duck bucket sewing

Red wine experiments: wool, cotton jersey (I think), and silk with an alum mordant. I like them. Not sure how well they'd hold up after a wash, but I'm going to pretend that's not a problem. (And it was bad wine! We were going to throw it out anyway. Really.)

Experimental dyeing with tansy: They're not quite dry and still a little blotchy. I think I'm most excited about two in the middle, especially the lemon-yellow linen with an alum mordant and tin afterdip (third from left at the top), and the dark gray (looks black in the photo) cotton jersey with alum and an iron afterdip (fourth from the left at the top). Note to self: Iron darkens everything and tin brightens everything. Also, the cotton jersey took the dye surprisingly well. I've always heard that cotton doesn't take natural dyes well at all, and my first dyeing experiments with your standard white Gildan t-shirts didn't really work...but this is Alabama Chanin jersey, so maybe the fact that it's organic had something to do with it. (It is awfully soft.) I actually love the dark gray so much that I'm dyeing up an AC remnant with the tansy/iron mix right now. I hope there's enough to make a t-shirt. Also, I'm messing arou...

MPB Day! We (Peter, my husband Tom, Lisa, James, Kate, and a few others) met at Blue Dog Coffee in the morning. I love their iced coffee, but the dude forgot our orders! Also I don't have a picture of Lisa's dress this year. Sad. At the flea market, I found this amazing Hussein Chalayan jacket at the flea market. (With attached hat!) Full disclosure: I've been fascinated with Hussein Chalayan since I saw this article . It makes me want to get the basics down so I can make excellent modular clothing. He's amazing. (Did I already say that? I did. Well, there you go.) I'm also totally enamored with this jacket because it's practical for New England weather. I can totally wear it to Old Sturbridge Village when it's chilly but sunny and flip the hat up. Or take it on the ferry. Win! Lisa's find: Man, I love that flea market. Also, here's Peter and Enrique of Enrique Sews  with their me-mades. I can't get over Enrique's tie and ...

I'll be at MPB Day tomorrow!