Blog entry
April 4 2025
Volunteer indigo seedlings between the bricks,
I'll try transplanting some of these
The madder patch is waking up.
August 15 2024
The finches love the sunflowers. If you look closely, you'll see him. Every spring I say there's not enough room for sunflowers, but a few plant themselves anyway. They're great! I really have to plant some on purpose next year.
I've been working on dyeing more silk threads, though it's really too hot for much outdoor activity.
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These madder roots were dug up last fall.
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May, 2024
One rainy morning we discovered this little guy in the kitchen. He was hiding in a corner, surrounded by the cats! Luckily, they seemed pretty puzzled by him. We shooed the cats out of the room, and It was pretty easy to coax him into a cat carrier with nuts and peanut butter on bread.
I put the carrier outside under the cherry tree, but he finished the rest of his trearts before scampering up.
Spring arrived soon this year. Peonies, delphiniums and roses are blooming about 3 weeks early.
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!
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!
March 24 2021
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Last year's madder stalks
The bloodroot has a touch of pink this year
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.
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
Elsewhere