Mulberry Manor Botanical and Fiber Art

As a botanical dyer, I like to use local materials whenever possible. This year, I have focused on adding more botanical dye plants to my home gardens. I added Lemon Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus Citriodora Lemon Bush) which grows here as an annual, and White Fleece Flower (Persicaria polymorpha) which grows as a perennial. I gathered some of each today along with Japanese Maple, two varieties of coreopsis, Lance Corporal Persicaria, Cranesbill geranium, native goldenrod (Solidago), smoke bush (Cotinus coggygyria), ferns (Cinnamon and Sensitive), and a pile of marigold flowers. The leaves of the plants will print on various fabric projects, and the marigolds will be cooked for their wonderful orange dye. The dye shop will be super busy over the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

As an aside, Mary and Joan's Pretty Leafy Things Pop Up will again pop up in November, dates announced shortly. Joan Weber Kennedy of Journey Fiber Arts had a blast last year and are looking forward to seeing you again.

Work is underway in the dye shop. Endeavor of the week: Linen dress for my friend Joan Kennedy of Journey Fiber Arts. The first photo shows the dress with ferns across the bottom. I rolled it, steamed for 90 minutes and WAIT, WHAT?? The original green dye in the dress changed from sage to a pale blue-green. There are now pinkish ”clouds” across the back. I love it, and so does she. Good lesson in the value of experimenting and not having pre-conceived notions of how something “should” turn out. That’s why I do what I do, 100% due to the talents of Lisa Binkley Fiber Art’s classes.

Wrapping up “down time”. Spring is finally here in SE Wisconsin—for real we hope. The leaves are coming on, so adventures in botanical dyeing 2024 are about to ensue. For now, scouring estate sale finds and a new set of aprons. AND, HUGE score: a pile of leather. I have not tried botanicals on leather yet, but stay tuned! Conversation overheard today: She: LOOK! I found a pile of leather at an estate sale. He: What are you going to do with that? She: Botanical prints, of course. Joan Weber Kennedy of Journey Fiber Arts never even asked! He: Well, her brain tracks differently from mine. Yup, it does. It’s still a mighty fine brain, but not tracking botanical dye. Yet.

How botanical eco dyers do Easter! Onion skins, water, bring to a boil. Wrap rubber bands around eggs. Immerse, cook 11 min. Place eggs in ice water. BUT strain and keep that valuable dye for your next project-great deep yellow/tan color.

In recovery today after a fabulous first time exhibiting at Art in the Burg yesterday. This exceptionally well-organized event supports the many varied art programs in the Cedarburg School District-areas which, IMO are sorely underfunded. Kudos to the organizers, student helpers, student performers and fellow artists.

I did forget to obtain emails from my customers, so if you would like to receive an occasional email please send a pm or email to [email protected] and I will set it up.

I hope to have a show this coming fall. Stay tuned and thanks again.

Playing with dye blankets today. I used an onion skin dye on the yellow apron and logwood on the blue/purple one. Hanging to dry in the warm breeze. If all continues to go well, I will bring them to Art in the Burg in Cedarburg this Saturday from 10-4. Support local student art programs, the students will be glad that you did and you will too! 🎭🎨🖌️🎶🎺🎤

Sooo excited, Art in the Burg is this coming Saturday, and I am busy working up my display and checking off things on the “to do” list.
Spring will be here sooner or later and fresh pink pillows or table toppers done up on vintage linen will be great accents for your home. A fun color-block work apron would be a great gift for you or a hostess. If you are going out on a spring walk, log your sights in a nature-themed notebook. And, of course, I will have socks for your Birkenstocks because it isn’t quite flip-flop weather yet!
Hope to see you on Saturday at Cedarburg High School. I will be in Booth #3.

How do I use bits and bobs of fabric? Cover notebooks, that’s what! I will have the small () lined books and large () blank books at Art in the Burg on March 16 These are great books for hiking journals, sketch books or what have you. Hope to see you there!

The dye shop in winter: using rehydrated leaves and looking forward to fresh stock. A bit of a wait—need 22 inches of snow to melt.

New Year! New Projects! Big announcement!

I am excited and honored to announce that my botanically dyed art work has been accepted into the juried Art in the Burg show in Cedarburg on March 16, 2024. This show supports the many varied—and fine—fine arts programs in the Cedarburg School District, so please mark your calendars and plan to attend.

New Projects! Winter is here, and so the work in the dye shop has slowed down quite a bit. I am using re-hydrated dry leaves and some fresh ones from the floral department to create botanically dyed woolen crew socks. Eucalyptus—which, decidedly, is not local—produces great orange images of its leaves and berries.

Sweet little zipper pouches are also new. They are fashioned from botanically dyed vintage linens, are fully lined, and feature a vintage shade pull as the zipper pull. I knew that I would find a use for those pulls some day, and am so glad that I kept them in my stash!

My good friend, Joan Weber Kennedy of Journey Fiber Arts will also be in attendance at Art in the Burg. The Mary and Joan's Pretty Leafy Things Pop Up was such fun back in November, and we would love to see again in March.

Many thanks to everyone who came out to the first Mary and Joan's Pretty Leafy Things Pop Up . We were delighted to see so many old friends, make new ones, and marvel at the many ways our individual circles intersected—less than 6 degrees of separation for sure! If you weren't able to attend or would like to purchase additional items, please message us. Mary Reilly-Kliss Journey Fiber Arts Joan Weber Kennedy.

I love giving new life to vintage items, and my “table toppers” do just that. Vintage linens and dresser scarves take up botanical dyes beautifully, at times better than contemporary fabrics. Sometimes the linens have minuscule thread pulls or tiny holes which lend to their charm. I like to imagine who made them and who used them. These ”table toppers”, as I call them, are wonderful for your dining or kitchen table. You could layer them over a table cloth or use them alone under candlesticks or floral arrangements. The holidays are coming, you know😉. I will have an assortment of table topper available at Mary and Joan's Pretty Leafy Things Pop Up which I am hosting with Joan Weber Kennedy of Journey Fiber Arts and David Kliss on November 11 from 10:00-4:00, 903 Mulberry Drive East, West Bend.

Who is the man behind that mask? David Kliss, that‘s who! Welding found objects into pieces of art for your home and garden is his hobby. You will find his pieces for sale at Mary and Joan's Pretty Leafy Things Pop Up on November 11, 10-4, 903 Mulberry Drive East. Owls! Book worms, sheep and more! Joan, of Journey Fiber Arts, Mary of Mulberry Manor Botanical and Fiber Art, and Dave would love it if you stopped by to see their creations.

Time is of the essence for the bundle dyer at this time of year. The leaves are falling, which makes collection easy, and the tannins are full on!

When it’s too hot to forage for leaves, it’s time to wash and iron silk scarves and socks. Leaf search ensues this weekend. Anyone have a chestnut tree?🤔

The process for creating botanical eco-dyed art is fairly simple: prepare the fabric, put down the botanical elements (leaves, stems, blossoms, seed heads), roll the fabric on a dowel and steam for 1.5 hours. The magic happens during the steaming process when the tannins in the plants release onto the fabric. When the bundle is unrolled, you will find that nature has provided a unique, one-of-a-kind piece of fabric. I use this technique on thrifted clothing, socks, vintage linens, new yardage, and paper. This process is win-win: the process is fun, and creative with a low environmental impact through a minimal use of environment and people-friendly chemicals.

My one-of-a-kind pieces of wearable art and home decor items are created by printing leaves onto mordanted fabric. Most of the leaves come from my Wisconsin garden, though I have been known to collect leaves on road trips.