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AUSTRALIAN BOTANICAL PRINTING SAMPLES





Whilst in Australia on our month’s trip, David sketched (@davidsteedenart on Instagram if you are interested) and I did some botanical printing with the local leaves.
The image below gives an indication of 4 of the results I achieved. I brought along with me some green tea teabags and ferrous sulphate powder. This allowed me to play around with strengths and combinations.
Top left is a white linen, no alum or AA mordant dipped in iron with a green tea kitchen towel blanket.
Top right is vintage Lancashire cotton, no alum or AA mordant dipped in iron with an kitchen towel green tea blanket. The leaves were soaked in vinegar.
Bottom left is silk noil no alum or AA mordant dipped in iron with a green tea kitchen towel blanket. 
Bottom right is vintage linen no alum or AA mordant dipped in iron with a strong green tea kitchen towel blanket.


Note how the results all vary. Due to varying fabrics, leaves used, length of time dipped, strength of dips.  


These four images below are of silk noil and like the above have no alum or AA mordant but they differ from the above in that they have been dipped in green tea and had a paper towel blanket dipped in iron. Note the ridged effect which came from the kitchen paper towel. I like it. 







 Here we have the layout of a variety of Acer leaves laid both sun and moon up on vintage linen, no alum or AA mordant, iron dipped with tannin dipped paper towel blanket.  Note the sun side down gives a discharge effect and the moon side down prints dark.



The holey effect was achieved by putting a resist, a piece of nylon net over the leaves before the blanket.


Please feel free to like, leave a comment or question. đŸ˜‰
See more images of my work on Instagram @inspired_textiles and Facebook - inspired textiles
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Comments

  1. Jacqui (Jax to my friends)6 April 2020 at 03:06

    Beautiful results. Can you please tell me what Redbush is? I have tried looking up on the internet but can not find it. I am in Qld Australia and wonder if it grows here? Also what advise can you please offer about the strength of your iron and tannin mixes. Thank you for any help you can offer. I would love to get the leaves to be more defined. Thank you

    ReplyDelete
  2. Julia8 June 2020 at 07:22

    Beautiful printing and effects. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Margaret S11 July 2020 at 00:10

      Hi I did reply in June but I now see it didn’t publish. Thank you for such a lovely comment.

      Delete
  3. Tinkerscastle10 July 2020 at 22:50

    I would love to have a go at this, but am totally new to it. Have you a blog post which explains your method in detail?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Margaret S11 July 2020 at 00:08

      You can always email me with questions. masteeden@btinternet.com

      Delete
    2. Margaret S11 July 2020 at 00:12

      There is a pdf on Etsy. LeafandPrint has a really good one. Alternatively if you are on Facebook join the Eco Dyeing with Friends and there is a free shorter file that I was involved in putting together. Good luck.

      Delete

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