Do you have a favorite walking or running path? I have 3 routes that I take depending on my mood and time available for a workout. I love walking through neighborhoods and getting inspired...whether its from an interesting flower bed, a front porch bench or a colorful wreath on a painted door.
For the 2011 Abundant Haven Summer Pillow Ambush, I set out to prove that batik prints can be used for all types of homes. The new batiks coming out of Indonesia are not purely tropical and can be used to grace any home, from traditional estates to artsy cottages or urban condos. Here are a few of the homes along my walking route to receive an "ambush"...
So what exactly qualifies as a batik print and how are they made? Batik art has been around for centuries, predating written records. Although it is generally thought to have it's origins in Indonesia, ceremonial batik linens have been discovered in ancient Egyptian tombs.
Batik is a method of dying fabric using wax on the face side of the cloth, allowing the dye to settle only on the unwaxed portions. Batiks are known for the veins of color that appear as the wax dries and cracks. After the dye has dried, the wax is pulled up from the fabric by ironing it between 2 sheets of paper.
Are you up for a creative batik adventure? If so, try making an Autumn Batik using leaves dipped in wax and pressing them onto fabric. Use dyes in warm fall color tones. Here's a great link from Martha Stewart on creating your own batiks: http://www.marthastewart.com/265408/batik-prints-dyeing-how-tos
Happy experimenting!
