Gone To Earth

Dyeing...

Look - I've dyed a colour wheel and bits of yarn to match.

I had quite a lot of fun dyeing those bits of cloth.... no - I didn't dye those tiny little fabric segments, the actual fabric pieces are much bigger (fat quarters actually :)) I find it quite exciting waiting to see what comes out of the bag. (I dye in plastic bags.) Yet, even when you remove the dripping cloth from the bag it's never clear what beauty lies within, until you've washed out all the residual dye and the fabric is dried and ironed. It's like magic.

Dyeing yarn was interesting but I don't think I've the patience to dye yarn very often. It's fiddly and inclined to get tangled. Things did improve once I found that if I washed them in those little net bags you get with washing powder tablets they didn't get so tied up ... but nevertheless I need to find a good reason to dye yarn on a regular basis.

Feast your eyes on the beautiful colours in this. This is hand dyeing using two complementary colours; blue with orange

That piece of cloth almost looks marbled, there are so many colours running through it. All that colour mixing going on in the the tray with blue and orange produced deep rich greens, an amazing number of different blues, yellow, oranges, and bits of rich burnt brown . It's a riot of colour and there are so many organic patterns running through it, almost like pictures of crystals. It's really quite beautiful.

This is a piece of silk dyed using the same colours as the cotton fabric above but the colour is so much softer as is the patterning of the colour across the fabric.

It never cease to fascinate me. I suppose that's why they say it's addictive, the unprecidability of the whole process keeps you coming back and trying another mix.

I've some other complementary colour mixes to try today, just to see what alchemy occurs. Think I'll try red and green next... wonder what'll get?

A few of the beautiful things in the Flickr Group

Here are some of the lovely things that are being added to the Gone to Earth - Sewing by You" Flickr group. Flickr is such a brilliant way of showing off what you make, whether it's because you are selling your handcrafted designs and therefore need that little bit of helpful 'exposure' or you just want to share your creations with like minded others. Nothing like being part of a 'virtual' sewing/creating community. It can provide a great deal of psychological support and 'crafting' friendship and even spark of new ideas and creativity. If you really want to make Flickr work for you however, then there are a few things that you should always do but, perhaps that is best left for a post all on it's own. The purpose of this post is to show off what's been going on in the group. From a purely selfish point of view, it's fantastic to be able to see what folk are making, how colours and prints are being put together. It gets the old fabric tastebuds drooling and the sewing fingers itching. You really should go and have a little look for yourself and perhaps even add a few bits of your own making. Gradually the group is getting more and more added to it and it's beginning to reveal a great deal of your creativity and skills.

So, today I've been grabbing bits of .html from Flickr with the intention of alerting you to some of the wonderful things going on...I love these little wrapped parcels...

(by BigBlueBed)

...I can just imagine these causing a lot of excitement as gifts under the Christmas tree, by the side of plate settings on special occasions... I think the photograph portrays them beautifully too.

There's a little tunic top made by Amy

... from a pattern designed by Kitschy Coo. Pop in and have a look at all the other designs she has.

This set is just gorgeous....

This was made by IncyWincy stitches. I think that owl is just right for little hands to grab and hold. Really, though ... who wouldn't want one of these? Fantastic expression on it's face.

As you can see from this photo laden post, there's a lot going on and some lovely things to look at and be inspired by. But I can't end this post without referring to all the beautiful bags, pouches, crayons rolls and just delightlful sewing by Christine. This bag is one of my favourites...

I hope you've enjoyed all this sewing lovliness , obviously I've only picked on a few things to share this time, so please drop by the group and have a look for yourself. Plus, if you've any sewing of your own you'd like to share then feel free and add them into the group. The Flickr badge sits on the front of the shop so it's likely to attract lots of attention and who knows where that might lead.

A Friday Giveaway

I really don't know where this week has disappeared too. I've been putting together some photographs for an advert...

A glorious stack of pretty fabrics.... and mixing up fabrics always absorbs a frigtening amount of time. This was one arrangement that I thought looked gorgeous.

I also thought the arrangement in this photograph might look good

Lots of pretty patterns with lots of pretty things to make... but when you look at it on the screen it's too choatic to say much at all. So, disappointing.

Some photographs I've taken this week that I think did work are these. Fabric bundles I've been putting together and adding to the Shop There are a couple of new Anna Maria Horner fabric bundles.

The one above consists of Good Folks fabrics...and this one, is a mix of fabrics one from Good Folks and one from Garden Party but somehow the pinks seem to really love each other and sing.

Another new bundle, is Wildwood by Erin McMorris.

I'm really getting to love this fabric. Each time I cut into it I see something slightly different. When you spread this fabric out before you, there are just so many textures and shapes in these designs. Really pretty. I thought I would use this bundle in this weeks giveaway. Gorgeous designs and beautiful colours.

I think this is one collection that I will keep adding to. (Whilst it's available anyway.)

All you have to do to join in with this 'Fat Quarter Giveaway' of the Wildwood Bundle is to add a comment to this post and I'll use the random number generator to pick a winner Monday next (The 30th November - Mr Primroses's birthday).

Have a good weekend.

A pattern and a bag

I've been making up the pattern I've been working on and with a few adjustments here and there, it's become a bag.

It's made out of Patty Young's Mezzanine fabric (Gothic Wave), using the fabric pattern widthways across the bag band and lengthways in the bag body. The lining is Heather Bailey's Swirly buds in Lime... just to keep the pink green theme going.

This time I've attached the handle using fabric tabs and 'o' rings just to liven things up a little.

At the moment I seem strangely compelled to add flower type embellishments to things. All kinds of things. This one is made out of a covered button (38mm) plus a couple of simple to make fabric leaves. (They look black in the photograph but they are really a very dark green.)

I think the flower picks up the colours in the bag and really sets it off. I'll confess that it's actually in a 'blog ready' state as I can't decide whether to add it as permanent fixture to the bag or sew on a brooch back so it can be removable and used on other things....

Right now though I need to write some instructions to go with the printable pattern and then it'll be finished. What do you think to it?

The winner.....

I've been a little slow in posting this, I've had a little trouble with my 'image capture' . Thank you everyone for taking part, and yes, we do have a winner of this pink lovliness.

and it's;

number three and number three refers to a comment from Lyn. Congratulations Lynn. If you'd like to e-mail me your address I'll get these fabrics sent off to you.

Remember, if you haven't been blown away, (It's just been so windy here over the last few days.) drop by on Friday and see what's next in the giveaways....

Friday - Fabric, a winner and another giveaway

Today I've been actually testing out the pattern I've been working on, and I'm thrilled that it's going well.

But, really I suspect you're more interested in the winner of the fabric...

... which is Amy Lane (.... look at the cakes...... !!!) Congratulations, Amy! If you e-mail me your address I'll get these fabrics sent off to you.

As it's Friday and we're talking fabric, I've had a few new fabric designs in the shop this week;

... pretty Asian circles and Spot in Brown designed by Kaffe Fassett.

Bright, bright glorious colours...

But, something which is not only a completely new fabric to Gone to Earth but comes from completely new fabric manufacturer (to the shop) is this, fabric designed by Patty Young of Michael Miller.

There are also some fabrics designed by Sandi Henderson...

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I suspect that I shall be adding to these fabric ranges.

This is Mezzanine designed by Patty Young of Michael Miller. Vibrant colour and bold, complex designs...gorgeous and all in lovely quilt weight cotton.

So, I thought that this weeks giveaway could be a fat quarter of each of these four fabrics. ('Mezzanine' by Patty Young)

All you need to do is leave a comment on this post to join in the giveaway and I'll announce the winner next Friday. In the meantime I hope that I get a bit further in writing up this bag tutorial.

Have a good weekend and if your going to a bonfire party... stay safe. :)