paper dying – new techniques!

I really thought that stash of dyed papers would last a long time, but supplies are getting low, so last night I began another batch, and in so doing I’ve streamlined the process a bit.

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It’s the same ‘lasagna‘ of paper and ink/dye, but instead of leaving it to marinade for ages, once it had a good soaking (1-2 hrs I guess) I spread the bits out on some more ‘scrap paper’. I used a super-cheap watercolor pad – v low quality and rubbish for painting on – but nice and absorbant, so just the job for this! Given a good squash (I stood on it, then danced about a bit) the colors soak through to the watercolor pad the bonus of more dyed paper than I’d bargained for + far quicker drying time. Result!

They’re drying right now – will show you the pics tomorrow. Meanwhile I’m planning another batch in different colors. I’m torn between blues, greens and purples next… What d’you reckon, folks? 🙂

Reds n Ripples

For quite a shiny page, the close up shots don’t do the colors real justice, but I’ve included them to show you the lumpy bumpy textures. I really like the way paper goes into ripples when it gets wet (glue-y), and on this page I’ve highlighted the waves – although not sure it came out in the pics.

So many, many layers

The page a day page/day parallel thing – they day resembles the page, the page resembles the day. Like the chicken and egg thing. Causality and whatnot.


This page went through so many incarnations.
Layer upon layer of indecisive confusion, unguided and unintentional.
Layers added, torn off, reglued on bits.
The page is quite dense and chunky now!

The day was complex, dense and chunky too 😉

a nothing nother monday

Monday was a nothingy day. A nother nothingy day.

I guess that was just on the surface, a mood, as my subconcious chose these deep sumptuous colors to illustrate Monday’s page. So there must have been more than nothing in there somewhere 😉


I hold my hands up. I have no knowledge of how these pages develop or from whence the imagery appears. I’m just the conduit; the vehicle.

textile adventures

I’m always striving to find new directions of creativity to explore (given that I can’t settle on any preference, might as well try as much as I can find).

Last weekend I spent learning the art of machine embroidery from the very inspirational Gina Ferrari. I’d only ever dabbled with this sort of machining before but by the end of the weekend course I’d produced a few samples and things, including this.

Not to mention full-to-the-brim with new ideas! 😀

more experiments with rice

This (Wednesday’s page)





Plus this (salvaged dyed rice + hot water)





Equals this (thickly heaped rice on dry paper – may try wet paper next time – sprayed with a little more ink for good measure)





Plus drying time…………. produced this, gently dappled patterning.


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