milk of the moon

a special workshop began today here at the farm.

it's always serendipity when a class comes together.

and this is a sweet and peaceful gathering.

from California, Kansas, Illinois, Pennsylvania,

New York and New England

the energy to create is focused.

Joan Morris is guiding the group on

arashi shibori techniques 

with one very natural hue added

indigo.

tonight it fills the whole night sky.

blue thumbs

thinking of the book from so long ago

"Even Cowgirls Get the Blues"

where Sissy Hankshaw is a woman born with a mutation

of enormously large thumbs, though she considers it a gift...

mine are not so big but lately bluer than usual.

the woad bed is growing quite nicely.

here it is at

the end of June

 I harvested some of the plants that needed thinning

and gathered up 3.5 pounds

 simmered the leaves up

 the dye liquor produced the right brown shade

 I adjusted the pH and it changed to a lovely green

reduced the oxygen

 the pigment settled

 and was drained off

and is now drying to a powdered extract

bottom line numbers

3.5 pounds of leaves yields 2-4 grams of woad extract

I need 30 grams of extract to make a stock to then dye with.

it's slow and peaceful.

it's happy work for me.



bravery

loss.
it comes in all shapes and sizes.
no color.
four legs, two legs, skin, feathers, fur, fleece.
care doesn't shield loss.
love doesn't guard the inevitable.
kindness doesn't protect.
spirtuality is my saving grace.

shit happens and still the world is a beautiful place
love, me

sharp and sweet

sometimes the sweetest finds are enroute

to somewhere else.

perusing through an antique shop today

I came upon a pretty trio

of shears.

 sharpened and with proper markings

on the blades

 cutting cloth like it was butter.

mighty sweet

and all for under thirty dollars.

ready for honest work.