Last weekend I went to a plant pounding morning at our local library. Basically we experimented with different plants on paper (and in my case on fabric - of course!!!). Choose a plant or leaf and place it on the fabric then place a piece of kitchen paper towel over the top and pound with a hammer so the juices come out and stain your fabric. Some left great impressions and some not so good.... Remove the pounded plant and lay another down. It's important not to try and do a whole lot at once so that you can layer the stains.....
The three on the right I actually folded the fabric in 3 and you can see there was easily enough plant dye to go through.... the lower one being a bit more faint (and I think nicer)
I have given them a good hot iron but I have no idea how waterresistant these dyes are, nor if the colours will stay a good colour ....
This week I took one of them and started stitching over it..... I am making a fabric card and wanted to try different techniques for it.... quite arty farty of me isn't it????
I am busy quilting, and whilst I can't show off other peoples work I can show this back... There were some blocks needing custom quilting and then a lot of all over and this flower gives a lovely texture and isn't too tight....
This is one of my own... a small baby quilt.....
When I pin my quilts I like listening to a good story (it's quite a boring part of the quilting process but necessary for a good result) I'm enjoying this Fiona McIntosh novel....
I did some fun double loops in the central part of the quilt....
... and some playful ribbon loops round the border.... I'll be binding it in the same blue as that peeper/flange .....
This is the first of a series of Christmas stitcheries that I am doing when I need some hand stitching requiring no hard choices of thread colour etc!! The pattern is from SewHappyMe and this is the second time I have made it ....
Righto, Gotto Go, I have another quilt ready and pinned - time to play!!
You can get some great results from flower pounding - yours look very pretty and using the fabric for cards is a great idea. I remember doing some years ago. As always your quilting looks amazing! xx
ReplyDeleteThe plant dying looks interesting....
ReplyDeleteThe results of the plant pounding look very interesting and a fabulous idea for original cards. Lovely quilting and a sweet Christmas stitchery. Have fun playing xcx
ReplyDeleteFlower pounding looks like fun......a few years ago there was a craze here for making silk scarves, and a bright blue iris was the flower chosen because it transferred colour so well.
ReplyDeleteThat is so interesting! Plants were used eons ago for dyeing so I can't see why they wouldn't work. I love the dragonfly stitchery over it. Beautiful quilting as always xx
ReplyDeletelove your pounding flowers--I did some a couple years ago--but did not get as creative as you are--way to go--your other projects are lovely too--
ReplyDeleteenjoy the moments, di
Never heard of flower pounding before so I'm happy you explained the process. It does make very interesting and beautiful background for you wonderful stitchery. Then again, YOU could stitch the phone book and it would look wonderful. Gosh! I love the dragonfly. WOW. Enjoy! ;^)
ReplyDeleteLove seeing your flower pounding results, what a novel idea, but very good mix as so many quilters love to garden, so I can see this "taking off". Beautiful quilting.
ReplyDeleteLove your flower pounding. Interesting idea. The dragonfly is beautiful. The quilting is gorgeous & love the Christmas stitching. Hugs,xx
ReplyDeleteGreat idea that flower pounding, would love to have a go at it. Very arty farty of you stitching the dragon fly!! 😀 looks amazing. The Christmas stitchery is beautiful, you are good getting organised early!! The baby quilt looks beautiful too.
ReplyDeleteI am really impressed with the amount of colour that resulted from the plant pounding. That is very effective. Love the idea of stitching over it, too.
ReplyDeleteThe quilting on both projects looks great. I do agree about the pinning being boring. I try to have something on the TV that I have recorded to keep my mind occupied.
Very clever of you, impressive dying technique and lovely stitchery happening xx
ReplyDeleteWow the plant pounding sounds like an interesting way to make some nice fabric. Your fabric looks amazing under the stitchery you are doing! Certainly does look like you have had a busy week.
ReplyDeleteLove what you've done with the plant pounding, can't wait to see the card
ReplyDeletebeautiful work my friend,well done.
ReplyDeleteThe stitchery looks great over the flower dye/stains...your quilting is looking good...love the stitchery - there's nothing quite like Redwork and Christmas stitcheries to make you feel good.
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