100* Temp

This past week of illness was long and boring. I am a 'busy beaver' type, not a lay about slug type, so every time my temp dropped to 100* or below I would spin and dye. And I actually got a lot accomplished.

I used Dharma's Electric Violet dye and the bright yellow came from tumeric/alum dye bath. I think the gold was Dharma dye...but I was feverish and some things are honestly a blur!

The gorgeous, deep red is Dharma's Fire Engine Red. Love it! I will be making lots more of THAT!

And here is the latest pic of Loki, showing how he was specially engineered to be a perfect fit in my spinning wheel setup!
And speaking of spinning, I am headed back there. It is just the perfect level of lack of thinking and gentle exercise that my healing body can handle at this time. I am so much better, but the cough lingers on, and naps sound really good... Stay well!

Mostly dyeing...

Storm's a brewin' out there this morning! Dark clouds are rolling in, lightening is beginning to show off, and rain is imminent.  That made me scurry out to my newest place to hang wool to dry and snatch it into the house to finish drying. Now the thunder is threatening to shake the house down, so I best get this computer shut down! Have a safe day, everyone!

My newest hang out!

Latest ice parfait batch. Yum!

Red Onion Skins & pennies...

This is what I got from red onion skins, copper pennies, vinegar, cream of tartar & alum 'dye soup' on wool. At the end of the simmering time I tossed in some soda ash and that bubbled and fizzed super impressively!  When the chemical reactions ceased and cooled I had to rinse the wool 5 soaking times! Lots of dye in there, so I tossed in a couple PFD chunks of cotton and they are going through the washer/dryer as I type. If the color sticks, it is a fantastic yellow! Will post the results later.

Now to start the bagging and braiding!

Any guesses what I'm doing today?

I went on a wool-dyeing rampage this morning while the DH was off to a morning of golf. Used food dye and vinegar on most of it, but did do one batch of Kool Aid*, the pinky red at the left side of the photo.

This view shows my Adirondack chairs that also reflect my love of COLOR! I can hardly wait until the wool is dry and I can start bagging and braiding it up. I am working on a separate artist website which will have my art, hand-dyed wools and fabrics for sale. I plan to resume participating in the Farmer's Markets of the area and will be in Omak's Art in the Park next month. I am also going to be a vendor at the quilt guild in Wenatchee in September. Look out! I am on a roll! :?}

As soon as my batch of red onion skins and copper pennies is through simmering on the stove, I will get it out to dry and post a pic later today. Tah-tah!

Try anything once, or twice!

Apple, alder, onion, rusty tin, toadstools, dandelion, espresso, rose hips...

There must be 'something in the air' because I can't seem to stop dyeing. A couple days ago DH and I went up into the woods and hiked through the wilderness looking for things to dye with. I love playing with vegetative dyes, it is always a surprise when you are through. Some give fantastic colors, some blah, but you can always re-do the blahs until you get 'ahhs'!
I read another book on dyeing, loaned to me by a friend. I am finding you cannot read too much regarding dyeing, dyers, and each individual's discoveries. The gem I got from this last read was the addition of soda ash toward the end of the dye process. I had boiled down a mass of dandelions, placed wool in some of the broth, pre-soaked in alum and cream of tartar. I also did a jar with soda ash pre-soaked cotton. This morning when I un-jarred them the results were pretty much a blah tan. Since that meant trying something else on them anyway I poured some soda ash solution on both and TADAH! They yellow-greened right up. I am letting them soak a bit more, then out to dry and finish processing!
I also received my ProcionMX order yesterday. Now that I have read this last book with its different twist to dyeing, I pretty much know what I will be doing the rest of this week! I will post the pix as I get the final results. I learned long ago not to get all excited over some color apparently achieved, because it doesn't count until it has gone through the washer and dryer. I sell my fabrics/fibers to the public and the product has to pass muster. Time to go play. Have a great day!

Bahhhhhh!!!!

Guess what I did to celebrate National Quilting Day? Yep! I dyed wool for the very first time. I went online and scrounged around and used the food dye w/vinegar method. I have had fleeces stored for YEARS.
I knew I would use them someday...

And I sure liked the colorful outcome! :?} 

These  will fly to the UK with me for my class with Gilda Baron.