Dyeing with Mushrooms

Large dyer polypore found on a mushroom hunt near Mt. Hood, Oregon. It was approximately 12"wide x 6" tall. I diced it up simmered it in water for 30 minutes or longer to make a dirty yellow dye bath.

I made up some resist techniques based on traditional shibori practices. The folded canvas between two boards created the pattern below. The fabric I used to make the cushion was dipped and soaked in the dye bath for 4-8 hours.

I also used alum as a post mordant, which brightened the yellow a bit. This is the result. 

-NEW WORK-DRYING ON THE SHELF-

Standing by to be fired. I needed to document the pieces before firing this time, due to the fact that the whole last batch was destroyed by my own glazing experiments.....

I am super excited about some of these pieces, and going back to my original theory that less glaze is better unless you are creating your own or using a wood fired kiln. Someday I will have access to one again. I like to see the firing prints on the pots, maybe this electric kiln is just too clean. I am also experimenting with texture and combining the white and brown clay bodies, I hope they turn out.