Silk Flare Pants from start to finish

I thought I'd give you in insight into how I make my silk accessories and clothing. It occurred to me that I should after a conversation with the lovely woman who commissioned this set. She kept asking what colors I had and I'd answer what colors do you want. It wasn't until I said that the silk started out white that she realised what I meant. Sooooo

This is a selection of silks that I begin with.

I then dye the fabric a base color. The fabric is allowed to dry before being folded and stitched to create the shibori patterns.

This then goes into more dye pots, the number depending on the desired outcome.

This is what it looks like partially unfolded.

Here is the same piece of silk fully unfolded but still wet.

And here it is dry and ironed. The colors are rich and lustorous with many subtle shades.

I then sew the silk into the item I am making. This is my little sewing corner. It was a very rainy day when I took this photo but the sense of the garden and light is still good.

And here is the finished set. A pair of Silk Flare Pants and a matching Tushi Tie.

Beautiful Bellydance Pants

Well hello! It's 2013 already! I've been steadily working with new ideas and have now combined two of my passions. Shibori dyeing and Bellydancing.

I have launched a range of pants and hip ties which are made to order, so they fit well. Each piece incorporates a hand-dyed design element, so no two items are exactly the same.

So far I have designed and listed lycra pants, with flared silk lower legs. The silk ripples and flows as you move and feels fantastic against your legs. They look great with a matching Tushi Tail hip skirt or under a full ATS/Tribal style skirt.

I also have a range of lycra straight leg pants with a shibori detail up the sides. These are fantastic paired with a lycra Tushi Tail, or with a coin belt. They are really comfortable and would work well for yoga too.

I am currently working a a few styles of tops to go with the pants, which I should have listed by the end of the month. You will find them here http://www.etsy.com/shop/BeljaysFeltnArt So if you are into dance or yoga, and like something a little bit individual, or have problems finding stretch pants that are long enough or short enough, take a look at my offerings :)

My scarf is included in this beautiful treasury which was featured on the front page of Etsy. I was absolutely thrilled as it is my first front page. you can see why it made it, such a lovely collection.

'Simply Lovely ' by BassetGal

The Ade - Wool Felt... HandmadeByAde $48.00	Nuno Felt Scarf Cre... BeljaysFeltnAr... $55.00	Felt bird bookmark ... bboutiquebeaut... $13.00
Extra Large Dirty G... LuckyHanks $34.00	Felt Earrings, Ster... isajul $30.00	Petal Pouf - Cream ... LiveLifeInLime $300.00
16x16 Snow Place Li... KelsCozyCorner $35.00	Felt IPad Sleeve in... fuzzylogicfelt $45.00	Felt corsage brooch... ginandlucy $25.00
Creamy Dreamy Flowe... StarBags $94.00	Leash Bag - Little ... wagsandwiggles $11.99	Elegant Felt Garlan... TwoOtters $12.00
Large Cream Sunflow... SincerelyMerm $30.00	Hand Knit Felted Al... MyAdelinesPlac... $59.99	Grey Hope Ring Bear... GemsOfTheSoil $45.00
Acorn Caps, Felted ... spellitwithPEA... $15.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

More Silk Shibori

I realised I haven't posted in a while.

 

 

 

I've been a bit busy making these and a few others.

 

 

Shibori Silk Scarves

I thought I might introduce you to a new line of items in my Etsy store.

These are shibori dyed scarves,After learning these skills at ContextArt Forum earlier this year, I have been practicing and I think these are really very pretty.

I have a range of very simple designs in silk and cotton.

I'll be posting them in my store over the next few days so please have a look and if you'd like to leave a comment, I always love to hear your feedback.

Felting at the EKKA 2012

Well, it's that time of the year again. I worked hard challenging myself to make something special to enter into the arts and crafts competition at this years EKKA (Royal Queensland Show for those who are wondering what this is).

I managed two entries. Both in the nunofelt section and both using the skills I learnt at the workshops at the ContextArt forums in Katoomba earlier this year.

I spent quite a lot of time stitching and tyeing silk then dyeing it using shibori techniques. I truly enjoy this. You always have an idea of what might happen in the process but the excitement of taking out the threads after the dye bath is exhilerating.

Following the dyeing, I cut the fabric and prefelted the pieces. Then stitched them together and fully felted them to make the finished pieces. Each piece took a full week to complete and both pieces offered unexpected challenges. But the outcome is really pleasing.

And the most exciting part...

A first prize and best in felting section ribbon, and a third prize.

Something to carry an Ipad in

It was my birthday last month and, as usual, I bought myself something I really wanted, bit did not necessarily need. This year it was an Ipad.

I love this thing. It's just the right size and you can do all kinds of things on it. My only problem was what to carry it around in. My current shoulder bag had been too small. Most of the bags in the store where I bought it looked tooooo, nerdy?!? or ordinary. Not my style. So in my usual fashion, I made something to suit.

And this is it.

A fully felted shoulder bag. The design features a brown black base of wool, with intensly colored textural highlight of silk/velvet. I just love the way the velvet crinkles up into a brain pattern when it is felted. I have used a wooden fob button to fasten down the flap.

It fits my Ipad, with room for a small make-up purse, phone and keys, which is all I need.

I got so many compliments on the idea that I am now making similar things for my Etsy store. I have just listed this one. It is made from wasabi green cotton canvas with one of my 2D felt artworks inserted in the flap as a design feature. A fun little piece to take anywhere.