Rhus Typhina

~Staghorn Sumac~

I am patiently waiting for the sumac to "flower" for dyeing.

I had such wonderful variation last year, I am curious to see what this year brings.

Definitely one of my favorites!

Do you have a favorite plant?

All New Things

A few of the new things listed in the SHOP.

Today I am working on dyeing some new silk for nuno felted scraves.

I am also making some new earrings and getting some screen printing done.

What have you been working on?

Sunny Day Projects

-Collecting flowers and berries for dyeing projects.

-Oak leaves in an iron bath.

-Dye pot overview.

-Repotting.

Cochineal

I have been playing around a little bit with cochineal.

It gives beautiful, varying shades of purpley-pinks and vice-versa.

However, I am not sure how much I will use it, the baths I have made get considerably weaker after the first emersion. Have any of you out there used cochineal for dyeing? I would love to know about your experinces with it!

I am hoping to have this scarf posted in the shop later today.

Oh, and make sure to take a look at this scarf there, dyed with sumac!

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xo

From Nature, With Love...

I have been experimenting with collected wild flowers, berries and some other things.

Trying to get a range of color, finally off my indigo kick (I get like that with things, obsessed with a color, texture, shape, whatever...)

So far I am happy.

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In order of photos:

1. Staghorn sumac (first bath)

2. Cochineal... Not wild harvested around here, color from little bugs, actually. But I wanted to play and see, the color is nice, but not sure if I will continue with this as a dye other than playing around here and there.

3. Tansy (yellow) over-dyed with indigo to achieve the green.

4. Same as #3, but dipped the whole scarf.

5. From bottom to top: First 3 are staghorn sumac (1st, 2nd and 3rd dip in the same bath), tansy, tansy/indigo, cochineal (first dip), cochineal (second dip), last 2 cochineal/indigo.

6. Scraps from above scarves sitting atop a sumac scarf

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Do you do any natural dyeing?

I would love to hear about it!

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I am hoping to have a couple of the scarves in the shop by the end of the weekend.

So check HERE later!

Today...

1. Working on new screens for screen printing. I have a farmers' market and then 3 day fair coming up next week and I am trying to get myself organized and add some new inventory.

2. On the note of new inventory, I have been in search of simple jersey skirts with no luck. But I have found some tank-top and tee-shirt dresses that I LOVE and am excited to be printing on!

(Above: a friend and local artist rocking one of the tank-top dresses with my "Rain in the Mountains" print on it in berry)

3. I may or may not have started a few too many projects today... I have been non-stop all day and since my body is sore from working, I am finally going to sit down!

(at least for a little bit)

What have you been up to lately?

In progress...

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Some new natural dye projects and my "helpers".

Some super-duper awesome new scarves in the future!

How can you resist the face in the last photo, right?

She kills me!

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Your FAVORITE Scarf

1.

2.

All natural, gauze cotton hand-dyed with indigo.

Scarf #2 has a circular shibori pattern throught.

I swear, you will LOVE either one of these scarves!

They are so soft and light and comfortable,

easy to wear, easy to stuff in your bag for later...

Easily will be your favorite scarf!!!

(I wear mine ALL. THE. TIME!)

Check them out HERE.

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A few places I am visiting today

and soaking up the beauty being shared.

HERE.

HERE.

HERE.

Springtime coziness

For years now I have been trying to find more time (and gathering knowledge about) dyeing using plants and other natural things. I finally found a wonderful friend who is a wealth of information, not only about naturally dyeing, but plants in general. A woman after my own heart since I also work with plants in many different ways.

Finally, I have been playing around with indigo.

I have been seeing blue lately, it is in all of my work, if not the only major color in my paintings and my natural dyeing seems to be no exception. I have a few scarves that I had dyed and have been wearing around for a while and I love them so much that I decided to share with you.

This cowl is light and cotton and perfect for a balmy (or not so balmy) day.

I especially love the little star-burst of blue that is on one side.

Find it HERE.

Indigo and ink

It was somewhat warm enough to play around with indigo.

I had a few things that needed dyeing to cover up my bad laundry skills, ie: putting a red garment in with light colored clothing. That is what I get for being lazy and not separating (which I NEVER do!). Maybe it is a blessing in disguise, maybe it makes for unintended creative effort. I mean, said garments did get a new dye-job, therefore a new lease on life...

The rest were some fabrics/scarves I had dyed before but wanted to over-dye because the color was too light, or the dye didn't get into the middle of the fabric.

I'm happy with the outcome.

What was left of the dye vat I am storing in this glass jar.

I hope I can do some more dyeing in the next couple of days.

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I have been in the studio for the last few days working on some new things. I am looking for a new place to make prints and cards. Or maybe investing in a printer to do it myself, any suggestions?

Hope you all enjoyed the weekend!

xo

solar dye results revealed

Still working on getting more money together to get a new camera,

thank you to the few people who have helped by making a purchase from my etsy shop!

I still have a ways to go, but I know I will get there!

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I still can't get over the amazing transformation that occured when i added my pre-mordanted cotton fabric to the jar of solar dye!

I took out the fabric today and it is so beautiful!

My camera isn't really doing it justice since it is my phone camera,

but you get the idea!

It sure as heck smelled like rotting compost since i started the initial dye bath a few weeks ago

and then added the fabric this past saturday.

Now it is hanging out to dry under the eve with the wind chimes (ha! it has been raining for the last 3 days).

I started another batch over dyeing yellow from turmeric.

This one is cotton thread and some wool yarn that I spun early in the winter...

So that is what I have been up to today.

I can't wait for the sun to come back, but it doesn't look as though that is happening any time soon.

I'm off to do a little more crocheting of the crystals I got from my friends.

Hope you are having a sun-shiny day!