Try as I might, I have never gotten even a few square feet of my garden to look like this. Well. I have years to go and miles to walk in this Life so there's still Time.
I few commenters--thank you so much for taking the Time to write--- mentioned India Flint's book and I have it on order. My mistake--and it was made as "an experiment" was to mordant as usual but to skip the iron water on the leaves. I have always gotten good prints using the iron water. But I wanted to see if I could do it without. I also have soy milk on my grocery list to use as a mordant experiment.
I was disappointed I didn't get any leaf prints. My rusting tin cans did a lovely job though. Also my leaves were dry. I might have gotten prints if they had been fresh. Weeks to go before anything fresh is on my dye table. Spring is going backwards again this week with temps in the very low 30's. One comment I read--to soak the leaves in iron water for a few hours before wrapping and steaming. I would imagine shaking off excess iron water before placing on the cloth. Also to put some leaves right side up and some wrong side up. Lots of things on my "to try" list.
I did wrap two of the cloths that didn't print with another tin can and some onion skins. I wrapped and tied with string and left them in the bright Sun on a rock on the deck--I dipped them in water a few times during the day. Again--it was the can that printed and the other cloth picked up some yellow from the onions but no print--perhaps if I had left it there for a few days and nights.
G took me to Goodwill for Mother's Day. I got three new (to me) tee shirts to replace some that are very old and a nice old card table cloth with a cross stitched basket filled with tiny blue flowers. A nice job of the cross stitch as the backside is nice as well. Usually the back looks like a rats nest of thread. I may cut off a small square including the basket and make myself a pocket hankie. I love the hand feel of old linens. Washed, with all the starch out of it, it will be so soft. I collected old hankies for years--years ago--and now have one in the pocket of all my pants and jackets.
Reminds me of Charles Dickens Elementary. Had to show our clean hands and nails to our teachers each morning and produce a clean ironed hankie as well (kindergarten all the way to 5th grade). In a pocket. And skirts and dresses only for girls. Never pants. And always a full slip. Would anyone be able to get away with this these days? Boys had to wear a collared shirt buttoned to the neck, pants with a belt. All shoes had to be clean and shined. We were being prepared to "be a success" in Life. I believe we dressed this way all the way thru junior and high school. I remember ironing quite a lot of shirts, blouses, dresses and putting creases in all my brother's shirts and pant legs thru high school.
I can just imagine these same very old (to me) stern teachers frisking all the students for weapons and drugs these modern days and then asking to see their hands and finger nails. Making sure they were clean. And telling them to tuck in their shirt tails.
Happy Mother's Day.
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