Happy Canada Day

 To celebrate this amazing country, I have listed a new journal in my Etsy shop today ... with a hand stitched maple leaf adorning the cover. This is a raw silk journal cover that can be removed to be used on other journals or books of the same size (7" x 10" x 1/2"). The pink-orange piece of eco printed raw silk has been dyed with madder and the threads are variegated in the same colour family. The big red bead that is the closure is a vintage Chinese bead that was a gift from a friend ... it seems like such a beautiful way to complete this journal.

https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/704387566/eco-print-raw-silk-journal-textile-art?ref=shop_home_activ...

I am a venor at Celista Pottery Show

I am delighted to have been invited to be a guest artist at the Celista Pottery Show/Sale this year.  This is an amazing show and this is the 35th year! Come and visit me if you are in the Shuswap area  July 20 and 21, 10-4.

I've been published

My eco print journals have been featured in the SUMMER 2019 edition of ART QUILTING STUDIO magazine. 

Lots of Eco Prints

With the abundance of fresh leaves available at this time of the year, I have been doing lots of eco printing ... scarves and journals dominate my collection, but greeting cards and other things are also being created.  Here are a few photos.

Journal Cover on Vintage Handwoven Linen

This journal cover was SO nice to stitch on as the fabric is a dream to needle.  The raggedy bits of eco print fabric have been layered and stitched with hand dyed and commercial threads.  The big wood button is a piece of a birch branch and is made by my friend Don Chambers.

The notebooks that I am using for these journals are beautifully made in Canada and available at Costco, so can be replaced quite easily when they are full.

This is now available in my Etsy shop https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/678364113/eco-print-handmade-journal-textile-art?ref=shop_home_active_1

Neddle Books for Sewists

Even the tiniest of pieces of eco print fabric can be used in the creating of these little needle books ... the perfect place for sewing needles to stay safely hidden.


The base fabric of these books is wool fabric that was dyed with red onion skins, iron and cutch to create  a warm caramel brown. The inside pages are the same wool but it has been eco printed with leaves from my garden. On the outer surface, other pieces of eco printed cotton fabric are layered with a piece of vintage lace that was also dyed in the cutch dye bath. Hand dyed and commercial threads have been used to sew the pieces together and create a splendid texture on the surface.

 

French knots and vintage lace

You will find an occasional bead or button on the surface and bits of thread that pull away from the cotton material to create a soft edge.

Approximately 4" x 6" in size, these are the perfect size to slip into your sewing box or leave out on your favourite side table while you are hand stitching.


The colours in these pieces range from warm caramel through gold and cream with some charcoal and a touch of green from some of the plants used.

The use of little scraps of eco print fabric was inspired this week by Rita Summers of Australia, who has been working with similar bits and pieces. You can find her at Gone Rustic Gallery in Hobart, Tasmania.

French knots and tiny copper beads