GLORIOUS GAZANIAS

Whilst much of my garden is struggling with the heat the Gazanias have been positively dancing in the sunshine. The colour combinations are too many to show but I hope you like the selection that I have chosen today.

Their name comes from the Latin 'gaza' which translates to treasure, or riches, in allusion to the large and gaudy flowers. The name suits them well indeed, each one a little treasure that  makes me smile.

I have finished my larger abstract pieces and will now need to decide on how to mount them to best effect. I'm really not a fan of raw edges unless it's machine embroidery or is warranted by the work so I will probably opt for a cut mount to give a crisp clean finish. Photographs give the viewer absolutely no idea of size so after a quick measure I can tell you that each piece is approximately 25cm x 65cm which was the largest size I could manage for fitting comfortably under the sewing machine. 

I just love bold, sweeping statements full of ambition and intent – except perhaps when it is one of my own. Reference my last post and I quote “I hope to amass enough work to keep me busy through the winter months.....” So far I have had four Eco Dyeing sessions but very little to show for it as I seem to have used virtually everything!!

The last session was a painstaking process due to the sheer volume of insects and especially spiders hiding amongst the foliage;  I did of course keep stopping to remove and relocate the little beasties to a better place but unbeknown to myself at the time the spiders were quietly relocating themselves to the relative safety of my kitchen ceiling, and what a collection they are up there!

I am beginning to understand more about the colour combinations that can be achieved with different natural mordants and the dye baths in which the tied bundles of foliage and papers are boiled in. There are so many variables in the equation also like pre soaking papers before use, the time of year, condition of the foliage and so on. I am keeping notes on the the recipes that I am using to learn more but think it will be a never ending story. I suspect the permutations will be as many as a good mathematical formulae would predict and will endeavour to keep going until my garden is bare of foliage and the autumn leaves have fallen. 

So far my stash has been used to make a few different sizes of concertina books. They are very nice to hold and play with as they unfold and undulate across the table but not very practical for actually using. I have more cut more book pages which are ready to be stitched and will incorporate a variety of plain pages for writing / sketching on. 

Lastly, I have made some little card packs including a bookmark and gift tags for future birthdays. The dyed papers were wonderfully dark and autumnal ( a happy accident from over the zealous use of rusty water!) and I double mounted them on a softer paper that had been dipped and dyed to match. These were so enjoyable to work on, I can't wait to try some more.

If you are on my birthday list look away now!!!

Some of the cards above and below paired with bookmarks and tags.