DIY Rope Treatment Handout! Dyeing even Nylon!

•July 16, 2009 • Leave a Comment

Dyeing Nylon

Nylon is a polymer, which is a long molecule composed of many identical units, also known as polyamide. Nylon (synthetic fiber) can be dyed with either acid dyes (YAY) and disperse dyes (more like printing ink and annoying IMHO). Both require heat to fix the dye, which is an issue as heat also breaks down nylon, not enough to ruin clothing but maybe to challenge the suspend-ability of your rope.  However, sun-baking may be effective enough and presents a fiber-safer alternative as well as a fun experiment for you to try over the weekend.  NOTE: Some treatments like waterproofing prevent nylon from ‘taking’ dye.

Top of Form

Acid Dyes

Nylon is a synthetic fiber, but its unique chemistry means that it can be dyed, easily and well, using the same acid dyes that are commonly used on wool and other animal fibers.  Acid Dyes come in powder for hot water dye processing, and produce vibrant colors on animal-protein fibers including silk, wool, feathers, and most nylons.  You can usually find Acid Dyes at Joann’s or Michaels.

-Dissolve dye and salt(1-2 Tb) in enough water to cover the rope you are dyeing

– Adding the material, heat it to a simmer for ten minutes

– Add vinegar (1/4 cup) and simmer another ten minutes

-Allow to cool gradually, and rinse out.

—Microwaving, baking, steaming, (maybe sun-baking) can be used as an alternative heat application:

-Soak the rope in a vinegar and water bath

-Dissolve the dye in a scant water and salt mixture

-Paint a generous amount of  the dye mixture no to the wetted rope

-Apply heat until dry

-Rinse

Fiber Reactive Dyes

Most fiber reactive dyes don’t dye nylon. However, they can be treated like acid dyes with the addition of an acid (such as vinegar) and with the necessary application of heat. When used with an acid dye recipe, a fiber reactive dye acts like an acid dye (but less predictable).

All Purpose Dyes

Most all purpose dyes, like Rit, contain two kinds of dye: ‘direct’ dye which does ok with cotton and hemp, and ‘leveling acid’ dye which dyes both wool and nylon (usually paler). However, with pure acid dyes on nylon you really get the color you intended, and you don’t waste money on the direct dye that can’t stick to nylon. But in a pinch these dyes are in many grocery stores and pharmacies.

Natural Dyes

Many natural dyes are acid dyes, used like above in a dyebath with vinegar or citric acid. Cochineal (insect) dyes nylon an intense red, Turmeric (seed) dyes nylon a medium golden yellow.  NOTE: most natural dyes tend to fade with time and sun exposure.

Posted in Bondage, Hand outs, Presenting

Class Descriptions: Sacred Sexuality

•July 15, 2009 • 3 Comments

For Bondage Classes: Click Here For Gender play Classes: Click Here For Kinky Craft Classes: Click Here

  • Channeling the Deep: Self Bondage for Meditation, and Ritual Work (201)

Bondage is an excellent tool for magickal and ritual use. But what about when there isnt anyone else around….or you don’t want there to be anyone else involved? Whether alone, or working with the self as part of a group ritual self bondage can be used for grounding, to stir the firey passion within yourself, or to continue your Work at home to take that fire back with you. Magick begins with the magician, and together we can develop the ways for you to ride your ecstasy anytime, any place and make it adaptable to any ritual space.

  • Erotism: Sexual Religion (Discussion, All Experience Levels)

There are many religious and occult systems that incorporate sex, sex magick and sexual servitude as devotion. Starting with the thesis of Georges Bataille which places the erotic drive and the fire it produces within the framework of religious devotion we will discuss different systems from Kabbalah, Vodou, Gnosticism and beyond while exploring ways to develop your place within the powerful current of sexual magick.

  • Sacred Sex and Sacred Whoredom (201/301)

This is an introduction to Sex Work for spiritual purposes. The different roles of ritual sex work, Guardians, Priests and Priestesses and God/Goddess invokation and evokation will be explained and explored. Using a cross-pantheonistic approach, ritual space and ritual tools will be set up and charged while considering the physical, emotional and spiritual safety concerns of opening yourself up to the fire. This class will prepare you to either begin your journey of sacred sex work and how to make the most of participating in group sexual ritual.

[There is also a weekend intensive I designed with Lee Harrington, click here: Opening Wide]

  • Rope Dance for Magickal and Ritual Use (201)

Stir up the energy in your bondage with movement! Dance is a key component of many magickal and ritual practices and so is bondage– so why not learn how to combine them! Whether dancing around a bonfire, a drum circle or in your own home, this class will cover new dynamic techniques to amplify your play and your power all within the context of your ritual space! By eliminating the need for “out of scene” “pre and post ritual” set up or break down, Rope dance allows you to hit the ground running and ensure a pleasant take off and landing for solo, couple and group application.

  • Mummification: The Bound Body Altar (201)

When the body is bound all of its energy is wrapped up in itself- every thought, twitch and muscle movement feeds back into the wrappings preserving it, sometimes for thousands of years. By using a mummy as an altar, this battery can become an energy generator to charge and broadcast magickal intent, as well as imbuing the mummy with incomparable bliss and power to carry the Work far beyond the time of the ritual. The history of magickal mummification will be discussed as the techniques of mummification and immobilization will be demonstrated, with hands on opportunities.

descriptions coming soon for:

Sex Magick 1: God/dess work, path finding, and Intro to Partnered work

Sex Magick 2: Invokation and Evokation, Scripting

Posted in Bondage, Presenting, sacred sexuality, Sacred/Magick, whore
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Stalkers Come in All…accents

•June 18, 2009 • 1 Comment

When you live with parts of what most consider your private life out in the open, and yes this time I mean sex, you are bound to attract many varied forms of intense attention.

Sometimes that’s the point.

Without that attention its hard to give voice to your causes (in my case Sexual Freedom, Alt Sex Rights, Sex Workers Rights, Marriage Equality)

Without that networking and putting yourself out there its hard to meet like-minded people, exhibit or produce your artwork, or research.

But sometimes, that attention just isnt…and Im a girl who apparently attracts a lot of those sometimes…

Continue reading ‘Stalkers Come in All…accents’

Posted in activism, Musings
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Poly Betrayal

•June 12, 2009 • 2 Comments

To some people this may seem like an oxymoron.
A Het/Mon person once told me that they thought that being poly was simply a way to navigate around hurt feelings, and infidelity. I thought it was an ignorant approach then, and now I see how harmful this disinfo belief truly is.

Just today, a partner of mine who lives in Berlin informed me that the thought of me with another person is too painful for him to bear…suddenly…and that he has reconsidered. He cant “pretend” and he made a “mistake” entering into this relationship.

Continue reading ‘Poly Betrayal’

Posted in Musings
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Washington DC Gay Pride: NCSF Needs your help!

•June 5, 2009 • Leave a Comment

HELP!
We have an amazing opportunity to be front row at the parade, give the NCSF some great exposure, and have a blast at the parade without needing to navigate thru throngs of pride-sters.

We need as many volunteers as possible (10 ideally) to hold NCSF banners, wear NCSF Shirts, and watch the best Gay Pride parade on the east coast!

When: Sat June 13th; check in between 430-5pm, parade starts at 630, ends at 730, done no later than 8!
What: Bring water and snacks, dress light, and bring your smile!
Where: check in with me at 24th and N street.
How: Call ME 412 901 1216, email me Klawdya@ncsfreedom.org
Why: Because you should and it will be fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PLEASE HELP SPREAD THE WORD!

Klawdya Rothschild
NCSF Board of Directors
Communications Chair
Membership Coordinator
Klawdya@NCSFreedom.org

http://ncsf.wordpress.com

Posted in activism
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Stretching For Bondage HANDOUT!

•May 30, 2009 • 1 Comment

Stretching… for Bondage                                                                    with Klawdya Rothschild

Why Stretch?

  • Stretching prevents injury in activities demanding a high and varied range of motion. The reaches in tennis, sprints in basketball, quick bursts in martial arts demand high range of motion.
  • Activities that consist of low intensity muscle contraction cycles, like biking and swimming need less flexibility, but stretching reduces the stiffness & soreness these activities cause.
  • Flexibility decreases with age; stretching can help keep activities enjoyable with less discomfort..

musclesWhat is Flexibility?

–A joint’s ability to move freely through a normal range of motion—not just do the splits.

Things that Affect Flexibility:

  • the type of joint (some joints simply aren’t meant to be flexible)
  • the elasticity of muscle tissue (scar tissue from previous injury is not very elastic)
  • elasticity of tendons and ligaments (ligaments don’t stretch much and tendons shouldn’t)
  • the elasticity of skin (skin has some degree of elasticity, but not much)
  • the ability of a muscle to relax and contract to achieve the greatest range of movement
  • warmth of joint and tissues (more flexible at temperatures 1-2 deg. higher than normal)
  • the time of day (more flexible in afternoon than in morning, peaking about 2:30pm-4pm)
  • the stage in the recovery process after injury
  • age (pre-adolescents are generally more flexible than adults)
  • gender (females are generally more flexible than males)
  • the restrictions of any clothing or equipment

Types of Flexibility

  • Dynamic flexibility: performing movements with muscles to bring a limb through its full range of motion in the joints.
  • Static-active flexibility: ability to hold positions using only the tension of the agonists and synergists while the antagonists are being stretched. (eg. lifting the leg and keeping it high without any external support (other than from your own leg muscles).
  • Static-passive flexibility: ability to hold positions and maintain them using only your weight, the support of your limbs, or some other apparatus (such as a chair). The splits is an example of static-passive flexibility.

How To Increase Flexibility

  • Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF)
  • Static Stretching
  • Strength Training
  • Isometric Stretching

The Best Way To Increase Flexiblity

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Faciliation or PNF for short, is the most effective way to increase flexiblity. Also known as contract-relax stretching, PNF involves stretching a muscle slowly and gradually until you reach maxium resistance without pain. You hold this stretch for 6 seconds then contract the muscle you are stretching for a couple of seconds, release the contraction, and immediately take the stretch a little further. Anytime you stretch a muscle, the stretch reflex  contracts the muscle to protect against injury. PNF inhibits stretch reflex.

Incorporate reciprocal inhibition by contracting the opposing muscle then taking the stretch even further.( ie. when attempting to increase hamstring flexibility go through the PNF sequence, and after you’ve completed it contract your quads and try to take the stretch even further. If you have really tight hamstrings you may want to try this first before starting with the PNF sequence)

StretchesWarm Ups:

1. joint rotations

2. aerobic activity

Begin with joint-rotations, starting from your toes and working your way up. This facilitates joint motion by lubricating the joint with synovial fluid. You should perform slow circular movements, both clockwise and counter-clockwise, until the joint seems to move smoothly. You should rotate the following IN ORDER:

1. fingers and knuckles

2. wrists

3. elbows

4. shoulders

5. neck

6. trunk/waist

7. hips

8. legs

9. knees

10. ankles

11. toes

After joint rotations, do five minutes of aerobic activity such as jumping jacks, running in place or  jumping rope ;), to increase cardiovascular output (i.e., get your blood pumping). Increased blood flow in muscles improves performance and flexibility and reduces the likelihood of injury.

Routine(s)

As a general rule, you should usually do the following when putting together a stretching routine:

  • FIRST: stretch your back (upper and lower)
  • stretch your sides after stretching your back
  • stretch your buttocks before stretching your groin or your hamstrings
  • stretch your calves before stretching your hamstrings
  • stretch your shins before stretching your quadriceps (if you do shin stretches)
  • stretch your arms before stretching your chest LAST

Stretching routines for flexibility should accomplish:

  • Training stretch receptors (Proprioceptors) with PNF to adjust to greater muscle length.
  • Reduce the resistance of connective tissue to elongation

Posted in Bondage, Hand outs, Presenting
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New Rope Source- Aja Rope

•May 22, 2009 • Leave a Comment

Shibaricon is one of my favourite events of the year.  The people are so friendly and dedicated and you often see some of the most beautiful work and moments.

shibaricon_header_09_bannerThursday before the Meet n Greet a woman named Lilly, of A’ja Rope (A’ja, which means Come here in Hindi, I wonder if they know) came up to me and said “I owe you hugs…and Im a gifter”  and out from a bag she produces a lovely 30 foot bundle of beautifully dyed hemp rope.  The color they said was “Ultra Violet” a very deep, dark purple that unlike other dark purples which sometimes look black, is unmistakably purple– which I like very much.  I didnt see this color anywhere on their website, but they did have many other colors to choose from, and perhaps this is a new color they will be offering.

The source of this rope is raw, organic, Romanian hemp…a rare thing these days, as rumor had it that MONK bought up the entire Euro/Romanian hemp source.

The rope is stiff and tight, the way that the raw/unprocessed hemp I prefer is, but has the washed and dyed smell that hand worked hemp has.  This smell is not what I look for in a rope, since I love the unmasked grassy smell of raw rough hemp.  But, for a well worked, strong, beautifully dyed rope, this is a good source for sure.

I am very happy to receive presents of this kind!  Thank you Lilly!

Posted in Bondage
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Lesbian Art-Sex in San Francisco

•May 21, 2009 • 3 Comments

This is a wonderful series of photographs that show the fluid motion of an active sex scene with me and my West Coast girl Allie G.  We dressed ourselves up in matching blue neglige, with our long black hair wrapping around our own shoulders and covering over each other’s face.

The photos are blurred with the unpredictable movement of our lust, as we roll and paw at each other on the lovely faux fur floor rug at the studio of Dr. K, my long time photographic collaborator.

The still images are animated for your pleasure, and for my artistic compulsion.  Enjoy!

Posted in Art, erotica
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Rope Identity Hand out @SHIBARICON

•May 20, 2009 • Leave a Comment

Rope Identity

Klawdya Rothschild and Lqqkout

www.klawdyarothschild.com and www.kinkfriendly.org

Do Klawdya and Lqqkout know everything…or pretend to know everything?

Nope.  That would make events like this would be awfully boring, not to mention preachy.

What we do know, is that language and terminology change with time.  Changes within the community just over the past 10 years have been radical. We now have a more open media, celebrated authors and leaders, and online international kink communities with rapid, easy, information exchange.  Conflicts in terminology reflect our highly complex, diverse, and evolving lifestyle, just as it celebrates our creativity. This conflict, while problematic at times, is responsible for the great art, books, conferences, FetNights… and a new batch of young Kinksters, bringing with them a Post-Modern, more fluid understanding of labels and identity.

In short: Language, use and understanding changes over time; culture adjusts.

Throughout kink culture, people adopt labels to describe their play styles, sexual preferences, or levels of expertise. These labels can provide a convenient way to communicate during scene negotiation or when first introducing yourself. While some terms have generally-accepted meanings, asking a group of people to define some of them can spur fierce disagreements.

In this discussion, we’ll examine identity amidst the minefield of expectations, definitions, and preconceptions and hopefully dispel some of the myths of What It Is That We Do (WIITWD).

As you participate in this discussion, try asking yourself some of these questions:

1)      What labels do I generally use to describe myself?

2)      Do I define my labels, or do they define me?
(Do I prefer being known as ___, or do I use ___ because it best describes what I do?)

3)      If I couldn’t use my typical labels, how might I describe myself or my play style?
(Alternatively, how might you compare yourself to someone else who uses that label?)

4)      What about this particular label appeals to me?
(Does this label indicate special authority, experience, or association?)

5)      Do you limit your activities based on the labels you’re known for?
(What might happen if you acted uncharacteristically?)

We look forward to sharing interpretations of the shades of identity and WIITWD together. **While in this safe space, all are allowed to express their opinions without fear of judgement.**

Continue reading ‘Rope Identity Hand out @SHIBARICON’

Posted in Bondage, Hand outs, Presenting
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PRESS RELEASE: “Erotic Services” Denied: Craigslist and Attorneys General Are Putting Sex Workers At Risk

•May 14, 2009 • Leave a Comment

This is a collaborative press release – please distribute and repost widely!

Contact:

Dylan Wolfe – Sex Workers Action New York (SWANK), swank@riseup.net

Will Rockwell – $pread Magazine, will@spreadmagazine.org

Audacia Ray – Sex Work Awareness (SWA), aray@sexworkawareness.org

Susan Blake – Prostitutes of New York (PONY), pony@panix.com

Michael Bottoms – Sex Workers Outreach Project – New York City (SWOP-NYC), info@swop-nyc.org

With Craigslist’s recent announcement that its Erotic Services category will be discontinued within the week, hundreds of thousands of erotic service providers will become more vulnerable to dangerous predators. Eliminating erotic listings as Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and others propose will only drive us further underground.

Policing the masseuses, phone workers, pro-dominants, and escorts using Craigslist fails to protect those of us who are coerced into the sex industry. Preventing the use of Craigslist advertisements also eliminates the advantage of screening clients online, which makes for a safer work experience by filtering out potentially dangerous individuals. Furthermore, keeping us offline hinders police investigations of violent crime. In the Boston murder of Julissa Brisman, it was online tracking that enabled the police to identify the suspect. One has to wonder: are the Attorneys General examining the evidence or simply enforcing their moral values?

“Removing the erotic services category from Craigslist does not help prevent violence against escorts and other sex workers. It only pushes me and people like me out of the places where advertising is available,” said Jessica Bloom, a sex worker from Sex Workers Action New York (SWANK). In the face of increasing criminalization, we insist upon respect. As mothers, daughters, brothers, and members of your community, we claim that sex work is real work, work that we are entitled to conduct in safety. As such, we must be accorded the human right of full protection under the law.

###

Continue reading ‘PRESS RELEASE: “Erotic Services” Denied: Craigslist and Attorneys General Are Putting Sex Workers At Risk’

Posted in activism, sacred sexuality, whore
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