Blog entry
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!
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...:)
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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.
October 30 2018
Several limbs of the beautiful old Kwanzan cherry had to be removed. The backyard is very different now. The light is harsher and when I go outdoors I feel more exposed.
At least the hickory tree out front is still full. A pair of downy woodpeckers visited yesterday. I don't know who made this giant nest = maybe squirrels?
Some of the day's work. Handspun wool and indigo.
Back to normal...(cold!)
After two days of sunshine and warmth, the cold winds and gray skies have returned. I'm trying to keep the sweet pea youngsters from getting too cold while still giving them light.
I know they don't mind cool temperatures, but surely they don't like freezing. I've been carrying them outdoors in the daytime and back in at night. This morning I made a little tent for the containers with clear plastic to let in the light and keep out the very cold wind.
Happily, the scilla doesn't mind at all. Patience, endurance, gratitude and cheerfulness live in the garden.
Wool Pot holders
Undyed wool loops
Years ago, a dear friend shared a huge 5 pound bag of pure wool pot holder loops with me.. Little did I know at the time just how valuable and hard to find these would become. I dyed the loops with natural colors, and made potholders for gifts and for sale.
June Inspiration
II've been dyeing silk threads in colors inspired by the velvety shades of petunias
Combinations of lac, logwood, madder and indigo
The milkweed flowers have begun to bloom. The air is filled with their heavy sweetmess. The tender, muted pinks seemed like the perfect color for some handspun wool yarn I've been saving.
Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
Handspun wool yarn soaked overnight in alum.
June morning
June morning
It's so fine to step outside barefoot,without a sweater, and get started right away. On most mornings,this means just wandering around in wonder and amazement.for awhile.
The backyard is not big, but the cherry tree doesn't seem to mind.
The blackbirds and squirrels .are ready to pounce!
A clothesline fiull of projects
Silk organza after soaking overnight in alum water
Another piece of organza dyed with indigo
Vintage linen napkins
Elsewhere