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.