Dyeing scarves in the backyard

When I went to Confluence (the Surface Design Association's conference) in June,  I bought some quick setting ColorHue silk dyes. Here are my first attempts at dyeing silk chiffon scarves. You can buy the dyes at www.SilkDyes.com.

India Flint: Inspiring Speaker at Confluence

I'm at the Surface Design Association conference, Confluence, and this morning India Flint was a speaker. She uses natural dyes from plants found on her walks and wanderings in Australia. Her work is astounding. Here's a sample.

Eucalyptus Prints from India Flint

She gave a wonderful talk and recited my favorite poem from Mary Oliver, The Summer Day.

The Summer Day

Mary Oliver

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean-
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do

with your one wild and precious life?

Heading out of town to Confluence: Surface Design Conference

I'm leaving town tomorrow for Chicago and then to Minneapolis for Confluence. It's a conference put on by the Surface Design Association and will be four days of fiber arts, craft, design, speakers and creative frenzy. I can't wait. More details to come.

Inspiration: Mixed Media Artist Christine Sauer

I'm planning to attend Confluence, a conference put on the the Surface Design Association. I was looking through their member gallery and came across the work of Christine Sauer. It's wonderful. She uses crochet, freehand stitching, embroidery and machine stitching. Visit her website to see more of her great work. www.christinesauer.com

Mixed Media Contstruction by Christine Sauer