Eucalyptus dyeing and wandering thoughts

 It was a beautiful morning so the dye pot had to make an appearance. I had planted a eucalyptus in the garden about three years ago, it wasn't happy but this year it has really taken off. I don't want it growing large so I pruned it yesterday, probably the wrong time of the year but it needs holding back a bit. My garden isn't huge. Anyway three scarves in the pot, two silk jersey cowls and one cotton scarf.

My studio table is looking a mess, my excuse is that this is all work related and actually most of it is.
I am now on Instagram, twice accidentally and I don't know how to remove the wrong one, I think you will find me under djpawle, still learning this slightly mysterious to me app, I don't think I am ever going to become tech savvy, I am also on Pinterest twice, how did I do that?

Jenny Leigh

Yesterday I went to a talk by an artist I have only recently discovered Jenny Leigh. I think many of you who look at my blog would like her work. Her talk was fascinating and very moving as is her work. Check her out at https://www.jennyleigh.co.uk/ Its her more recent work on totems and tokens of gratitude that I am particularly drawn to.

Gardens of the Heart

My contribution to the Gardens of the Heart project by India Flint for h.ART.  My line says 'and through the wood the wandering path'. Each participant is stitching a line of poetry, which will be stitched together with two other lines to make a three line poem. None of us know the contributions of others the results should be fascinating.
Follow this link to find out more about it http://prophet-of-bloom.blogspot.com/2018/02/gardens-of-heart.html

Small steps

 The cleaning up of the driftwood is progressing slowly, there are some lovely colours which will be brought out when I reach the waxing stage.

The beginning of my weaving for The Quilt Show at the NEC next year where I am taking part in a joint exhibition. The piece uses nettle and plant dyed british wool yarn. Certain similarities in shaping to the driftwood perhaps.

Before

I have made a start, the browner pieces are where I have started
removing loose bark

 I am just starting on a new driftwood piece, it occurred to me that I don't take photos of what the pieces look like before the clean up so here are a few pictures.

Some of the debris

The fibrous bits are from the layer under the bark and are quite
wet. There are odd spots of green mould.

I am weaving some of the fibrous bits on a very small loom while they are still damp, an experiment.
There after photos may not appear for some time, it will depend on weather and my available time. Both pieces will probably go in next year's West Country Quilt and Textile show at the end of August.

Sort of sad

This is the piece of work I made on India Flint's course a few years ago in Horsley, Gloucestershire. It was a lovely time with good companions and an amazing teacher in a beautiful peaceful setting. This cloth is important to me as a reminder of that time. There is also a photo of it in the Blurb book India put together of students work 'On a Wandering Wind'. The little beastie clothes moths have been feasting on it, this upset me but it also gives me an opportunity to work on the cloth again and add some remnants to make it whole again and maybe to bring back memories.

Update of West Country Quilt and Textile Show

Exhausting first day at the festival, lots of very positive comments and the offer of a gallery space to take the exhibition forward.

Planted dyed recycled cotton with african symbols

Above Kuba cloth, below my interpretation,
leather on bark cloth

Piece made from african fabric and cowrie shells
all sourced from The African Fabric Shop

Weavings

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View of stand and my work

View of stand and Liz Hewitt's work