Friday, July 27, 2012

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.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

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.


Friday, July 13, 2012

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




Saturday, July 07, 2012

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.