Convertible Clothing!

Just read this NY Times article about convertible clothing and it pumped me up for the morphable clothing I've been planning for my next line, take a gander:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/20/fashion/20CONVERTIBLES.html?_r=1&ref=fashion

Also, due to popular demand, I'm constructing more Skirt/Dresses:

Onion Skins: Wool Fur Jacket featured in OFFWORLD

When I talk to anyone who has a vague knowledge of natural dyeing, onion skins are the first to come up. Maybe because they're easy to obtain for free and, if you've ever dyed easter eggs with a depression era grandparent, onion skins are essential. What I didn't know, was what color pigment they release. I checked multiple websites and even my Readers' Digest Crafts and Hobbies book (if your in need of a crafting bible, take note) and the answers all varied so I figured the best way to find out was to try them myself. It took quite a few trips to the onion section of Trader Joe's, rummaging through their meager selection, taking more skin then onion (in a completely inconspicuous manner of course) to come up with enough for a dyebath. I went for the red/purple skins but I hear the yellow ones work as well. Alum, again, was used as a mordant.

I made the mistake of sewing the jacket before dyeing, some warping of the wool resulted.

 

Exhibited at UCLA Broad Art Center New Wight Gallery

Jan. 13th - 21st

Purple Cabbage: SHUGAH SHORTS (Boxer Briefs)

16 hours, a Subaru packed to capacity, a burrito in Mojave containing what seemed to be chicken soup = never have I been more thrilled to see Los Angeles. After a good night's rest, I'm ready to throw some veggies in a pot and see what color comes out. I start with cabbage and it turns out to be my cheapest and most effective dye material thus far! Two heads in a gallon or so of water boiled for about an hour produced a rich purple that exceeded my expectations. I was even able to save a jar of pigment for later dyeing which proved helpful when tinting an unsatisfactory yellow to more of a brownish green. My test fiber included a silk shirt, some cotton jersey (which was surprisingly difficult to find downtown, everything is a synthetic blend!) and some more canvas for CHUB Packs. Alum was used again as the mordant.

Before the boiling process.

The leaves turned a beautiful violet pink color after the dye was extracted.

Silk shirt drying in the sun.

 This is a prototype for some boxer briefs with fur detailing which will be featured in my spring line, I call them SHUGAH SHORTS