Tuesday 11 May 2010

Thinking Yellow

Hello. It seems like I have little to show of my own work of late. Maybe that is because my own work is slow, and takes a while to mature into fruition.

I have been busy with natural dye baths. Firstly, I dried out almost spent daffodils then boiled them into a dye pot using an alum mordant. Initially I had dyed angora, bamboo, merino, silk nuno gauze and silk tussah. The colours were very vibrant and enriching. However when I tried making nuno felt, it just did not work. After three failed attempts I started to doubt my own ability to make felt. I thought I had had time off and just lost the knack. Do you ever feel that way? It was a real crisis of confidence.

I had also tried dyeing barberry bark with the same alum mordant. Again, the colour had come out fantastically, but attempts to nuno felt were less than successful.

I had a Spring crafty swap with Nicola from Clasheen so I really had to put aside my felting doubts and create something that was spring inspired.

I created this nuno felted scarf using white nuno gauze, angora, lilac dyed merino, daffodil dyed bamboo and silk tussah.

I had recently bought some embroidery books. One, taught me how to use shisha mirrors. The mirrors seemed perfect for Spring, the dew, and the April showers.

Yellow can be such a gentle, yet inspiring colour.


And a wee while ago, I bought this limited edition print for my little girl from Joanne May. Isn't it magical! It really does radiate sunlight and cheer the soul. Thank you Jo x

36 comments:

Poetic Artist said...

Your work is so beautiful..You must have a lot of patience. So So beautiful.

Art4Sol said...

Yes that is a beautiful, soft yellow and it looks like you added some stitchery....I think you had a very productive day! Wishing you the best!

Tammie Lee said...

Oh your died pieces are gorgeous! So yummy. You have not lost your touch as far as I can see, but I must say I do know that feeling and in so many aspects of my life. I love your embroidery and mirror work! wow.
And Jo.x's art is funtastically wonderful! I bet your little girl enjoys it. xo

The Strawberry Mallard said...

How lovely! Oh if only I could master that art!

lynne h said...

jasmine, this scarf is so soft and beautiful. so representative of spring... and i love the top photo of your fabric hanging on the line. the colorful clothespins, your fabric, and your green yard! xo

Yvette said...

Jasmine...fantastic! So soft and eyeteasing(english word?)

I'm going to look up thar mirror stich..
Have you seen sharon B's blog...and pintangle...(in my blogrol)

Heather Woollove said...

I absolutely LOVE the scarf you made for Nicola.
I can completely understand the anxiety associated with being paired up with such an amazing felter, but you did yourself proud!!

Ginga Squid said...

I love the photo of all your yellows drying on the washing line!
Beautiful work - I love the incorporation of the mirrors into your felt!

florcita said...

I love that scarf! I saw it on Flickr ad I thought it was fantastic. The sheeshah mirrors are a very cool touch!

Shadow said...

your creativity astounds me...

CJ STITCHING AND BLOOMS said...

Hello My Friend, I really like the color yellow. It is bright and cheerful. I see your have been experimenting with natural dyes again. Lovely shades of yellow. Your felting projects are always inspirational. Love them. Hugs Judy

Fiona said...

Your work is beautiful. That scarf is to die (dye) for.

patricia said...

Yellow is a wonderful colour, it can be strong and energyful but also pale and delicate (just a matter of tones and values?) The yellow you´ve achieved for the scarf is beautiful for me, because it´s soft and gentle (felt´s texture adds a lot of sensations to colour), but yet you can feel the promise of strength and warmth coming, like Spring sun.
The little mirrows look fantastic. I love them. I have a little bag with mirrows, it delights me the way they sparkle outdoors.
Going through failed attemps is hard, for me. One has to learn to accept them as part of the process, but it´s hard. I get very upset, and very angry with myself. But one has to learn to handle those "negative states" that failed attempts arise inside and go ahead -that´s the most difficult point when making. But the happiness and joy of being able to make things real pays those tears, doesn´t it? Hugs, Jasmine, it´s a beautiful post. :)

Jasmine said...

Poetic artist - Thank you so much. I don't always feel patient :)

Art4sol - Thank you. Have a wonderful and inspiring week.

Tammie - Thank you. My little girl loves the picture. Every girl needs a little magic in their day right! :) x

The Strawberry Mallard - Hello again. If you ever want to learn please feel free to ask as many questions as you like. I think everyone would be a little happier if they could make felt :) Nicole writes some lovely tutorials over at Clasheen.

Hi Lynne. Thank you. I love that picture of your feet and toes. It makes me smile to see it x

Hey Yvette - I'll be sure to go visit your friend. I don't think that I know her already.

Here is a nice sheesha mirror tutorial for you.

http://www.joyfulabode.com/2008/02/12/tutorial-indian-shisha-mirror-embroidery/

Sending love xx

Heather - Thank you! I was worried. Nicola's work is fab isn't it! All of the work in the Flkr group is so inspiring. So much talent there. I am glad that you visited me here for now I have found your lovely felty blog :)

Ginga - Thank you. I have been looking at your website. i love the way you use the gemstones with your felt. Very beautiful.

Florcita - Thank you! Some of the best spring photo's have droplets of rain in them. Sheesha seemed the best way to capture that . Its fun to sew into felt sometimes. Gives me an excuse to sit and hold the felt :)

Hey Shadow, good to see you again x

Hello Judy - Good to see you back again. Natures colours are spectacular. I found the samples of naturally dyed wool that you sent to me last year so beautiful I had to learn how to do it myself. Thank you xx

Fiona - You made me smile :) x

Aleph - I feel the same about mirrors. I love the way they mingle with the light and bounce the light around so playfully. I hang crystals in my windows for similar reasons. It is so uplifting for the spirit to see the light dance and move casting spectrums across the room. So energising.

We can be our own worst critics when things don't go as we expect them to can't we! xJ

Theresa MacNaughton said...

What beautiful shades of yellow - so soft and buttery. The scarf you created is exquisite, and I adore the gentle embroidered pattern on it. I am sure it will be well-loved! Theresa

brandi said...

~such a warm delicate scarf you have made...your work is always such a fascinating process to read about and see...well worth the time waiting for ...and i too l♥ve the mirrors pieces on it...and joanne may is such a delightful artist...warm wishes and brightest blessings~

Martine said...

Your beautiful yellows are exactly what i need on this cold mayday. They warm me up and your scarf is wonderful.
Yes i know what you mean with crisis of confidence, have been there often. Lately i prefer nunofelting and afterwards dying the completed piece. No more worries.
XXXm

Caio Fern said...

you got such wonderful colors . usualy i don't like yellow tons , but you made it beautiful .
i couldn't resist to peep your backyard a little bit :D i am so curious , and it seens lovely and magic . so you .

Shayna said...

Jasmine~ how beautiful, the colors and textures hanging on your clothes line. And what you've done with the sheesha mirrors - this is a magnificent piece you've created - perfect for the "dew", I love that. Your daughter must be thrilled with the amazing artwork of Joanne May - yes, it is magical! xo

ArtSparker said...

The scarf is stunning, the mirrors are like pools and the embroidery is like little streams.

Titus said...

I love all the pieces of cloth on the line to dry! It looks like summer.
And well done on the perseverance and final production of the scarf. Beautiful!

Jo Potter said...

Hi Jasmine,
Your sunshine yellow scarf is stunning and it looks so soft and warm. We still need scarves at the moment, it's still quite cold!
Your etsy shop is looking good. I have just visited it... All the colours look really beautiful.:)
Many thanks for the little mention on this post.
Luckily I stopped by or I could have missed this!
Recently I have been on and off line. My internet connection is not good, living in a village. It drives me mad!:(
Anyway, lovely to finally catch up with you again and I'm so pleased your little girl loves the fairy picture. Thanks again for buying the print.
Hugs to you both.:)
Jo.xx

Juliette Crane said...

i just love stopping by your blog and seeing your amazing work! and it is so wonderful to learn more about your process. that print is so magical! thank you for being so inspiring! have a magical day :)

xoxo, juliette

Deborah said...

I don't think you've lost your touch. Your cloth is beautiful.

Beverly Ash Gilbert said...

Gorgeous, gorgeous yellows! Your hanging fabrics remind me of one of my favorite Anthropologie window displays - they had yards of fabric strips tied on a line, moving from one color to another...

Debby said...

Gorgeous, love the colors. And your new print and is fabulous.
debby

Unknown said...

the colors are so pretty and I love that they come from nature....I love the scarf.....Your work is beautiful as always...melinda

Sandra said...

I do love these lovely yellows! And I glad your crises is over. But mu experience is that these crises help us to develop further and further with our works.

XXX

BluMoon said...

Wow what gorgeous yellow I love this piece and the little mirrors are an inspiration.
Jackie

Gwen Buchanan said...

Hi there... all this experimenting with these wonderful materials is so inspiring.. and gorgeous!!

Robin said...

Such beautiful soft shades of yellow.

I don't work with textiles, but as I photographer I can certainly understand your recent crisis of faith - sometimes it's very hard to just keep breathing and move forward.

Crafty Green Poet said...

Your scarf is gorgoues, wjhat lovely texture and colour. I love the winged hare, how cute!

Laura said...

Your piece came out beautifully after all! The struggle is what allows us to really brake through the tight bud and blossom!

Sparklyjools said...

This really is delightful Jasmine, such a soft, buttery colour and I love the shisha mirror work. Inspired!

I'm so glad you have found your muse again, they just wander off by themselves sometimes I find and cause you all sorts of problems, then they pop back with too many ideas! Jules x

Carol Anne Strange said...

Just catching up on your blog, Jasmine. Love those soft yellows and your scarf creation. Also lovely to see Jo May's magical print. Bright wishes, dear one. xx

Clare Wassermann said...

Yes I love embroidering on to felt too. Your results with the scarf are wonderful. Thank you for the idea on my blog about using rhubarb and onion skins as a dye by-product of chutney!!!