Introduction:
In the post last June, I showed the silk swatches I dyed along with the dilemma of how to present them to enter a show in China. You can see it HERE

A Ring of Silks
I did get into the show! That means sending it to China! The title of the show is “Contemporary Art and Design Exhibition: Natural Dyes and Colors of Nations”. I assumed my pieces were the colors of old China. It will be in November at the Chinese National Silk Museum in Hangzhou, China. My ring began as a hoola hoop!

Every piece started out as white. I used different white silks to get many shades in one dye pot. The dyes are the result of my experiments when researching old European dyes from a book, The Colorful Past. I was looking for natural dyes that might have been used in early China.

I made 48 separate dye baths for the project, each one using a different dye recipe or variation. There was a total of 720 samples.
A sack of bran, a handful of sumac, and three buckets of clear rainwater, are examples given in the old recipes. I had to estimate the size of “a handful” then estimate what weight that would be for sumac.
I used a contemporary dye book , The Art and Science of Natural Dyes, by Boutrop and Ellis to help with the vague descriptions and proportions in the old recipes.
Congratulations for having your work accepted. The hangings R really beautiful, the colors bright & wonderful. Keep up the work & keep getting awards & pleasure from it.
All good & happy things, Dorie
So very fascinating and wonderful. Congratulations Peggy.
Fabulous!
Truly amazing!!!!! A stunning
And previously a dyer so applaud the beauty of all you colours
Wonderful pursuit with amazing “ring”. That such discovery of color dyes are just as beautiful now as they have been for so long. Glad to see the Art survives in your efforts. I am sure the show people agree by welcoming your efforts in their event.
Congratulations! This is beautiful! How exciting that it will be in an exhibit in China!
Congratulations! That is a wonderful recognition of your work!
Congratulations Peggy for work to hard. Good luck in Hangzhou!!
Congratulations what an honor!!!
You make our USA weavers proud!!
What joy your exquisite colors bring! Congratulations!
Congratulations 🎉! So exciting! Will you be traveling there? Are you doing the Textile Arts Council Bazaar in early November?
No and No. I’m going to Japan and that’s all I can do at this point. thanks for asking.
Peggy
Peggy,
Congrats on getting your amazing work recognized globally !! 🙂
Kind regards,
Mike Kendall
Amazing story of processes and research and beautiful work-congratulations- you deserve it- enjoy it!!!!
These are beautiful! Lots of work in the process. Congratulations.
Good for you, Peggy! What an ambitious project, and a great presentation. Will you go to China for the opening?
Did you accompany your piece with this detailed explanation of your research? Hope so.
How swell!! You are amazing, and the display is just perfect.
This is so exciting, beautiful work , silk and China!
Peggy,
Congratulations on being chosen for the show! Well done!
Your colors are stunning and the clever way you mounted the silk pieces is inspired. Gives each piece an opportunity to move in the slightest breeze to show each angle capturing the light.
Sara Jeanne Burke
That is very exciting! Congratulations.
Congratulations
Congratulations!
Congratulations! That is a beautiful sculpture.
Fascinating… and beautiful results!
Congratulations Peggy,
What an honor to celebrate your work and achievement.
Wonderful. Congratulations.
It’s simply beautiful and shows a lot of effort and time we’re put into the project.
So nice to hear from you Miriam. Fonfly, Peggy