Sley the Dent

Last week, I got to participate in Indigo Dye Day at the home of a member of the Weavers’ Guild of Boston.  (Thanks Deb!!)  It was such a beautiful day and it was great to see everyone. There were huge vats of indigo for the cellulose fibers and vats for the wool fibers. Indigo is such a smelly and magical dye. I brought one cotton inkle warp, one large piece of cotton fabric, and seven silk scarves. All these were stitched, tied, bound, or wrapped (aka Shibori) to produce resist designs, places where the blue indigo dye would not attach itself to the fibers.  (Click the pics for a larger view.)

Here is my Leaves scarf, sewn and bound, before dyeing.

Here is the scarf after dyeing.

Here is half the completed scarf. I really like how it came out.

You can see the other pieces in my deviantART gallery.

What a great way to start the day, with a message that someone has included my handwovens in their Etsy Treasury! Shibori artist mysouldesigns has gathered a lush green Treasury collection. And the very prolific NutfieldWeaver reminds us all that July is national Baked Bean month, who knew?!

Hi everybody… It’s been a dark unproductive spring here at Sley the Dent. Real life Dementors have been sucking all the happiness and creativity out of me.
But, as with Spring, there is hope. We got the vegetable garden planted and the little seeds are growing. I can’t wait for warm red tomatoes, corn on the cob, and sweet potatoes. (If we can eat them before the deer, rabbits, Japanese beetles, squash bugs, and raccoons do.)

Etsy has created a new Treasury system, Treasury EAST. These Treasuries never go away… they don’t expire. So, if you’d like to see what I think is beautiful and creative on Etsy, pop over to my list.

Of course, I’m partial to handwovens and other textiles, but did you know I love, love, love pottery? I just received two awesome coffee mugs from Elizabeth Sawyer. There is just something wonderful about holding and using something handmade.
Another of my favorite potters is Paula of Wallace Hill Pottery. Can I brag and say we’re related…I don’t thing we really are, but our family trees are in the same forest. Over the years I have seen her style evolve – her work is lovely.

MadrigalEmbroidery has kindly included me in her Etsy Treasury. It is a collection of beautiful illustrations, colorful photography, and some great upcycled crafts.

How nice to be included in this LUSH Etsy Treasury.
Tisserande assembled this collection. She weaves gorgeous shawls and scarves.