There are probably as much recipes for indigo vats as there are for German potato salad, and its an art in itself to get a successful indigo vat going, the same applies to a good German potato salad. This time I started a vat with indigo powder (obviously), fructose and lime (calx).
The bronze surface appeared on the liquid, but only a few little blue bubbles (also called flower). I did a test to see if it worked.
after 2 dips, I did a little resist with a marble
take the marble out
voila, rinsed and dried
Next I dyed a white nuno felted scarf. I love the texture against the sun and the shade of blue. I find quite successful although I may dip it another couple of times to see if I can get deeper shades of blue.
Here are my latest eco prints, this time on pure (means 100%) silk. I have used eukalyptus leaves but also tried some New Zealand native trees and bushes (well, only the leaves).
Eukalyptus
Mingi Mingi
Mako Mako (my absolute favourite today)
Eukalyptus with Pohutukawa (stamens)
I will have a small selection on display (yes and for sale) in my studio at the Kapiti Arts Trail.
There is such a large variety of eucalyptus species and every eco print with those leaves will give different results, depending on the time of picking the leaves, the region, and the kind of water to simmer the bundles in. There is already so much written about it and I am not a scientist understanding the chemical side of eco printing, so I just did a little test with the same leaves dyed in the same pot, the same lengths of time, the same fabric (merino knit) . The only difference is that I soaked one fabric in iron water over night, the other not.
Deconstructive screenprint (DSP) is a technique developed by American fibre artist Kerr Grabowski, its a technique to apply dye on fabric with a silkscreen. This technique is more environment friendly because the thickener is a natural product called manutex, which is actually kelp. No toxic emulsion is needed to set up the screen. And its easy to clean. Disadvantage is that once the dye has “deconstructed” from the screen to the medium, a new screen has to be prepared. Therefore its more time consuming but results are always unique and cannot be repeated. If you are interested to learn more about this technique have a look at Kerr’s website.
I have done some tests on fabric (cotton works best) but also find it works beautiful on paper. So I gave it a go to do some unique little prints.
Anything flat with texture can be used to prepare the screen, like leaves, plastic bags, bubble wrap or string.
The prepared screen has to be completely dry before printing (in the image the thickener with added dye powder is still wet).
I was so excited with the finished prints, lovely colors, lovely texture.
Even the details look gorgeous.
Some of them will be available for sale in my studio on the Kāpiti Arts Trail.
HMNhttps://www.birgitmoffatt.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/LogoWhite_header-180x180.jpgHMN2015-10-08 08:46:202015-10-08 08:46:20Deconstructive screenprint on paper
I love that plant. Rangiora. I dont know why its called rangiora, but rangi means sky and ora life in te reo māori. I first noticed it because of its unusual leaf form.
Then I learnt that it has been used in rongoā, traditional māori medicine. And the first settlers used it as toilet paper because of the soft paper like underside of the leaf.
I tried eco print with rangiora, without much success. My friend Helena wrote me a German bread recipe on a leaf of Rangiora (and the bread is really yummy).
Because it has such lovely veins I tried to simple paint it with thickened dye and printed it on my brown paper bags, ready for the Kapiti Arts Trail.
HMNhttps://www.birgitmoffatt.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/LogoWhite_header-180x180.jpgHMN2015-09-25 17:22:362015-09-25 17:22:36Rangiora packaging for Arts Trail
First things first, after a few considerations I decided to give it a go and applied for the Kāpiti Arts Trail 2015. And got in! This will be the first time I open my new studio for the public and I just realized its only 6 weeks to go.
Here the key dates and further information from Kāpiti Coast District Council (KCDC), you can also download the official Kapiti Arts Guide. Dont miss out and having a browse to see what other amazing local artists have to offer. I am sure it will be a successful two weekends.
finished this April, celebrated with a studio warming and it looks so different now as it is in use…
And this it what it looks like in the Kāpiti Arts Guide
What is better than a walk on a beautiful clear morning? Technically it is still winter but signs of spring showing everywhere! Plus the sounds of the birds and the smell of moist crisp forest air…
Cannot describe the feelings but I guess that is a form of belonging. Kia ora Aotearoa!
Confluent 2015 exhibition opening this Friday! This is an annual collaboration between local poets and artists.
Join and enjoy poems and art works in different media over a beer or wine and some nibbles!
This is a taster of my work reflecting on a poem of Hal Gimpelson.
https://www.birgitmoffatt.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/LogoWhite_header-180x180.jpg00HMNhttps://www.birgitmoffatt.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/LogoWhite_header-180x180.jpgHMN2015-08-11 19:03:102015-08-11 19:03:10Poet Meets Artist
As part of the Matariki Celebrations on the Kapiti Coast environmental jeweller JoAnna Mere and myself were weaving stars with kids using Harakeke (New Zealand flax). Matariki is the Māori name for a cluster of stars (the Pleiades), which arise in mid winter. Matariki symbolize the start of the Māori new year, the end of the harvest, when food was abundant but is also a time to remember the deceased.
In Māori language matariki means “eyes of god”.
For me it was the first time to give a workshop with kids but surprisingly enough those little ones were really lovely, keen on learning, and all of them left happily with a woven star and more ideas to follow up at home. Thanks to JoAnna for this experience and to Mahara Gallery, the initiators and hosts of this event.
HMNhttps://www.birgitmoffatt.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/LogoWhite_header-180x180.jpgHMN2015-07-12 19:51:142015-07-12 19:51:14Matariki Star Weaving workshop at Mahara Gallery
Wintertime is snuggle time, it has to be warm and cosy inside. I made these snuggeries from harakeke (NZ flax) and red hot poker pulp which I harvested and stored in the freezer earlier this year.
HMNhttps://www.birgitmoffatt.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/LogoWhite_header-180x180.jpgHMN2015-06-28 15:43:012015-06-28 15:43:01handmade paper snuggeries
so so blue Indigo
There are probably as much recipes for indigo vats as there are for German potato salad, and its an art in itself to get a successful indigo vat going, the same applies to a good German potato salad. This time I started a vat with indigo powder (obviously), fructose and lime (calx).
The bronze surface appeared on the liquid, but only a few little blue bubbles (also called flower). I did a test to see if it worked.
after 2 dips, I did a little resist with a marble
take the marble out
voila, rinsed and dried
Next I dyed a white nuno felted scarf. I love the texture against the sun and the shade of blue. I find quite successful although I may dip it another couple of times to see if I can get deeper shades of blue.
eco print time
Here are my latest eco prints, this time on pure (means 100%) silk. I have used eukalyptus leaves but also tried some New Zealand native trees and bushes (well, only the leaves).
Eukalyptus
Mingi Mingi
Mako Mako (my absolute favourite today)
Eukalyptus with Pohutukawa (stamens)
I will have a small selection on display (yes and for sale) in my studio at the Kapiti Arts Trail.
eukalyptus on merino knit
There is such a large variety of eucalyptus species and every eco print with those leaves will give different results, depending on the time of picking the leaves, the region, and the kind of water to simmer the bundles in. There is already so much written about it and I am not a scientist understanding the chemical side of eco printing, so I just did a little test with the same leaves dyed in the same pot, the same lengths of time, the same fabric (merino knit) . The only difference is that I soaked one fabric in iron water over night, the other not.
This is the fabric not soaked.
This is the fabric soaked.
Which do you like better?
Deconstructive screenprint on paper
Deconstructive screenprint (DSP) is a technique developed by American fibre artist Kerr Grabowski, its a technique to apply dye on fabric with a silkscreen. This technique is more environment friendly because the thickener is a natural product called manutex, which is actually kelp. No toxic emulsion is needed to set up the screen. And its easy to clean. Disadvantage is that once the dye has “deconstructed” from the screen to the medium, a new screen has to be prepared. Therefore its more time consuming but results are always unique and cannot be repeated. If you are interested to learn more about this technique have a look at Kerr’s website.
I have done some tests on fabric (cotton works best) but also find it works beautiful on paper. So I gave it a go to do some unique little prints.
Anything flat with texture can be used to prepare the screen, like leaves, plastic bags, bubble wrap or string.
The prepared screen has to be completely dry before printing (in the image the thickener with added dye powder is still wet).
I was so excited with the finished prints, lovely colors, lovely texture.
Even the details look gorgeous.
Some of them will be available for sale in my studio on the Kāpiti Arts Trail.
Rangiora packaging for Arts Trail
I love that plant. Rangiora. I dont know why its called rangiora, but rangi means sky and ora life in te reo māori. I first noticed it because of its unusual leaf form.
Then I learnt that it has been used in rongoā, traditional māori medicine. And the first settlers used it as toilet paper because of the soft paper like underside of the leaf.
I tried eco print with rangiora, without much success. My friend Helena wrote me a German bread recipe on a leaf of Rangiora (and the bread is really yummy).
Because it has such lovely veins I tried to simple paint it with thickened dye and printed it on my brown paper bags, ready for the Kapiti Arts Trail.
Finished. Hope to print a new batch soon…
Kāpiti Arts Trail 2015
First things first, after a few considerations I decided to give it a go and applied for the Kāpiti Arts Trail 2015. And got in! This will be the first time I open my new studio for the public and I just realized its only 6 weeks to go.
Here the key dates and further information from Kāpiti Coast District Council (KCDC), you can also download the official Kapiti Arts Guide. Dont miss out and having a browse to see what other amazing local artists have to offer. I am sure it will be a successful two weekends.
Spring?
What is better than a walk on a beautiful clear morning? Technically it is still winter but signs of spring showing everywhere! Plus the sounds of the birds and the smell of moist crisp forest air…
Cannot describe the feelings but I guess that is a form of belonging. Kia ora Aotearoa!
Poet Meets Artist
Confluent 2015 exhibition opening this Friday! This is an annual collaboration between local poets and artists.
Join and enjoy poems and art works in different media over a beer or wine and some nibbles!
This is a taster of my work reflecting on a poem of Hal Gimpelson.
Matariki Star Weaving workshop at Mahara Gallery
As part of the Matariki Celebrations on the Kapiti Coast environmental jeweller JoAnna Mere and myself were weaving stars with kids using Harakeke (New Zealand flax). Matariki is the Māori name for a cluster of stars (the Pleiades), which arise in mid winter. Matariki symbolize the start of the Māori new year, the end of the harvest, when food was abundant but is also a time to remember the deceased.
In Māori language matariki means “eyes of god”.
For me it was the first time to give a workshop with kids but surprisingly enough those little ones were really lovely, keen on learning, and all of them left happily with a woven star and more ideas to follow up at home. Thanks to JoAnna for this experience and to Mahara Gallery, the initiators and hosts of this event.
Happy kids
handmade paper snuggeries
Wintertime is snuggle time, it has to be warm and cosy inside. I made these snuggeries from harakeke (NZ flax) and red hot poker pulp which I harvested and stored in the freezer earlier this year.
Harakeke and linen fibres
Red hot poker
Harakeke and red hot poker