Eco dye course February 2016

Still enjoying exploring in Europe, recently it's been in Spain. With Gaudi, ancient cities like Toledo and Girona and the beauty of mountains with orange groves climbing into olives and almonds before ending in pines and wonderful hiking trails... inspiration is running high. 

Like a spanish 'sound of music' scene...

 And as I have had several inquiries for when the next dye courses will be running, I have put my head into it and come up with a course for February in Sydney.

At a Spanish truck stop I found all of these beauties ready to play with in the dye pot. They will be treasures finding their way home in my backpack. I'm an expensive tourist...

Yesterday I found these walnuts and hulls on the back deck at a friend's house. One of my favourite dyes, rich browns of varying shades. Pity I can't take those home with me.


So, details. One day of dabbling over steamy pots, playing with plant materials, varying fabrics and some bits and bobs such as fore mentioned rusty Spanish treasures... covering the basics of submersion dyes and eco prints and sending you on your way to further experiment and explore these wonderful techniques to make colour and pattern on cloth. You will make lots of samples and dye your own scarf to take home.

Thursday 11th February, 2016. At my home in the north shore, Sydney. $160 for the day, (9.30 am till 3pm) includes materials and a light lunch plus morning tea. Contact me by email for further details and bookings. Very limited places.

Holy Toledo, not my home. Slightly different...

Free floating

Now it may seem that I have fallen off the face of the earth, going on the last time I wrote, however that is thankfully not the case. I am in fact floating around some lovely European countries, having some 'time out' with my family.

It's been so wonderful to slow down, collect the olives with new friends and observe nature in different parts of the world.

 And some of the human made wonders.... 

Wishing you all a safe and loving end of year, wherever you may be.

Natural dye course here in Sydney

In one beautiful day, bursting with curiosity, laughter and generous spirit, come explore the natural world of plant dyes. If it's good enough for beloved Costa, perhaps it's good enough for you!*

For those who love to explore natural colour, but are a bit stumped with the how's and what's... for fans of the wonderful book Eco Colour by India Flint, but can't quite make head nor tail of it.... 

Come experiment in a friendly home environment, where we have coffee, cake and a casual lunch whilst we bubble and steam our way into the infinitely varied and thrilling results of submersion dyes and eco prints.

One day of bliss, just for you.
Friday 4th September. Northern Beaches, Sydney. $160 including materials and light lunch. Cripes that's good value!
Contact me for more details.
(and see previous post)

 

*To see my appearance on Gardening Australia, click this link:
http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/video/default.htm?clip=http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/tv/gardeningaus/prog_streams/harvestingcolour_ep15_2015.mp4&title=Harvesting%20Colour

Take home your own naturally dyed scarf, designed and dyed by you.

Eco dye course, Sydney in September

To see my appearance on Gardening Australia, click this link:
http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/video/default.htm?clip=http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/tv/gardeningaus/prog_streams/harvestingcolour_ep15_2015.mp4&title=Harvesting%20Colour

'Colour your textiles with plants' 1 day eco dye course.

Friday 4th September, 9.30am – 3pm

Cost $160, including materials and light lunch.

Northern beaches, Sydney

In this 1 day course you will create submersion dyes with numerous plants and experiment with some simple techniques to pattern cloth.

We will also explore the magic of eco prints and play with scrap metal to see some of the unique patterns and effects that can be achieved through a combination of these techniques.

This course is suitable for beginners and dabblers of dyeing who may like a little more guidance with these techniques. You will leave with new creative ideas of how to make your fabrics unique and beautiful, using natural dyeing techniques. Great for any textile enthusiast.

A sample pack of fabrics is included in the price, this will include silk and wool fabrics to experiment with, string for tying bundles, some silk thread for stitching, and a scarf for dyeing. More scarves and fabric will be available to buy on the day. You are also welcome to bring in some natural fabrics of your own that you may like to experiment with.

For more information, contact me: ginamastioATyahooDotfr

Eco dye course in Sydney and hat making course

Here are some shots from the eco dye course I ran last week chez moi. Five lovely ladies and myself enjoyed tea, coffee, cake and yummy lunch as we created colour from leafy, petally, barky bits and pieces we all brought to the table and dye pot.

Scarf dyed by Abi 

Creating natural dyes from plants in the area

The pallet of colour acheived

I am currently taking names for the next eco dye course I will be running on Friday 4th September. $160 includes materials for samples and scarf, plus a light lunch and morning tea. Come enjoy an intimate course in a friendly environment. This will be my last dye course for this year. Contact me on ginamastioATyahooDOTfr

Bubble bubble, toil and trouble...

Eco dyed scarf by Jan

I am also running a felt hat making workshop on Wednesday 29th July if you feel like learning a new skill in that direction. Contact me on the same address. Cost is $150 including one bag of fine coloured merino wool, (or white if you prefer to dye your own at a later date such as at the next course), morning tea and a light lunch, plus lots of laughs and creative fun. Come express yourself.

To see my appearance on Gardening Australia, click this link:
http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/video/default.htm?clip=http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/tv/gardeningaus/prog_streams/harvestingcolour_ep15_2015.mp4&title=Harvesting%20Colour

Eco dye course Sydney - as seen on Gardening Australia

To see my appearance on Gardening Australia, click this link:
http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/video/default.htm?clip=http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/tv/gardeningaus/prog_streams/harvestingcolour_ep15_2015.mp4&title=Harvesting%20Colour

'Colour your textiles with plants' 1 day eco dye course.

Thursday 16^th July, 9.30am – 3pm

Cost $160, including materials and light lunch.

Northern beaches, Sydney

In this 1 day course you will create submersion dyes with numerous plants and experiment with some simple shibori techniques to pattern cloth.

We will also explore the magic of eco prints and play with scrap metal to see some of the unique patterns and effects that can be achieved through a combination of these techniques.

This course is suitable for beginners and dabblers of dyeing who may like a little more guidance with these techniques. You will leave with new creative ideas of how to make your fabrics unique and beautiful, using natural dyeing techniques. Great for any textile enthusiast.

A sample pack of fabrics is included in the price, this will include silk and wool fabrics to experiment with, string for tying bundles, some silk thread for stitching, and a scarf for dyeing. More scarves and fabric will be available to buy on the day. You are also welcome to bring in some natural fabrics of your own that you may like to experiment with.

For more information, contact me: ginamastioATyahooDotfr

other dates may also be possible, so contact me with your availability.

Winter layers

As much as I am a warm season girl, there is undoubtedly charm in the colder seasons. Trees showing their artistic expressions with leaves and bark in breathtaking pallets of colour...

All there to inspire us and to give their gifts of mulch for the compost and garden beds. Not to mention the meditation in sweeping up the leaves. Definitely no leaf blowers in my yard...

Nature's eco prints on my driveway.

Nuno felting course Sydney

I have one space left for a nuno felting workshop I am holding in the northern beaches, Sydney, on Tuesday 23rd June. If you are looking for such a course, contact me quickly. 

Course from 9.30am until 3pm. $150 with materials provided, more available to buy on the day. 
Course covers samples to learn techniques and creating a scarf to enjoy this winter. Light refreshments will also be provided.

 Contact me if you have any questions. 

Abbot passes wind

I am so tired of listening to the stupid comments by the men that are running this country at the moment. Daily, it is a competition to see who can say the more ignorant comment. I am afraid I cannot refrain myself from responding to the latest (yet not greatest?) ridiculous comment by Mr Tony Abbot.
""Frankly it's right and proper we've reduced the Renewable Energy Target because as things stood there was going to be an explosion of these things right around our country," Mr Abbott said.
"There will still be some growth but it will be much less than it would otherwise have been thanks to measures this Government has taken."
And he is proud of this? In his criticism of said wind turbines and specifically from his experience of riding his bike on Rottnest island, I was affronted. I too had the pleasure of riding with my family around 'Rotto' earlier in the year, but my feeling was of quiet relief at the fact that the island manages to supply a large amount of its energy from these wind turbines and are a wonderful example of where this country should be heading.
When oh when are we going to get back to a government that is up to this day and age and its challenges and not just concerned about keeping the big backers in pocket and themselves in power. It's shameful that you represent this country to the rest of the world.

Random weave nest

I've been weaving some of the vines and sticks from around my yard, in a kind of random weave nest. Then my darling friend Jen sent me some emu feathers which I just love and so they got woven in as well. 
I'm enjoying a period of quiet craft at home, as you may have noted. Good for the soul. For some reason, for years I have never found time to do 'things' just for me, for our home. Just for pleasure. So I'm doing them now, on and off. It's good to slow down and just enjoy the making, for no greater purpose than my own pleasure. Lovely. I recommend it.

Nuno felt classes in Sydney

Searching for a nuno felt class in Sydney? I teach small groups in my home studio in the northern beaches. Suitable also for HSC students or their teachers, who would like to learn felt-making skills.

Send me an email to set up a suitable time. Small groups of two to four students. Materials included in cost of course. $150 each, minimum of two people. 

Rainy days stitching

I've finally finished this...

due to a bit of this...

Which will adorn my wall...

and the details look like this.

And meanwhile, out in the garden...

Screening on Gardening Australia

My family and I recently had the pleasure of having Costa Georgiadis and the team of Gardening Australia at our house. I was showing him the simplicity and pleasure of making up submersion dyes from plants found in the garden and surrounding areas. 

This will be shown on ABC from Saturday the 20th June. I will add a link to it from this site after the event.

What fun we had. Costa is a truly marvellous man, so full of vitality, passion and excellent common sense. Our family wanted to keep him forever!

Below is the pallet of colours we came up with on the day.

If you'd like a private or small group natural dye course on my leafy deck, contact me at ginamastioATyahooDOTfr