Not weaving but drowning

Actually that is rather an exaggeration but I am having trouble coming up with ideas for larger pieces, the tapestry and the stitched piece are both based on patching and are for the upcoming exhibition with Liz Hewitt, Rusted, Weathered and Worn.
The tapestry is in different shades of grey with a fine maroon line between each patch, difficult to see, this is the first larger piece I have started.
The stitched piece will probably be a cushion cover and is made from an old linen skirt backed with part of an old sheet, which is a joy to stitch, very soft.

Burnt offerings

Silk noil and silk mix thread

Well what can I say, I had beautiful colour when I turned the dye pot off but I hadn't turned it off at the mains so for some reason it decided to carry on cooking, all night. The yellow shade is a bit darker than these photos.
I can still use these but they are not the lovely yellow I was expecting.
The process I followed was mainly from Jenny Dean's book Wild Colour, it does all get a bit smelly so I would advise doing it outside if you can.
The daffodil season is over so I have a whole year to wait to try it again.

My new dye garden

New dye garden

 I now have a small patch for dye plants and have already sown seeds of tagetes and purple carrot. Weld seeds are growing in my cold frame. My one and only woad plant is just coming into flower so I will harvest seed from that later in the year.
I had some indigo plants in here last year but they didn't flower in time to survive the frosts.

Woad nearly in flower

Quince flower

Daffodils in soak

Below is a flower on the quince tree I planted last year which is in the same flower bed.

























I have been collecting daffodil flowers from various family member's gardens. These have been in soak for a couple of days in an aluminium pan and a good colour is developing. So watch this space for the results. I don't have a lot of dye so will probably just try some threads.
Dandelions will be next, they are taking over my lawn, and then I want to try Rosemary of which I have loads. I have lots of flowers in the garden which I want to try, dark colour tulips worked well last year, as did blue iris and a shrub whose name has completely escaped me at the moment.
Exciting times.

Spring nights

The sun last night at 7pm uk time, just hanging

Cowslips, photo taken at the same time, gradually naturalising
in the front garden.

Rust, weathered and worn

Leaf print

Tea and Rust

Sun flares

Some more work for our exhibition, I forgot to take photos before I framed two of these so sorry for the reflections. The skeleton leaf is a print, something I learnt at an Alice Fox course http://www.alicefox.co.uk and then had a fun day practicing with my friend Liz Hewitt. The picture includes the original leaf.
The weaving is a small piece with rusty pieces and tea stained.
The last photo is another reassembled bark cloth piece and rusted cotton piece.

A bit sandy

 The disadvantages of living opposite a beach. Storm Doris is doing its worst, blowing sand and sand whirlwinds have been travelling along the road all day. Still we got off lightly, no fallen trees or bits of buildings, just sand in your hair, in your teeth and through any gap in the doors or windows. I can write my name in the sand on the windowsill.

The patio back of the house

The lawn

Part of the drive

Here's something I made earlier

New version (square)

On the right a piece I made a few years ago from rusted cotton and rusted yarn on bark cloth. Last week I worked up the courage to cut it up into strips and alter it.  I used Jude Hill's method of woven patchwork. This meant I lost some of the stitching but managed to save some odd woven bits to use for cards.
 I have consolidated the piece by adding new stitching. New piece on the left, I will try and get a better photo sometime. this piece will be framed.

Old version (long and thin)

This is from another piece I am cutting up. This is complete as it is and will also be framed,  I will then use the rest of the original for another piece.















Detail of another piece I have just finished which is made up from old denim pieces I have kept over the years. It is a wall piece or throw.

At the moment I am into stitching I am sure I will be weaving again soon so will update on the branch piece soon. Not the best photos but the weather has been very dull.