Below are (some of) the layers of time that went into creating the Moth Series scarves. Now available in the SHOP. Enjoy.
pH test : eco-bundle
Normally, when I eco-bundle, I douse the fabric in vinegar, throw in some flora, roll, secure, steam, and wait. I've gotten some pretty beautiful results in my haphazard way of doing things, but these days I'm becoming more curious about the chemistry and reason behind it all. I've known about pH modifiers since the beginning, but never paid to much attention to it, until recently when I started an indigo vat... results from that later...
Because I had 10 yards of silk to dye for new scarves, I decided to do an experiment with how varying the pH in the bundle might affect the color extracted from the plant materials.
I used 8mm silk habotai: scoured and mordanted with alum + cream of tartar.
On the Left side of every image you will see results from a pH of around 4 to 5. To get this I diluted white vinegar in tap water. On the Right side of every image you will see results from a pH of around 9 or 10. To get this I diluted soda ash in tap water. Each bundle sat over night and were steamed for about an hour the next day, then left to sit (wrapped in plastic to retain moisture) for six days. Each piece of fabric was unbundled and left to dry on the line, then steam ironed. I have NOT washed any of the fabric yet, as I want to let them cure for a few days.
What I have noticed is that a lower pH achieves a much more crisp and defined print from each plant, EXCEPT from the carrot tops. And all of the colors are a bit warmer when compared to the colors achieved from the higher pH bundles. The higher pH bundles gave greener shades and seemed to allow the color to disperse a bit more into the fabric.
Here are the results:
carrot tops. dried rose leaves. fresh stinging nettle leaves.
red onion skins
hibiscus. locally harvested and frozen + dehydrated/dried store bought
dried marigolds (mostly what you see here). dried coreopsis. dried/frozen goldenrod.
yellow onion skins
fresh maple leaves
dried eucalyptus leaves
If anything changes after the fabric is washed, I will post an update. I am very eager to have a dialogue about these results, so please comment below if you have any information as to WHY these results have happened and if you have any questions.
UPDATE:
There was only one major change that happened after the wash. The hibiscus fabric changed from vibrant magenta to a dusty purple.
These pieces of silk still have to be printed on, batiked, and re-dyed as they turn into scarves, so stay tuned! ( and follow me on instagram : jamiebourgeois )
Permanent State of WIP
Work In Progress
screen printing with natural dyes + eco bundling + batik + indigo = there's still more work to be done, but what I have here is oh, so satisfying.
To cure infinitely and beyond...
The studio I work for, Lovelane Designs, is doing the crowd funding thing (through Etsy!) and asking fans to help expand the company. Demand is growing and production is unable to keep up! We need a special piece of equipment, a large scale conveyor dryer which cures the printed ink to the fabric, in order to stay in flight. This With your super powers and ours, we can continue to create hand-crafted heirloom quality imaginative play-wear for the little ones. Check out the video and the merchandise, support if you're into it!
Thanks!
photo by Lyn Bonham Photography
I've been in the garden
I planted a dye garden this year, and it is the most glorious thing.
storing coreopsis
avocado pod
carrot top babies getting tucked in
carrot stack
a successful day's work
un-bundled: rosemary
Stay tuned for results!
I went on a harvesting walk through the city of Savannah to find plant material to dye my silk material. Luckily it was right after the Holidays and people were throwing out old bouquets and center pieces. To say the least, I found gold mines. Here's some of the process.
After they steamed I boiled some of the bundles in a bath of red wine, yellow onion skins, and black tea.
And then I wrapped some of them around a rusty iron spike.
creative problem solving
A stencil idea.
A test and a fail...
A reinterpretation and success!
Holiday cards available at the Broughton Exchange located on 18 E Broughton St. in Savannah, Ga, OR contact me for details.
Tondo for Telfair Tree
This year's Telfair tree is being imagined and curated by the wonderful Libbie Summers. She has invited myself and many many talented Savannah artists to decorate/embellish/paint/sculpt on and around a small tree cookie "tondos." These tondo ornaments will be auctioned off at the Jepson Jingle event on Tuesday, December 2, from 5-7pm. All proceeds will benefit the Telfair Museum's children's education and outreach programs.
Here's the evolution of my tondo:
*last two photos styled and shot by katherine sandoz*
Going National
Today, the Made in America segment of ABC World News Tonight featured the studio I work with, Lovelane Designs. The mastermind behind it all, Lane Huerta, designs unique and imaginative EVERYDAY play wear for the small ones...and sometimes big ones too.
And feel free to buy all of the things here.
Oh, and here's Pixie. She likes to help out as much as possible.
mural with sandoz
#doomsalad patches printed. Art by @jaredmorgan
Prints for sale. Email jamiebourgeois@gmail.com for innnnnformaaaaaation
Mordant tests. Onion skin dyed. Organized.
SCADpad
In March, I assisted katherine sandoz in the creation of the bathroom for the North American pad, as part of the Savannah College of Art and Design's SCADpad.
*photo by John Amis/AP Images for Savannah College of Art and Design*
*photo by Travis Grant*
*photo by Keith Morgan*
*photo by Keith Morgan*
Process photos of fabric being color matched and dyed:
