Life is Good
My clothes are drying at the edge of the oaks and hickorys
the blackberries are beginning to ripen
As I hang up and take down the clothes-the wild song birds share their songs with me
Life is Good
I live in a beautiful place, away from all the politics, away from the cities
I am thankful for that
Life is Good
Larry saw a baby fawn wandering near my craft building
That makes me smile, and feel happy inside
Life is Good
I thank my forefathers before me, my ancestors have served in every war since the revolution-to keep me free
I am thankful for that
Life is Good
I will think of them this 4th of July and smile-as I am free
copyright material
by "me" Kathyinozarks
for some reason this popped in my head while doing the laundry today-so just needed to write it down
Friday, July 3, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Yarrow Project Continued
Note: Go to my previous blog and look at the photos-last first to be in order-than read here-lol
Oops I always forget that I need to think backwards when posting my photos. So thought I would continue on with this second post. I also over dyed after the yarrow bath the next day with iron sollution (the darker pieces) and well aged black walnut sollution (collected last fall)
Here are the details:
First day
I collected wild yarrow with snippers. I cut at the base of plant and then snipped in half-so using the stem, leaves, and flowers.
Then I soaked in rain water for an hour, and then started a fire, put my big stainless steel pot on and poured this mixture in. I added another gallon of the rain water.
I let the dye pot come to just below a simmer, let sit til it all cooled down, in the evening I strained it off, and realized I would be freezing 5 gallons-so decided to go ahead with my project
Day 2
I mordanted my wools with alum from Earth Hues for wools, and cream of tartar from Penzeys spices
As these were cooling down I started up the fire and heated up the dye pot. when both baths were the same temperature (needed for wool as not to felt) I rinsed the mordant wools and added to the dye pot. let it come back up to below simmer-didn't see much action happening, so collected another big bunch of fresh yarrow and added to the pot.
I let it sit in the sollution at just below simmer for several hours, then stopped adding the wood to the fire, and then let it all sit til the next day
Day 3
I was dissappointed, as it didn't seem like alot of color-didn't really see the yellow happening on the white pieces, more of a tan. so I decided to save out the two largest pieces of this, and the rest I decided to do an after mordant with my iron sollution, and also use my black walnut sollution that has been fermenting outside since I collected the nuts last fall
The iron I brought to just lukewarm with the wool pieces, then turned the heat off. as I have read the warnings that too much iron will ruin your wool. so I was amazed how fast everything turned so dark. I just let it sit for maybe an hour or so-and rinsed it out. then hung to dry.
The other wool pieces, I decided not to warm up the saved black walnut sollution, but just put the wool right in. wow immediately this became darker too-dark browns. so I let that sit a couple hours before rinsing. and then one piece I just put in for a very short time, so I would get a blend of shades. after all the wools were rinsed til the water is clear the pieces were all hung on the line in the shadiest part, to dry.
I am very happy with all the results, and this is definately an addictive creative project!!
I also uploaded photos to the hand dye album with more descriptions as well http://kathyinozarks.multiply.com/photos/album/22/kathyinozarks_hand_dyes_#51 this link is where the photos begin-view til end of album
What would I do differently?? Have more patience!-lol-as you can see I did get a pretty soft yellow after the white wool was rinsed well and dried.
Oops I always forget that I need to think backwards when posting my photos. So thought I would continue on with this second post. I also over dyed after the yarrow bath the next day with iron sollution (the darker pieces) and well aged black walnut sollution (collected last fall)
Here are the details:
First day
I collected wild yarrow with snippers. I cut at the base of plant and then snipped in half-so using the stem, leaves, and flowers.
Then I soaked in rain water for an hour, and then started a fire, put my big stainless steel pot on and poured this mixture in. I added another gallon of the rain water.
I let the dye pot come to just below a simmer, let sit til it all cooled down, in the evening I strained it off, and realized I would be freezing 5 gallons-so decided to go ahead with my project
Day 2
I mordanted my wools with alum from Earth Hues for wools, and cream of tartar from Penzeys spices
As these were cooling down I started up the fire and heated up the dye pot. when both baths were the same temperature (needed for wool as not to felt) I rinsed the mordant wools and added to the dye pot. let it come back up to below simmer-didn't see much action happening, so collected another big bunch of fresh yarrow and added to the pot.
I let it sit in the sollution at just below simmer for several hours, then stopped adding the wood to the fire, and then let it all sit til the next day
Day 3
I was dissappointed, as it didn't seem like alot of color-didn't really see the yellow happening on the white pieces, more of a tan. so I decided to save out the two largest pieces of this, and the rest I decided to do an after mordant with my iron sollution, and also use my black walnut sollution that has been fermenting outside since I collected the nuts last fall
The iron I brought to just lukewarm with the wool pieces, then turned the heat off. as I have read the warnings that too much iron will ruin your wool. so I was amazed how fast everything turned so dark. I just let it sit for maybe an hour or so-and rinsed it out. then hung to dry.
The other wool pieces, I decided not to warm up the saved black walnut sollution, but just put the wool right in. wow immediately this became darker too-dark browns. so I let that sit a couple hours before rinsing. and then one piece I just put in for a very short time, so I would get a blend of shades. after all the wools were rinsed til the water is clear the pieces were all hung on the line in the shadiest part, to dry.
I am very happy with all the results, and this is definately an addictive creative project!!
I also uploaded photos to the hand dye album with more descriptions as well http://kathyinozarks.multiply.com/photos/album/22/kathyinozarks_hand_dyes_#51 this link is where the photos begin-view til end of album
What would I do differently?? Have more patience!-lol-as you can see I did get a pretty soft yellow after the white wool was rinsed well and dried.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Fun with my Friend
I really don't get "out" much, as I enjoy just staying in my little part of the woods, and working on my various projects and crafts.
However, it is fun at times to go visit a city and do a little shopping.
Yesterday, we went to our citywide garage sale at the civic center and I usually find neat items for my crafts or little vintage goodies for our home.
Thought I would share some of my "finds" the first item was 2- two yard cuts of Pendelton wool that had a receipt included; purchased from Pendelton for 10.00 a yard in 1986-a gorgeous piece of wool thinking of using this for batting in one of my upcoming mens quilts I am making. Also picked up new stamps for little of nothing, and several finds of quilting fabric-even several yards of a white cotton-perfect for my natural dye projects. A pack of vintage needles from England, a vintage embroidered linen, a little tin of buttons, and hubby picked up for me a usa made fish cast iron pan-will be fun to make cornbread in, and this peeps mold too-fun for pouring chocolates.
The day before my friend and I drove an hour away to a large city to do some errands, and we shopped in a couple quilting fabric stores. We found gorgeous fabric for her next quilt project.
and saturday afternoon my much awaited ordered book arrived. This was purchased as advice to do so to learn recipes of mordanting cottons for natural dyes. The Art and Craft of Natural Dyeing by Liles. thank you so much for that-anxious to read this now
Friday, March 13, 2009
Making Pie Tonight
I decided to make up my Blueberry Cranberry Pie Tonight since I would be having the oven on for the meat loafs. This is one of my most favorite pies.
Brrrrr Still so Cold Here in the Ozarks
Still low 20s when we wake up here in the ozarks this week, they are promising the 70s will return on Monday-I am so ready for warm weather to just stay around for awhile. For some reason I have just been cold this winter.
Wanted to share my next quilting project-probably won't start on it til the summer, as hubby is on a mission to get more completed in our home which is a good thing-So I will be working on the bathroom project again as soon as it warms up.
My neighbor and friend down the road here and I discovered a new little quilt shop in town-very very tiny-but she carries quality quilt fabrics and over half the price. She can do this because these fabrics are not the latest and newest by moda and all those, but older prints-which is a nice thing for me as I can not afford on a regular basis quilt store prices at 7.00 and up a yard.
Anyways I went in the store mostly to find a couple more pieces that were outdoorsy and for guy quilts-I have 3 of those I would like to make this year for gifts. and I was on the lookout for fabrics that would blend in nicely with my shirtings.
Above pictures is what I found-and I place them on top of some shirting I might use. When I first bought the fabric I didn't know what I wanted to make so I bought 3 yards of the flowers and 2 yards of the cloud type fabric. When I got home I went thru some patterns I saved and also in books. and I decided on on Kansas Troubles a block that is in a book that my friend Kim gave me, and that she also made for her and renamed Buffalo Troubles.
I need to progress with my quilting so I decided on this block. Will use the shirtings for all those hsts. The name of my quilt will be Ozarks Troubles I did need to buy more fabric, and when we went back yesterday she had 3 yards left-lucky me!
Sorry I have not figured out how to put a link in here that you can use but here is a site with a view of the quilt block http://knoblin.com/qb-kansastroubles.shtml
I am off now to finish sewing up the binding on a quilt I am making for a neighbor
Enjoy your upcoming weekend
Friday, March 6, 2009
Gorgeous Day Today Here in the Ozarks
I am sure hoping spring is really just around the corner, it has been a long cold winter for me this year.
Woke up to 60 degrees early this morning, which is wonderful when you heat only with wood-don't have to wake up to the cold air in the house. I looked out our bay window and saw a lone deer browsing thru the back, just in front of the woods line, and just now a robin hopping around in the back yard. I also heard the peepers for the first time at the pond this morning before dawn. Love this time of year.
I have been working on quilts, a little bit of rocks in the shower (need to do more collecting of those) and researching the mordant process of cotton fabric for natural dyes.
I have learned quite a bit, now I am on the hunt for an out of print book.If anyone reading this should have a copy and no longer wants it, please contact me as I want to buy this book to use. Gill Dalby is the author published by ashill in 1985 Natural Dyes, Fast or Fugitive ISNB0948020008 please contact me privately.
I am really anxious to dye up some quilting fabric this year with found materials here in my woods.
that's it for now-I am off to my quilting project for now and then later a walk in the woods with my pets
Woke up to 60 degrees early this morning, which is wonderful when you heat only with wood-don't have to wake up to the cold air in the house. I looked out our bay window and saw a lone deer browsing thru the back, just in front of the woods line, and just now a robin hopping around in the back yard. I also heard the peepers for the first time at the pond this morning before dawn. Love this time of year.
I have been working on quilts, a little bit of rocks in the shower (need to do more collecting of those) and researching the mordant process of cotton fabric for natural dyes.
I have learned quite a bit, now I am on the hunt for an out of print book.If anyone reading this should have a copy and no longer wants it, please contact me as I want to buy this book to use. Gill Dalby is the author published by ashill in 1985 Natural Dyes, Fast or Fugitive ISNB0948020008 please contact me privately.
I am really anxious to dye up some quilting fabric this year with found materials here in my woods.
that's it for now-I am off to my quilting project for now and then later a walk in the woods with my pets
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