USING RED EARTH to make marks on textiles is a similar method to bleaching. Google says it is a complicated procedure to prepare earth as a dye (Africa style) but I experimented by keeping it simple -
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It was fun collecting objects that rust - bottle tops, chain, wire, metal constructions pieces.
I found the elements that worked were :- natural textiles - linen or cotton wet fabric, to be stained, first before bundling it up with the rust bits. get good contact between the fabric and the rusting item by weighting down with a brick pour over vinegar water to quicken the process - only takes a day let air get into the bundle - maybe flip it over half way through - it's the oxidation that causes the staining. |
Inspired by reading another's experience where she left textiles in her garden and returned to them a month or so later, I decided to hang a bunting of fabric pieces on my back fence. How would the elements effect them? It made a lovely installation like coloured fluttering flags caught by the breeze. It was, on occasions, a discussion points when friends visited. One was sure I'd did it just to annoy my husband.The artist whose experience I read about was positive and she loved her worn fabric pieces. My experience was the opposite. When I took them in, pulled the staples out of the fabric they all looked faded and too thin so they all ended up in the bin.
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