Rusty Bits Bouquets

One of my perks from my teaching gig in Telluride, CO was getting to see and wander through Kathy’s (one of my students) collection of rusty bits that she’s acquired over her many years of collecting rusty stuff.

And Kathy very generously gifted me with rusty bits from her collection, including some rusted pipes, cylinders, and springs. (Many Thanks, Kathy!)

Rusty Bits Bouquets

I’m also very fortunate to have a partner who is an “uber-organizer”, and when my eco-dyeing “meth lab” (as she so fondly refers to it) gets a little outta hand, it makes her feel so much better to arrange, sort, and organize my things in fun creative ways – such as this group of Rusty Bits Bouquets pictured above. (I appreciate it when she does things like this because it makes me feel better to have things organized too!)

Rusty Springs from my friend Kathy

Back home again, the energy pulled me toward continuing with the eco-dyeing.  I’ve washed and ironed the latest batch of scarves and now need to shoot some photos of them to get them added to my new online store.

I also decided to dye a few pieces of silk and cotton cloth, using the iron rebar that Barbara brought home for me on one of her recent trips to home depot.  I’ve been improving my eco-dyeing results through all the experience I’ve been getting dyeing the scarves and I want to have some pieces of cloth that I can use in my artwork as well:

2 pieces of silk, dyed with iron, eucalyptus, rose petals

Silk, copper, eucalyptus, rose petals (L), Silk, iron, eucalyptus, rose petals (R)

Silk, iron, onion skins (L), detail of same (R)

Cotton, iron, eucalyptus (L), silk, iron, eucalyptus, rose petals (R)

And here’s a teaser close up photo  of a couple of my newest scarves that will be available soon on my online store:

detail of eco-dyed silk scarves with iron and eucalyptus (L), with iron, eucalyptus, sunflower petals (R)

The summer heat is beginning to fade.  I’ve got some fun creative plans over the next few days including visitors arriving.  Time to rock and roll and get the studio ready for play!