Autumn Perspectives

This series is an attempt to portray some of the spectrum of autumn moods, as I see them here in England. From the first hard-to-describe, subtle changes, to the full blaze of coloured leaves, a touch of sadness at reaching a turning point and later the raininess, earthiness and dark bareness of near winter. The necklaces in this picture are arranged from light to dark, as it were chronologically.

For a long time I had the idea for overdyeing the pleated silk to create complex colours that are difficult to pin down and reveal a whole array of unexpected blended hues at closer inspection. I find colours like that very pleasing.

Dyeing with plants lends itself perfectly to this purpose because the colours seem to have a similar quality. As Rita Buchanan says in her wonderful book, A Weaver's Garden,

"Dyes from plants are not pure and refined but are blends of different colored substances. This impurity, I think, is what gives plant-dyed fibers such appealing richness and subtlety of shade. It also explains why plant-dyed colors 'all go together'. One color will dominate, but it contains hints of other colors."

I knew from previous dyeing experiments that that's true. What still surprised me was the array of colours I got and also their perfect autumness. The series then came together as if it wasn't me making it, which is a romantic notion but it tends to seem like that with projects I've been carrying round in my head for ages.

Over the weekend I just need to write the descriptions and the shop will be open on Monday.
Thank you for reading.