks rather “posh”, and is incredibly sporty, our “Bruce 2.0”. A 2018 Honda Civic CRX SI, we were looking at “new cars” lately because the Saturn we inherited from MIL a few years back is on its last wheels. It’s serendipity that we saw this one and amazingly, got a stupifyingly incredibly clutchthepearlsandsqueal far from a new vehicle would cost deal on it. We knew buying again, it had to be used and that it was something that would have to last the rest of our (driving) lives, because honestly, let’s face it, both of us are not *that* far from retirement age. (And i still haven’t learned to drive and never will now…) The bonus is this baby has only 18,400K on it, was serviced within an inch of “AGAIN you’re bringing it in for care???” in the time the first owner had it, Hondas have fabulous resale value, even years old and both of us are Honda fans.

So, back into the studio and off the arse!

Posted in FybreSpace the shop, Not so ordinaries

Return of the DogFaced Girl!

Posted on by arlee
Nessie, the DogFaced Girl is home! She faces doggie physio, lots of meds, massages and short short walks in the next few weeks, and REALLY wants to go shopping today to buy an inflatable post surgery collar–we *all* hate this one!!!!!!
She says a big thank you to all those who “chipped in” by buying Mom’s beautiful fabrics and art, and sends lots of Doggie Kisses to you Blossoms.
Posted in FybreSpace the shop

Shop update, fabric packs

Posted on by arlee

Who doesn’t love stitching in a cozy corner, especially when it’s snowy cold and grey outside?

 

 

So far, this what i have on hand, in the shop, and am hoping to get some new ideas implemented as well!

 

To that end, i’m having a dyefest in the next couple of days, to keep the stock replenished, for work for myself and because the DFG goes in tomorrow for her major knee surgery and i need to keep busy! The poor girl is very much a hopper right now to get out for her daily needs, (thankfully one step only into the backyard!) and the rest of the time is spent looking woefully at me as she positions herself at my feet (or as close as she can!) so i don’t “forget” her. We have the floor covered in blankets so she doesn’t slip, a petrifying possibility both in her mind and ours, and there’s not much for her to do as she of course is not interested in playing, can’t go for walks and is now on a diet. She will spend the night at the animal hospital and from what we understand, a few days after she comes home, will be going for short 5-10 minute walks (with a sling in my hand on her back end)–vets like their patients to get back at exercise as soon as possible too., It helps the bones heal faster, and improves the mental outlook too! Recovery is expected to be up to 10 weeks long, especially since she will then have a plate and pins in her right knee.

She’s SO patient, good natured and sweet, no matter what happens with her……………………………

Posted in Ecoprints and Natural Dyes, FybreSpace the shop, Indigo Dreams, Moons, Natural Dyes

Christmas 2020 Moons, UPDATED

Posted on by arlee

ALL are created as original works of art, from my own naturally dyed fabrics and threads, and then hand embroidered and beaded, as OOAK pieces. This year, many of the small pieces include a small easel for display, as they don’t do well on a wall, due to their delicacy. Dyes used include indigo, lac, madder, cochineal, quebracho rojo, marigolds, onion, eucalyptus, cutch, all done with historically accurate long lasting processes. Listings will commence Sunday, November 22nd.

If you see something you like, but it is sold out, i can approximate–remember, i said One of a Kind, but i do “series” also, so similar works can be produced. Please email me through the Contact page either on this blog or on the shop site.

Posted in Contextural Fibre Arts Co-operative, Crafting Art, FybreSpace the shop, Studio Realities

i’m hearing bells

Posted on by arlee

As mentioned in a previous post, i decided this year to participate for the second time with a local collective, Contextural Fibre Arts Co-operative. I did reasonably well the first time i joined in (2012) with ONE week to get stuff together! (I used the machine a lot then, and the majority of what i had was small very inexpensive textile art pins 🙂 ) This year i thought i was smart by signing up on the 11th of October for a Nov 21st date, but time got a wee bit lagged and dragged, and now i’m in the throes of panic *but* working the ol’ hoofies to the bone !

So, this year with the premise in mind that NO ONE is doing what i do, especially exclusively with natural dyes, here’s the various views of studio doings lately:

embroidery with naturally dyed threads

embroidery with naturally dyed threads

embroidered moon, naturally dyed threads and fabricsI have Organized Piles with Notes for slated work, fabrics picked out, some solid design sketches and some still in my head, labels, an inventory sheet, display ideas and display items, and am treating the whole as a Job. Yes, art can be a job, an enjoyable one, but the key IS discipline. Line it up, get her going then Go. Do.

I will have new work to show and sell, and promise the happy drool will be off my face 🙂 (Well, the happy will still be, but i promise no drool.) ALL Covid protocols will be in place to keep you safe, from masks and sanitizing, to distancing and contact trace info, limited numbers allowed in and (unfortunately) only one day this time to see the vast array our group has to offer in the way of unique textile arts and crafts, from wearables to gifties to Art. If you are in Calgary, or its environs–hey Alberta!—please share and spread the word!

Posted in FybreSpace the shop, Natural Dyes

big shop update

Posted on by arlee

A plethora of pretty! A lot of luscious! Candy dishes of cotton, loads of linen and va va va voom velvets! Come         on       down              (expansive hand and arm gestures)!

My work table is over burdened at the moment with naturally dyed cloth, and with the exception of a few pieces for my own work, and since i use only small small pieces 🙂 i truly am running out of room to store it.

My prices are more than reasonable. You get more than a couple of scraps and a dinky bit of lace or thread. You get dyes that last, that are done accurately with historical processes. No fugitive fadey colours in my studio! You even get money back if i charged too much for postage/shipping! (The initial charges may seem “high”, but i still charge a lot less than Etsy or the like, and ALWAYS refund the extra.)

I have  new listings in the shop, with more to come tomorrow—–after the Thanksgiving weekend dinner digest 🙂 EDIT: OCT 17/20 MORE LISTED.