How to Dip Dye your Macrame and Tassels, sucessfully!

 Hello!

I know its been ages!

I've been busy working on my new collection.......which is coming along really well and I'm really excited to be working on my shop opening!


.....But I had a query about how I use to dye my tassel and macrame works from a few interested folk and I thought HEY?
I'll share some tips?
Dip dyeing your tassels and twine is still hugely popular now....but I created these works ages ago!

1.
Firstly buy good quality cotton rope?
Avoid hardware and craft shops!  TOO expensive!
Goggle search cotton twine, or cotton sash cord and you come up with online shops in Australia, who sell rope!
Try www.allropes.com.au

2.
Cut up the required amount of twine you need for your project them add some more, better to have too much then not enough!

3.
BIG TIP here!
Soak your twine in water!

4.
Then dip your twine into your dye pot you have prepared.
If you use commerical dyes, dont use the whole dye packet. Just use 5-10 grams. 
Save some cash and not waste your dye powder.
If your twine is not the desired colour then add in 5 gram lots, till it is.

 5.
Hang your twine up to dry.

Now create your piece.
Using pre-dyed twine in your macrame work will result in a cleaner more refined look...anything else will look like an amateur. 
The colour will be consistent and the process of macrame knotting will integrate the colour in a subtle way rather than have an uneven dye line, detracting from your knot work.

I hope this helps your next dip dye project!



Tag me on instagram if these tips resulted in some improved dip dyeing results!!

Pippa 

@ouchflower

#knotsista

Woven Rope Jewellery Collection.

Whilst waiting to see all my pottery pieces through the making and firing process, I started making these as well!

I think I missed weaving the baskets and they just came to me.

 I like the clean modernist shapes, the curves and the colours!

...then I added a tassel fringe with old tassel twine!
 

....blame the baby! 
ahhh too cute, 10 months old!

Once the pottery is finished, then the shop will be opened! 
When? 
Who knows? 
Soonish?
Blame the baby.....ahh too cute! .....no really, blame the baby! 

xx

The Ouch Flower & Zillpa Collaboration- 2nd edition.

A year in the making!
Yes its taken nearly a year to complete this latest edition!

I like to take my time, get it right, faff about etc (tend children)
These beauties are with Clare in Brisbane. They are heading out to the Finders Keepers market, then down to Melbourne for FK, then online.

I hope they find happy homes.
They are each unique and the concept is original.......combining traditional and contemporary basket weaving techniques.

I entered them into the Craft Vic 'Craft Awards' but no bites? 
I was a little disheartened but then I figured that experience should not devalue the work?
There is a time and place for everything and I'm forever the optimist.....they will find their audience! 

I hope I have pushed my ideas, use of material and technique.....and proven myself as a skilled artisan. 

My favourite would have to be the yellow ones.



I hope your well, thanks for reading!
Pippa x 

Pottery Plans

I bought a wheel! 

....so now I can finally begin my reintroduction to clay with lidded vessels, teapots and cylinders! 
So more of the above, I hope?
I am very excited.



Ouch boy has his eye on it though so this could be a family affair!


Pippa x 

NEW ouch!

NEW ouch, NEW focus, NEW direction, NEW look.

...........a NEW year!

 These are some possible ideas for the website, if you have a preference let me know?

I'm just going to muse over them for a while and keep playing in Photoshop till I get the look I'm after?

It's been a while since I put a photo shoots together, I really enjoyed it!

My new focus for 2015 is 

bringing plants+pottery+people together

The next task is to save up for a NEW pottery wheel!

I hope you are enjoying the NEW day, of a NEW year.

xx

flowers & iittala

I like flowers.
I like iittala.
I like taking pictures of flowers sitting in my iittala vases.
I like foraging for greenery to add to my floral arrangements.
I like to play 'florist'.

 I like playing photographer.

 I think paintings when I see these forms.

Ouch Babies

Here are the Ouch babies at 3 months!
Interesting how they look similar but different?....the joys of genetics!

While I was sorting through the photo's of my camera I found some that Ouch Boy had taken.
Not bad for a 6 year old, so I thought I'd share them with you!
I hope it's an interest later in life and not a passing fad?

You see things through a lens, that you might have ignored another time or in passing?

Here's another post on his photography, how his taste has changed or not? 
Technique has certainly improved?
 

My vote is between the 'bathroom windowsill' and his 'bedroom'?
Right out of 'real Living' ;-)

Pippa x