Moscow Renaissance Fair 2015!

This fair is really fun! Where else can you shop for fine hand made items AND see a giant dragon at the same time? It looks like it should be sunny this weekend (for a change) and this is a quick drive down from Spokane. Come by booth 71 and say hi!

New Log Book

I keep a notebook that lists each scarf or piece of fabric that I eco print. I note what the fabric weave and content is, the mordant I use and of course  the plant matter used. I try to go back and make notes on what worked or didn't  and if I decided to do any over dying  as well.

The old notebook was "as is" from the store. It had flaming  blue butterflies on the front and had quite  a  collection  of neon green Post-it notes sticking out of it. Not too attractive.

Now that it is time for a new one I decided to be more intentional  about it. I used hand made papers to back up one of the eco print  papers I did last year. I may even buy a high class pen to go with it. It will be a lot more pleasant to scribble in this one for the next year or so.

Jar Dyes

I decided  to put up some "witch jars" today. I call them that as sometimes the results  are magical - sometimes kind of scary! Anyway, these will set on the sunny side of the greenhouse  until I need something  to  steam print then I will take them out and work with them. About the only experiment  in these are privet  berries, they got really dried out, not sure what will happen!

Sea Glass

When I decided months ago to tumble my own glass shards I had no idea it would  turn into  such a project. First the saved bottles  need to be stored. This morning  I realized  just exactly  how many there were so I had better get at it before I end up on Hoarders.  Or an AA meeting. Of course  the  first one I smashed had all the really good chunks stuck to the label. Since I didn't  really want to slice up my fingers trying  to  get those pieces off, I have resorted  to soaking the labels off the bottles  first. Now to begin the peeling process. I feel the same way I do when faced with making potato  salad. I want the salad, but wish the elves were here to make it!

Green Again!

Yesterday I discovered the balsam  root is up and some far enough  along to pick. It is so nice to have a green plant to work with. I also found  the beginnings  of  knapweed and artemisia  so I am tossing that in with dried leaves, privet  berries  and the red blossoms  from cottonwood.