the avocado and eucalyptus reveal...

A while back I experimented with 2 avocados and some cloth. The colors achieved are nice but not worth all the trouble I went to with the avocados. When I unwrapped them I was unable to tell one from the other. I had turned one inside out but didn't mark it. I don't really keep track of how I do the dyeing. I'm just playing and if I had to keep track it would take the fun out of it for me. Here is a photo of the 2 pieces of dyed silk. Click on the images for a closer view.

cloth wrapped around avocado pit and embedded in shell

I also experimented with eucalyptus leaves bundled around copper pipe. It all started back here . I really like the way these turned out.

the light color is linen and the dark one is silk

love the green from the copper pipe

wish I could get those string marks throughout the piece

And here are the latest pieces I've worked on for Karen's embroidery class.

chinese knots made with silk velvet

funky puffs

Only one more week left until the end of Karen's wonderful class. If you think you're interested in a class with Karen, keep watching her blog for new classes being offered.

bundled avocados...

I posted about Peggy's idea of dyeing with an avocado a few days back. Check out her post here. I just couldn't wait to try it. I did mine a little differently and hope I can hold out because I'm already wanting to undo the bundles. Here is what I did:

I soaked some habotai silk and silk organza in vinegar water

I cleaned out the avocado skins and shaved off the top layers of the pits (they immediately turned orange).

I sprinkled the shavings onto each piece of cloth and wrapped it around the pit and put it inside the skins. I turned one of the skins inside out. I then wrapped each one with with cheesecloth (in case it fell apart in the water) and tied it with string.

I dropped the 2 bundles in boiling water for 2 hours and then let it sit in the water for awhile.

I put the bundles in a tightly covered glass jar and put it outside in the shade.

 and now the hard part....just waiting...for weeks, if I can hold out that long.


Karen Ruane's class started today and I'm already loving it. Hope to show you something in the next post so stand by...