Get through in the best way for you

Hi everyone. I hope you are all going ok in these troubled times and that you and your family are well and coping with the new normal. Here in Australia we have continued to be grateful for the relatively low numbers of infections and deaths, which I am sure are due to our population adhering to the social distancing and self-isolation rules laid down by our Government. 

A couple of weeks ago I wrote - "When it is all over, wouldn't it be a shame if you looked back and realised you hadn't made the most of this down time. from "moving forward and being grateful"
 
But what is "making the most" for you? Since then I have had a shift and realised that we should accept that it is ok to get through in the "best way for you". 

This could mean laying on the couch reading, playing an instrument, painting, tinkering in the shed, walking in the park, playing with your children, sitting under a tree, talking to friends on Facebook. 
It doesn't need to be a time of productivity, or to be achieving great things, reorganising your cupboards, redesigning your garden, learning a new skill - though that is great if that is the best way for you to get through this time.
Whatever is good for your soul and heart is the the "best way for you".
No one can dictate what is the best way for you. Only you know. 

So this week my message is "gently accept that it is ok to get through in the best way for you." It doesn't have to be a period of productivity. 
Take time out to rest and be still, and know that we are all in this together, and we will come out the other side. 

Here is my daily photo challenge collage for this past week.

Monday 27 April 2020 - the flooded gums are flowering at my son's block -
Eucalyptus rudis - Western Australian flooded gum. It was lovely sitting under the trees. We can now have 10 people in a group so we had lunch and afternoon tea under the trees with my son and his family.

Tuesday 28 April 2020 - yay! my moon boot is off and now I am in an ankle brace, physiotherapy starts and am allowed to walk - but not overdo it...

Wednesday 29 April 2020 - the oranges on our orange tree are starting to orange

 Thursday 30 April 2020 - we bought a coffee and cake in Dardanup and went to the Crooked Brook Forest, had our afternoon tea and then went for a little walk along the sealed pathway. Not much was flowering but we did spy the Easter Bunny orchid - Eriochilus dilatatus subsp. multiflorus
In spring this is a lovely place to walk. But right now it is food for the soul. This was my first opportunity to be out in the bush since my operation. 

Friday 1 May 2020 - I made this "journal" sketch book last year, and haven't used it. I decided to do a little sketching of this small spray of eucalypt leaves from Crooked Brook, and painted it with colours derived from leaves, flowers and bark. For a first try I was very happy. Years ago, when I was in high school I had aspirations of being a botanical artist. It didn't happen. 
But it has been relaxing doing these little painting doodles. A time for my mind to be quiet. 
I need to learn how to make green....

Saturday 2 May 2020 - some of those colours derived from leaves, flowers and bark.

Sunday 3 May 2020 - we decided to drive a little way south and buy take-away fish and chips to eat near the beach at Busselton. You can see here the start of the Busselton jetty. It wasn't the best day for it because of the cold wild wind (winter is coming), but there were other people out doing the same thing - whilst taking into consideration social distancing rules.

 And a special song from Kermit

So that's it from me for this week. What has been the best way for you to get through these stressful times? Perhaps you would like to tell us in your comments. Stay well. And stay connected.

Thank you so much for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

   
All Seasons
MosaicMonday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf

Our World Tuesday

Pictorial Tuesday 

ThroughMy Lens 

Image-in-ing
My corner of the world through my camera 
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global hosted by Randomosity.

The Lovin' Life Team over at: Deep Fried Fruit
Month end link up @ Live love craft me 

Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.

Eco-dyeing - a magical absorbing art!

Who would have thought that playing around with leaves on bits of cloth and paper was so addictive? I guess thousands of people around the world would agree if you can go by the number of people who enjoy the art of eco-dyeing and printing. 

The first time I tried this art was at a summer school workshop  in January 2016 at the Stirling Street Art Centre with Jane Flower from Folios and Fibre. I loved it from that very moment, but in truth it took me about a year before I actually started to experiment at home. 

Since then I have played, experimented, read, researched, done a couple of workshops, joined a couple of groups on Facebook, learned, and generally had fun. It is an absorbing and addictive art! I love the serendipity of it - there is only so much control you have over the final product.  You can choose and place the leaves, you can bundle them up, you can simmer or steam them, but in the end it is the dye pot, the heat and the leaves that make the magic. You never know exactly what you are going to get. Sometimes you are disappointed, but other times you do a happy dance when it all works out as you expected or with luck better than you hoped! 

I shared with you some of my work a few weeks ago when I had a market stall at the Tree Street Art Safari. 

I won't pretend to be an expert, or give you the hows and how too's here. I am still learning. There are lots of great resources on line, but here is a quick look.

First select and lay out your leaves. They can be fresh or leaf fall.  There are many variables, including time of year and the water and fabric you use. I am lucky to be using mostly eucalyptus which print very well. Check that you know what the leaves are, you don't want to be using poisonous leaves. 

Make notes of what you did, what you used, and the results. This is invaluable, although you can never get a repeat of something. Each piece is truly unique and individual.

Roll it and wrap it up tight, or squish it between something flat ie tiles work well

Put leaves and water into the pot and simmer your bundles in the water or steam on a steaming rack. Use a dye-dedicated pot, not a pot you are going to cook your dinner up in. And do the cooking outside in a well ventilated area. I try and use rain water I have collected as household water might have other "additives". I have also found bore water works well if you have a bore.  Protect your hands with gloves. Some long handled tongs are very useful too.

Once they are done take them out.  The time depends on what you are cooking - I do paper for about half an hour simmering, and then leave in the pot for an hour, and silk scarves I steam for about 2 hours. People have different ideas about time needed. If I am doing cloth I leave in the pot overnight, and then leave it bundled up for at least a couple of days before unbundling. I unbundle paper the next day as you don't want it to dry out before yo do. 

Hopefully, enjoy the results!  I made some cushions on linen-cotton blend, which I then embroidered around the edges of the leaf prints.

 I recently went to a workshop to learn how to make paint from leaves. This has lead to a whole new dimension and exploration to my work! 

  Overpainted with marri bark ink and outlined with calligraphy pen. 

 I am also doing an on-line course with India Flint - who is considered one of the greats of eco-dyeing and conducts workshops all over the world. 

And I have joined a world-wide collaboration "How Far Does the Hand Reach" with Maria from Botanical Being in England who is completing her final Master Project for her Degree in Textile Design. 103 women from around the world have joined her for this project. She has sent us each two pieces of material - one silk and one cotton, which we will print with leaves from our local area and then send back to her.  These will be curated into a patchwork piece and a book showcasing botanical prints from around the world.   Of the 109 contributors we have 19 eco-sisters from across Australia. We are communicating in a private Facebook group as the project goes along.
I am so thrilled to be a part of this global project.  As Maria says:
 "Sisters we are creating something completely new and unique with a hundred and three global sisters!"

 I also belong to a couple a Facebook sharing pages where I find lots of help and inspiration, although sometimes it can be a little confusing as different methods work for different people.

Eco-dyeing with Friends
Printing with Botanicals
Eco-printing, dyeing and painting on paper

There are lots of other groups.  You might also like to check out Gumnut Magic.

I am lucky to have a little bush block near where I live where I can go and gather leaf fall for my projects and some private land where I have access to a range of eucalypts. 

Or just wander along the bush-land path and let the the eucalypt dreams fall where they may...

Thank you so much for stopping by. I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

   
All Seasons
MosaicMonday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf

Our World Tuesday

Pictorial Tuesday 

ThroughMy Lens 

Image-in-ing
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global hosted by Randomosity.
Travel Photo Thursday 

The Lovin' Life Team over at: Deep Fried Fruit
Little Things Thursday
Friday Bliss at Floral Passions

Hello there! I love reading your comments. If you scroll down to the bottom you can comment too! I would love to hear from you.

Back next week

I'll be back next week to show you what I've been up to...