Wednesday 7 April 2021

WOYWW #618: Dragonflies on teabags and faux eco-dyeing

Brrr, where's Spring gone? We've been cruelly plunged back into winter and it looks like it might stay unseasonably cold for the rest of the week. I even had to wear my wooly hat yesterday - I never needed it in the winter - or perhaps just once. Got the central heating on full blast today.  However, I'm not here to moan about the weather, but to show you my messy desk for WOYWW #618


This photo was taken sometime at the weekend (when it was still nice and warm!). I was working on my teabags for #the100daychallenge on Instagram. This lot features dragonflies. I did a trial piece and then went on to do seven more for days 57-63. Here they are: 



These actually look better individually than all together, which is not always the case:




I had a little play in my journal too - no plan, just random arrangements of scraps (I won't get upset if you think the before looked better than the after). 



The weekly challenge in the Mixed Media Emporium FB group was 'trees' to tie in with April's theme 'nature'.  I tried my hand at faux eco-dyeing. I'm not even sure if that's a thing but I put together ideas I'd seen on YT and came up with a technique involving some cuttings (amongst other things), distress oxides and an iron. I've got some interesting results, but further explorations will be needed, so at this stage it's purely experimental. 


Oreo visited me in my craft room earlier this week and I just had to take this photo, which gives you a different perspective of my desk... he's still sporting just a single eyebrow whisker but doesn't seem too bothered about it. (I have since discovered the missing one in my son's wardrobe where he likes to snooze!) 

...and I caught this sunset a couple of nights ago:


Happy "Spring" - it can't be far off now! xx


19 comments:

  1. It seems weird finding Oreo's whisker - can you use it in your crafting somehow?
    Love the blue page - not sure what technique you did but it looks gorgeous.
    Also like the dragonfly tea bags - such beautiful coloured wings against those tiny exquisite backgrounds.
    You put me to shame with your production.
    Hugs, Neet 4 xx

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  2. Oh I love your scrappy journal page, both iterations. Love the colours. And the dragonfly tea bags are also quite stunning. I am super intrigued by the Distress Oxides and an iron idea. Tell me more! Your cat reminds me of a phot I took of my daughter, lying in a ray of sunlight on the floor, when she was just a wee little girl. Oh it warms me right up just thinking about ti - cold and miserable here today. Bah! Roll on SPRING...
    Happy WOYWW day!
    Mary Anne (2)

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  3. I really love the dragonflies...gorgeous colours. What a beautiful sunset too.
    Hugs,
    Annie x #11

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  4. Oh wow Zsuzsa that experimental page looks stunning. Loving the dragonflies too. Gorgeous sunset! Meow to Oreo. Stay safe and happy WOYWW. Sarah #7

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  5. Anything with a dragonfly is good by me and they are amazing. The experimental page looks interesting, it reminds me a bit of the ghost printing that I've been doing recently, the effect looks similar but it's probably something completely different. The photos of Oreo and the sunset are lovely. I think Oreo believes he is royalty with the look on his face. Sending big hugs and wishing you a very happy and creative woyww, Angela x17x

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  6. I love your dragonflies, you’ve got them spot on - the iridescence is gorgeous too, I love watching the real thing on the canal nearby, they’re like jewels. We also have kingfishers which I’ve spotted twice and otter footprints have been seen too, so lucky! I really like the eco-dyeing even though the technicalities were lost on me, the effect is brilliant. Glad you’re enjoying having a play!!
    Hugs LLJ 15 xxx

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  7. Hi Zsuzsa. Loving the dragonflies. Well done. And you have invented a new technique?! You will have to teach us all. Great sunset!!
    Take care. God bless.
    Margaret #3

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  8. Loving the dragonflies - they are stunning! The sunset was gorgeous and I love the photo of Oreo. Happy WOYWW. Take care and stay safe. With love & God Bless, Caro xxx (#14)

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  9. I was really cold at Kew on Saturday but so pleased to be there again I didn't mind (TOO much!!) Love that sunset - they're blocked by houses and flats here so I rarely get decent views, even on days when it looks amazing. The dragonflies look beautiful. Have a good week. Helen #1

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  10. I just can't believe that lovely dragonfly is on a teabag!(I mean, all those lovely dragonflies!) Well...I always wondered what else could I use an iron for, apart from proping open the door...
    Stay safe! Keep crafting! Happy WOYWW?! ((Lyn)) #13

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  11. I love your dragonflies, Zsuzsa! Your teabag project is going really well. I particularly like your experimental trees, too. How funny that Oreo leaves his eyebrows in the wardrobe. Thank you for your visit, and I'm glad you liked my carrot shark! I am making good progress on the smily cat faces and have started sewing them, and the other embellishments, onto the squares. It is so much fun to do. My hubby has been out today so I was able to crack on with it, and I shall do some more after I've visited a few more blogs.

    My support pants are specially made to give maximum support for the hernia while not interfering with the operation of the stoma bag, which is probably quite a difficult balance to achieve. When they are new, they are really hard to get on and off but they feel amazing when on.

    My hubby often carries Ruby around in the blanket, just like Oreo! She is very amenable. When we had Bella (Beatrice's sister who got killed when she was quite young), she used to go in the pocket of my apron when she was a little kitten, and peep out over the top like a baby kangaroo in a pouch! I think she felt quite safe and enjoyed the warmth.

    Funny, I can't stand white chocolate! Far too sweet and sickly for my taste! I love both milk and dark but don't have the milk these days (being vegan) and actually hardly ever eat chocolate at all - Easter eggs are an exception! I really like the intense, slightly bitter flavour of the ultra-dark. My egg this year is really delicious. My hubby used to buy me those Lindt chocolate kittens and I must say I felt pretty awful eating them - it did seem dreadfully cruel! We are such softies, aren't we. So funny about you hiding your treats and forgetting about them.

    Happy WOYWW,
    Shoshi x #20

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  12. Adore your dragonflies. And you are making me want to try crackle paste - I assume that's what is through the stencil in your journal play? We are slow to turn to Autumn for which I am grateful. Cooler nights but lovely sun in the day. I love the trans-seasons. Hope it warms up for you soon xo

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  13. Your dragonsflies are fabulous! How many more tea bags do you have to decorate to finish your project? Thanks also for the beautiful pics of Oreo and the sunset. Hope spring will really come soon and stay there!

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  14. I'm just LOVING those dragonfly teabag pieces, Zsuzsa. I do agree that they look terrific on their own, like mini masterpieces!

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  15. Love your dragonflies and your blue nature pages. I would love to know more about your experimenting , if you point me in the right direction. Take care Angela #6

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  16. My word that eco died page is wonderful, how intriguing a technique that sounds! Loving the dragonflies, the detail on the images is so perfectly offset by their backgrounds. Enjoyed the long shot of your desk...I never had the impression it was in a corner! Gosh, if I was Oreo I’d feel very lip sided. Even wearing odd socks makes me feel I should limp!

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  17. Loving the dragon flies and partcular the dotty mesh stuff on your payers - I've not seen anything like that. Thanks to you I have several piles of tea bags waiting to be altered! Belated visit but still, stay safe and keep smiling, Lisa-Jane #9

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  18. Adore your blue "experiment" and love ALL the dragonflies, hoping I get some in the pond this summer. Yes it did freeze over two nights in a row but seems to be OK. Just got a trail camera so been busy setting that up. Thanks for the visit BJ#5

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  19. Love the dragonflies and the blue page!
    I often find my before are better than my afters but I think your journal page is great.
    Happy WOYWW!
    Susan #19

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