Natural Dye Basics

I am really looking forward to working with The Neighbourhood Studio to teach Natural Dye Basics - Furoshiki Gift Wrap on the 14th of May (next weekend!). This workshop brings together shibori resist techniques and beautiful hues of gold and mustard using onion skins and turmeric to create repeat patterns for a stunning result. All of the materials are provided and there are only a couple of spots left, so head to The Neighbourhood Studio if you would like to grab one of the last spots available. Bonny Stewart-MacDonald took some rather fabulous photos of the last workshop held. See for yourselves!

Dyeing Workshop

I am teaching a shibori dyeing and potato printing workshop tomorrow at the Teapea Design Store. I will post some photos on Instagram  - @rusty_skillet. Here are some photos of the cotton knit fabric I dyed last year using black beans and salt. The end results are so beautiful. I am looking forward to making a top out of the remaining fabric. Although I need to make it to fit a large belly under it. Baby number three is currently brewing. Looking forward to updating this blog a little bit more over the coming months. You can also find me over on the Rusty Skillet Blog where I share my favourite recipes.

potato printing and an update

Hello! I though this space was overdue for a blog post and update. Helen has gone back to work and I have been running solo with Idlewild for the past 6 months or so. The two of us are trying to figure out how we can both fit a bit of dyeing, printing and making into our chaotic lives. So bear with us as we attempt to fill what little spare time we have with our passion for fibre and dye. 

I managed to snap a few photos the other day while I was printing up a few garments. I thought it would be fun to share these. I use Permatone water-based textile inks. I buy mine in big 1 litre tubs but Gordon Harris carries smaller tubs of inks in a variety of different colours. I'm hoping to get a few tutorials up on the blog over the next few months and I am currently learning how to digitise my patterns into PDFs so that I can put some up for people to access. 

A few other posts will be going up in this space as a way of sharing different interests of mine. So when you see something up here, for the time being it is Miss Bonnie posting. Feel free to subscribe so you get an email when I post something. 

in progress

Here are a few items being printed up. And also a photo of Miss Moo in some merino trackies and the shibori dyed merino hoodie. A cozy outfit for the approaching winter! 

We have had the flu circulating around our house the past week so the shop update is moving slowly. I'm hoping to get onto that in the next few days once we are all on the mend. I will be sure to put up a blog post and facebook update when that happens. 

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  

Things have been a bit manic over the holidays.  A lot of sewing being done, but mainly as gifts.  Between Helen and I, we had three birthdays in our families over the holiday period in addition to Christmas.  Only one week left and then my boy goes back to school.  Hopefully that will mean a bit more free time to do some dyeing, printing and sewing so that I can update the shop with some new digs!

Here are a few photos of some of the highlights over the break so far.  

These crackers are super delish.  The recipe is from Pinterest but here is the link in case any of you feel inclined to make them.  I highly recommend a go at them.  I made mine with spelt flour.

NZ summers wouldn't be complete without a paddling pool and a BBQ.

Going for a spin on the BMX.

Mesmerised.

A new trackie design that I came up with over the break.  I really like these and intend to draft up the pattern as a PDF in multiple sizes.  Learning a new computer skill is like learning a new language for me.  So that will be a while yet I think...

The trackies in a different colour.

The boy and his birthday rat.  He named it Fromage.  I got the idea from Helen who made an amazing greyhound for her boy's birthday gift before Christmas.  

Blueberry picking.  That wee person managed to subtly help herself to a rather large number of blueberries during the picking process.  I found out just how many the morning after...

I made bow ties.  I love making bow ties.  

And we spent a good amount of time at the beach throughout the holidays.  My boys haven't managed to get me in the water yet... but we still have one week left.  

SALE!

Idlewild is having a sale!  Get 20% off all purchases from the Etsy Shop until the 24th of December.  We are also offering free shipping within New Zealand for all orders.  Each piece is one of a kind, so if you see something you can't live without, be sure to snap it up quickly!  Enter the coupon code GETWILD when completing your purchase via Etsy.  International orders will arrive before Christmas if the sale is completed by the 4th of December.  

grey

These garments will be in the shop shortly.  But for now, here are a few photos.  I adore this cocoon cardigan.  It is for a 3 year old (approx).  It has a long fit and a small printed detail on the cuffs.  I'm thinking I could do with one in my size...

And perhaps these charcoal printed trackies in my size too...