Mixing Dyes

It is satisfying to see the garden plants stretch out and grow. About the yard this time of year, things change everyday. The Iris were beautiful and now gone, but poppies and beauty bushes have new blossoms every morning.I like to take note in the morning of each new flower, bud, and the condition of all in the yard. I am struck by the thought that nothing will ever be the same as it is today and if we don't stop to look at what is there, it will be forever gone.

I turn from the outdoors and get set to mix my dyes. I usually mix a selection of colors that complement a group of batik with a similar theme and color scheme. Mixing dyes is not my favorite task, but dyeing batik is.

I'm working with Procion fiber reactive dyes. These are the best for dyeing batik, as the color actually binds to the fabric and they work as cold water dye. This is important as batik need to have a cool temperature (95 degrees to 110) to maintain the wax on the batik. Hotter temperatures will soften and even melt the wax on the batik, destroying the design. The temperature can be cooler, but the dyeing process will take longer. Very cold temperatures will cause excess crackling of the wax, but beeswax is less likely to crack. Most often I use a mix of parafin and beeswax.

These dyes are in powder form, and it is best to wear a dust mask when mixing several batches. Colors are handled differently. Darker, more intense colors, require more volume of dye (2x to 3x as much) and also salt, than lighter colors.

I use a measuring cup and small amount of warm water to "paste" the dye. Next, very hot water is added to blend the dyes, stirring constantly, untill all is dissolved. Salt and fabric softener are also dissolved and added to a pail of lukewarm water.The dissolved dye is strained through a thin old cloth to catch any flecks of dye. More hot water is repoured through the dye on the cloth so none is wasted. Red is an especially difficult color to mix. Calsolene oil is helpful in dispersing the color bursts.

The dyebaths are put in large plastic pails and a few are in longer shallow trays ( good for larger pieces where crackling is not desired.) Colors in the dyebaths can last about a week, especially with some urea added. Once the soda ash (washing soda) is added, the dyes have a life of several hours only.The soda ash is needed to activate the dye and if I've mixed enough dye to do pieces for several days, there is an alternative method to use. The fabric can be soaked in a seperate soda ash bath and drained prior to adding to the dyebath. this gives the dyes more time to be used, however, each piece of cloth added removes some dye particles until the colors get paler and finally become exhausted.

I've included some pictures of a small tree batik before and after dyeing. Also shown is my large horse batik being waxed with a tjanting, and then held up after being dyed in red.

Just a few more colors need mixing and I'll..........Oh no!My yearling heifer, Footstep has slipped through the fence. The old fence controller has failed. I walk over to my calm peaceful heifer and she's decided it's nice to be out. As I approach to put on a halter, she gives her head a toss, turns with a leap and runs off across the newly mowed field of alfalfa north of our house. Nothing will be dyed today.

Magic Frogs Rising - part of the Larac members show

My Large batik (26"x 39"), "Magic Frogs Rising" is now at the Lapham gallery at the Larac members show in Glens Falls, New York. It will be running through June 21.

You can see the batik in the long shallow dyebath, many pictures of the finished work still covered with wax, and finally covered with paper, a small section revealed with the wax ironed out.

I'm including an image of the batik and some detail shots as well as a few pictures of it in progress. Limited edition prints of this image are available through etsy or email me at carollawconklin@yahoo.com

Amity Farm - Early Days

Thinking back to those days long ago on Amity Farm......... Spring! the air filled with the sweet smell of blossoms and new mown hay, Looking up the hill with the sun filtering through a multitude of fairy beds. Early morning, going to get the cows off pasture was heaven on earth . Showing pictures today from, husband, Dick on the old International tractor, chopping the corn for winter silage. Our hutch calves on high with Adirondack balloons floating by. A young calf peaks out of our old calf shed. Here I am my favorite spot. Daughter, Jaka, has freed up the hay elevator, again and is very happy about it. So were we! Those are days of inspiration for me.

Memorial Day Memory

Spring has evolved to what now seems like summer and the month of May is at the end. Memorial Day has passed, but it will always be an anniversary of when we moved to Amity Farm in Hartford, New York at the foothills of the Adirondacks.

My Morgan mare, Amity (means friendship), gave her name to our jersey cow dairy. Such a beautiful farm filled with wonderful memories. See photo here of Amity with her baby daughter, Maya. The pictures show our herd greeter, Sadie, cows grazing below trees with barns and house in background, me, feeding a baby calf, and my husband,Dick, on the tractor baling hay and happy to be harvesting early spring feed for our jersey cows.

Cold but Beautiful

It has still been freezing here and sooooooooo far behind last year, when pasture arrived early in April. The grass is green at last and heavy rain arrived last night pounding on our windows and earth below. The forsythia bushes have finally donned their bright cheerful yellow and glow, as do daffodils here and there. I've been cleaning up the large yard after winter's onslaught as well as picking up the cow manure and hay in the pasture area close to the house, now piled here and there to added to a larger pile and then break down to return to the earth, good rich earth!
The mountains and fields today are highlighted with sun patches and cause me to think of the land over time. How many generations have looked on this before, and how many will in the future. How much change has taken place, even in the woods there are stone walls built to clear land to fields that now have returned to trees. We borrow land to live on or farm here in Washington County NY. The land is for us to use in this life, but must be kept well for future generations. Farms in this county are concerned with preserving the land at it's best. I am fortunate to be able to have such beauty to inspire my artwork in my backyard.

Earth Day

Earth Day - Good Friday......... Spring is still cold, windy, rainy and beautiful in a cold sort of way. Red buds are showing on distant trees and the mountains are highlighted with small patches of sun. All here comes from the earth and returns to. The form changes but is never gone.
I'm showing some of my earthborn batik. "The Horse Sleeps Below Tree of Rebirth" shows a below ground horse ready to be reborn. See the seed of life held by the widely branched tree.
"Bounty From the Earth", Shows the produce that earth gives to us with our encouragement.
"Ent Trees" displays the living trees inspired by "the Lord of the Rings"
"After the Thunderstorm" has a multi layered view of the earth: The dark sky gives way to rain and nourishes the veggies below.
"From Earth Forces the Horse Rises" a spring inspired batik that deals with layers below our view, the horse created and lifted from the ground by the wind.

Out of Frost Into the Sun

Last week, everyday, 20 degrees, frost! The morning light comes sooner each day and I'd walk to my studio and look out the window to sun high-lighting trees and mountains in the distance, turning the field by us white. Last week, still no leaves to be seen and only brown yellow grass. Then the warmth came on Sunday and green has appeared with just a hint of red in the distant trees. Gentle rain has pushed new growth from the earth. A purple flower pushes through a leaf with it's brilliant purple color. The rhubarb plants have pretty red sprouts and tiny wrinkled leaves. As the sun sets the rhododendrons by our house are lightly opening and the sun casts a burnished gold on their long leaves.

I walk off to the brook which is rushing at the bottom of the ravine below. On and on the magical sound of water bubbles below with gently changing musical tones. How peaceful and energizing the sound is. Thank you, mother nature.