Batik dragonfly

[Shade of Shadow]

So I made my first batik piece last weekend.
Because I am so darn proud of how it came out I just have to post this gigantic lots of pics!
Hope you like it.

Wax in....
First the waxing of the plain white sheet...


First paint-bath, yellow


After the second bath, cyan


Putting it to bath 3, magenta/red


After the third bath, magenta


Before the last bath


Wax out!
Getting the stuff out. Quite horrible.


Finished product!!





Woooooo happy happy!! I just can't believe I really made that.
Now I just don't know what to do with it. I thought of putting it on bamboosticks, so it can be hang in front of the window. I love to hear your thoughts.

[JadedJenn]

That is beautiful!

[melissanorth]

It's gorgeous- I love it! I like looking at the how-to photos. I made a batik once at school, about 10 years ago now. In the second pic two of the wings are blue- just curious as to why that is? Did you put wax over the entire wing area?

Also, what sort of dye did you use for the baths? I have some fabric dye but I think it needs salt and agitation, and since I live with my parents I'm not going to dye their washing machine/the bath/sink etc.

Did you tie-dye any of it, or did the wax make that effect?

As for suggestions- it depends how big it is, and what sort of decoration you have in your house. The window idea sounds lovely, or you could make a cushion/quilt, something like that, or maybe a wall hanging.

[Shade of Shadow]

Thank you!
The dye is old dye my mother used about 7 years ago. It is dry powder cold dye which has to be mixed with salt and soda. The last bath was with a new bought dye, but I don't remember the name. I can check it out for your.

In the beginning, the first bath, I tie-dyed the sun (left upper) and the bottom corners. But I liked the effect of handbrushing the wax on it better. That's what I did for creating the halo around her head en tail. I found it amazing how detailed the brushstrokes came out. So the rest of the process I only used wax and brushes.

The wings are kept in the wax for the whole process. In the 2e blue bath I crackled only the upper wings, keeping the bottom ones undamaged. With the next 3e and pink/reddish bath I waxed the upper ones again and cracked the bottom ones. The last bath they were both crackled.

[teachingjonah]

Gorgeous. I loved seeing all of the steps and color changes.

[Liralen]

Awesome!  Absolutely beautiful.  I love the in process pictures.

[audio]

That is soo pretty! I really want to do batik, but it seems really tough! I'm wisting this baby!

[tattooedcrafter]

GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!! I love it, I normally am not big on things like this but yours in so pretty.

[iota1617]

That is so neat!  It came out wonderfully.

[olive_juice]

This is completely amazing! I am totally in awe of your skill and patience!