Real Magic

"The most beautiful experience we can have is the

mysterious.  It is the source of all true art and all

true science.  Whoever does not know it, who can 

no longer pause to wonder

or stand rapt in awe,

is as good as dead."

Albert Einstein

I admit to an insatiable curiosity.  I love to find out how things are done...not that I intend to do all of them, but I love learning about the twists and turns it takes to master a variety of skills.  EXCEPT, except...when I don't.  Magic is a wondrous thing and too much curiosity can kill the cat (as they say).   Read Here is Real Magic by Nate Staniforth and you will understand when I say that some things are best not understood: leaving some explanations as "magic" is rapturous and exciting feeling.  Can't we all use a bit of magic in our lives?

That is exactly how I feel about indigo dying.  You fold and clamp or sew and pull and then dip and oxidize and then dip again....and, and...unfold, rinse: MAGIC!  You know from my past blogs on shibori that the entire process has amused and delighted me every step of the way.  What I do not want to know is the why...or the how....or the because.  When I get too scientific the fun flies out the window.

So why do I rant now?  Probably rationalization or self-defense. 

My intrepid dyeing buddy, Barbara, and I took off for the Asheville Local Cloth Indigo interest group this week where we would share a "community dye vat" and trade ideas with fellow dyers.  Before leaving we took time to fold and clamp and, in Barbara's case, sew and pull, our designs.

The group was delightful but I admit to an impatient itching to get to the pot....talk was fine but I was like a kid wanting to unwrap the presents.  The community dye vat is huge:

 The leader would take buckets from this massive container and add a mixture to it and then warm it (for animal proteins, i.e. wool and silk) and leave another cool (for cellulose, i.e. cotton and bamboo).
Then it would stabilize, get pH tested and yadda, yadda...yawn.  This is where my mind drifted as others took copious notes.

The pH test (above) and the wait for a green tint and the production of a "bloom" on the top of mixture had me dancing side to side.  Oh yes, I do admire the patience and the knowledge of those who knew what was really happening chemically, I do, I do....but I was ready for magic.

Finally we could slowly, slowly lower our fabrics into the correct pot, set the timer, hold the floaters down and wait....The excitement was fever pitch.  Timers rang and gloved hands extracted wads of fabric (without bubbles, and no drips) from the pot.  We squeezed out the dye and watched as green fabric oxidized into blue and ran them into the alley to drip further.  

We could double (even triple) dip and repeat the process all the while taking notes (not me I confess) on how long the dips must be, how to neutralize with vinegar, which fabrics needed further...blah, blah...blah.  I kept checking my dripping wads unable to contain myself.

Finally we could open, rinse and neutralize.  And the magic revealed itself.  At least it was magic to me.  Kudos to the souls who continued making notes and comparing test pieces.  God love them.  

discussing a particular sewing and pulling technique

I was ready to see the result and not give a care how it happened:

MAGIC!!

Now, do not misread here: I am not dissing those who want, need, search and study to know more.  I admire them.  It's just that there are some things that need to be just enjoyed and not understood and this, for me, is one of them.  Cool, no?

and my buddy Barbara?  She is well on her way to understanding the alchemy of dye and I salute her pursuit and pledge my support in every way.  I will call her when I need to know if it is vinegar or salt I need to add and I won't bother her to understand why.

Barbara's gorgeous work

And before I forget let me share with you the results of a previous magical dye day here.  My friend Ellen Lindner, a renowned textile artist paid me a visit and was kind enough to share my project in her blog.  Enjoy.

I hope there is something in your world that is magical, something that you choose not to understand for the simple reason that it would spoil the excitement or the surprise of whatever happens.  Sometimes we have to protect our "magical moments" - the world of google and its endless explanations can be helpful - but don't let it rob you of the magic.

Magically Ignorant,

Cindy
p.s.  For those deep divers who wonder how a green plant gets harvested and made into a magic blue dye check out this blog by Catherine Ellis.   (lots of links today!  hope you enjoy them all.)

O Glory! Shibori!

My journey through the art underground surely

must come to a close...or not?!

I have enjoyed a break from the easel...almost enough

that I lust to return...I'm almost there.

Bear with me...it's gonna be a 

Happy New Year!

Shibori  has been around since the 8th century and predates the more familiar "tie-dye" by centuries.  As with most ancient art techniques, this Japanese art of indigo dyeing has morphed and changed over the years. While the traditional use of pulled threads to provide a resist pattern has given way, in some cases, to rubber bands and clothes pins, the results are still lovely and hypnotic.  It is almost addictive: fold, clamp, dye and await in wonder the design that emerges.

Of course I had to try, did you ever doubt it? and not just once but enough times to wonder what the heck I will do with all this gorgeous printed cloth I have made.  But that's a puzzle for another day...

The easiest way to experience the joy of shibori is to go to the Dharma Trading Company website and invest @ $9 in the kit above.  It will provide all you need to get started.  They even have some instructions on site.  If you are a Pinterest fan or love search engines you will also come across myriad ways to approach the fun.

The basic plan is to fold, tie and clamp your white fabric in such a way that the indigo dye reaches some portions of the fabric while avoiding others.  The way you fold will cause the pattern to repeat itself often in differing depths of color.  I would say it is more art than science except that there is a lot of chance involved depending on your fabric choice, the amount of fabric in any one fold and your ability to dye it over and over again before succumbing to the desire of the "reveal."

 These are piles of dampened white cloth folded and awaiting the "vat."  My buddy Barbara chooses the traditional method of threads to gather designs while I hit the rubber bands and clamps.

Indigo is a fascinating dye as it reacts differently than others.  The mixing is specific and it sits and "blooms", then when ready, pieces are submerged, agitated and removed sporting a florescent green color.

As the fabric sits the dye will oxidize to the deep blue color.  Both stages can be seen on the left.  Now note the folded piece on the right.  I have added resists via the popsicle sticks, a couple rubber bands and some clothes pins on the bottom.  It leaves the pot greenish in color.

When it is fully oxidized (flipping it over is important) as in photo on L, I rinse it in clear water and then remove the resists.  What I get is the design on the right. Note the parts that have not hit the air yet.

 Resting while the air works its magic, the entire piece emerges a deep indigo and white with a cool design that is repeated around the folds.  As I got better in relating the folds to the amount of fabrics I realized that too tight a bundle allowed very little dye to get inside and make a design.

But really, there were no "bad" pieces.  The reveal is such a thrill...we oohed and ahhed with each unfolding.

For this "event" Barbara had suggested we work with bandanas (24 x 24) which we easily ordered from Dharma as well.  Who doesn't need a do-rag for a gift?  But as we worked we realized these could be cut apart and used for patches, a quilt or sewn with backings to make bags.  Barbara even gave me the idea of making a tablecloth and napkins out of the results.

It was hard to stop experimenting!  And of course, now that we had experienced the traditional indigo dye we had to play around with...RED!

procion dye, warm red

more bandanas

Did we have fun?  

So the take away for me is that (1) I loved the element of working together, Barbara and I giggled and traded lots of good ideas.  This is not always the way a painting works but it is an excellent outlet for stimulating ideas.  Also, (2) I loved the fact that I could not always predict or control the outcome - can I carry this joy of random results into my painting?  Can I let go and be happy with surprises?  And finally, (3) I loved the high contrast.  The sharp color against the stark white....the definitive lines coupled with the more blurry ones... the repeat pattern against the loss of pattern...

Not bad for a day of fun and creative fellowship.  Order a box, find a friend and dye!!

Dyeing for Color,

Cindy