No Idle Hands: Newfoundlands History of Functional Craft

Escape, 2010, Eric Walsh Photo

The 2nd Annual No Idle Hands will showcase a larger number of craftspeople who will demonstrate many of the functional crafts essential to the Newfoundlanders' survival in a bygone era but kept alive by a select few.
Come join us November 30 - December 1 at the Quidi Vidi Plantation in St. John's. Open from 10am till 4pm.
From 12 noon until 1pm on both days we invite you to bring your treasured family craft heirlooms and share their stories.
Admission is free! 

I will be there demonstrating hand embroidery. It is going to be a wonderful time. Drop by and say hi!

NORTH at the Craft Council Gallery

Chuckley Pears

Over the years, I have been blessed to teach numerous workshops in northern Newfoundland and Labrador. I love everything about the area: the people, the landscape and the weather. The northern province is down to earth, raw and beautiful. When there, I feel as if I can truly breath. As I mentioned in an early post, I learned to tuft when I was teaching in the Labrador Straits. It is a very happy memory of howling winds, cups of tea with large bowls of bakeapples and cream. The exhibition NORTH, will include work inspired by Northern experiences. Limited by time, I designed a smaller hand embroidered piece based on one of my favourite local shrubs. This pieces is a reflection of a fusion of my own goldwork style with the traditional art of caribou hair tufting. Chuckley Pears is worked on a background of recycled and felted wool suiting, with metallic threads, vintage shell buttons and caribou hair. I am pleased with the results and as my skill in tufting increases I feel I need to explore 'tufting' in a totally contemporary context. Very exciting prospects indeed!
Chuckley Pears will be on display in the NORTH exhibition at the Craft Council Gallery from Saturday November 30th to December 18th, 2013. The opening on Saturday the 30th will coincide with the Craft Council of Newfoundland and Labrador's Open House.

Lots on the go that day, if your out and about be sure to visit the Craft Council as well as stop by and visit me at the Quidi Vidi Village plantation for No Idle Hands; a showcase of craftspeople creating contemporary work which has its roots in traditional Newfoundland and Labrador craft....more on that event later :)

Labrador Tea As A Natural Dye

Labrador Tea,
Rhododendron groenlandicum
 Conception Harbour, NL

Labrador Tea, Rhododendron groenlandicum has a long history of use in Newfoundland and Labrador. Most often it is used to make a hot 'tea' by steeping the leaves. It has also been used as to flavour meat as well hung in closets to repel both moths and ghosts. It has a pleasant 'woodsy' aroma that reminds be of happy walks over the barrens.

One of the things that I love about working with local natural dyes is the scent that fills the studio as I work. This is especially lovely when working in winter. Autumn dried dye plants bring the hope of spring in the long dark days of February. 

Dyeing with northern plants is relatively easy. You don't need to premordant fibres, just add them to the dye bath with the wool. With just a little research you can find plants in your area that have dye properties.  On my property, in Newfoundland, there are over 20 different plants that will produce light and washfast colour. It is best to pick dye plants in the fall when the plant has had all summer to develop the tannins that will help produce colour.

Here is a basic recipe for Labrador Tea that will work with most plants and dye approximately 200 grams of fibre. 

You will need:

Wool and beaver teeth dyed with alum and
Labrador Tea picked in the Labrador Straits, February 2011.

20 grams of Alum (food grade alum can be purchased in bulk food shops and pharmacies, you can also order alum through natural dye suppliers such as Maiwa.
A 20 litre stock pot that has been designated for dyeing. The quality doesn't have to be great and you can get them for pretty cheap at big department stores or thrift shops.
A wooden spoon that has been designated for dyeing. 
Mild soap, such as Ivory bar soap.

1. Gather enough Labrador Tea to fill a grocery shopping bag. You can use all of the plant including the stems and stalks. Labrador Tea is slow growing so only pick a little from a patch and move on to the next area to insure that the plant stand is not compromised.
2. Put all of the Labrador Tea in a large stock pot.  For safety, designate a stock pot to be used only for dyeing.  Cover with water and bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for an hour. Remove from the heat and let it cool to room temperature.
3. Prepare fibre for dyeing by tieing skeins of wool (to reduce tangling) and scouring (washing gently with warm water and mild soap). You may want to put fleece into a a mesh laundry bag.
4. Remove Labrador Tea but leave the dye 'liquor' in the pot. You may want to strain the liquor  if you are dyeing fleece to remove any bits that may tangle into the fibre.
5. Add Alum to dye liquor and stir to dissolve. Add fibre to be dyed and return to heat. Bring up to a simmer (190F/95C) and maintain temperature with out boiling for approximately an hour. 

Fleece and yarn that have been
dyed with Labrador Tea and Iron.

6. Allow pot and fibre to cool to room temperature and rinse gently with warm water and mild soap. Hang to dry. 

That's it! You have created a skein of sunny yellow wool or fleece.  By using iron as a mordant instead of alum, you can 'sadden' the colours the plants will produce.

If you are interested in more information on natural dyes, Maiwa has a great printable instruction sheet full of information. Interested in going further? I regularly teach workshops at the Anna Templeton Centre for Craft Art and Design. Follow us here and on Facebook for information on upcoming textile workshops. 

Happy colouring!

Art Dolls and Tree Toppers

Upcoming Workshop at that Anna Templeton Centre for Craft Art and Design

Eric Walsh Photo

Starts Wednesday, November 13, 3 Wednesday 6-9pm
What do a Victorian lady, an alien, a Greek Goddess, and your best friend all have in common? You can use them as inspiration for an incredible art doll! Susan Furneaux is excited to share her expertise, helping you to flush out the unique character of a doll or funky tree-topper of your own design. This class moves through designing the doll, making a materials list, and creating this work of art. Susan will teach you about doll stands and presentation and the mechanics of making a tree-topper. Dolls will be constructed using machine and hand stitching, so it is helpful to have some experience in these areas. Come create something unique that will be cherished for generations!   $90 (Most supplies are extra) To register, please contact the Anna Templeton Centre at 739-7623 or register online at http://www.annatempletoncenter.com/adult-classes/adult-design-classes/