November 7 2023


 


 Madder roots


I dug up some of the madder roots that have been creeping toward the neighbor's yard. This part of the patch has been growing for over 10 years. 


 


These were very easy to chop with the garden clippers. I'll let them dry for a while, but it's hard to wait!


 

August



 The garden is so full of color!


 


Late delphiniums tiger lilys and coreopsis


 


 Dahlias


 

December 11 2022


Madder root dye on wool yarn

 Wool yarn dyed with madder.


 


The variety of shades makes me wish I had much more yarn and madder!


December 9 2022

 


 It's been such a long time since I've added anything to this little blog.

The months have marched along, full of wonder, action and beauty. It's impossible to gather them back, but it's not too late to begin sharing again.


 

The bird bath


 The neighbor's magnificent elm tree was cut down this September.  The process was very unsettling, to put it mildly.


 

A small part of the cut down elm tree.


 


 I asked for a couple of the logs. The birds and cats take turns perching on them.


 

August 2020

 


 The outside world is very strange and it's not so dependable right now. Routines have been obliterated, and the ordinary has been lost. In our city of Chicago, each day contains unwelcome surprises.

The backyard world of the garden is true and dependable. There are always changes, mostly gradual and sensible. Every year the garden is a little different, but always a delight.

These Japanese morning glories have just begun blooming. Since the days have been so hot here, the flowers don't last very long. They sort of melt in the hot morning sunshine.

March 5 2020

 


New batches of madder roots and onion skins soaking in the sunshine.


 


 Checking the color of the madder brew


 


Hemp and indigo shibori 


 


 A bit of bloom


 


 About to bloom!


 

October

 


The sweet Service-berry is beginning to glow. In every season it is a beauty.


 


I desided to take a little break from dyeing silk and linen. The cooler days made me turn to wool for spinning and crocheting. It's hard to decide what to make - scarves, hats, or should I dye enough to crochet a blanket....? I've said it for years, but one of these days, I'm going to try felting.


 


This rose reminds me of the brick-red madder shade.


 

Happy morning

Our youngest son is coming home today to vist after a really long time.

This is a  very happy morning...:)

 


 


In the midst of major tidy-ing up, I came across these little odds and ends of wool yarn. They were dyed with cochineal, indigo, and coreopsis flowers.


 

Madder silks

 


I've been gathering amd sorting some madder dyed silks .


 


Organza


 


 


Raw silk


 

May

 


I dyed some hemp silk fabrics with madder roots and indigo. This is one of my very favorite,most intersting kinds of fabric.


 


 This piece of hemp/silk  dyed with madder seems to echo the tulip shades.



 

 The madder patch is thriving


 

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