A lovely surprise…

A few days ago I was tidying up the bottom shelf on the potting bench were I do my backyard dyeing. My nest of old enamel pans needed a good scrubbing…

Now, I admit to being so consumed these past many years with caring for may Mom & Dad that many things just were left untouched…and my memory is a bit foggy…but I don’t think I’ve touched these in a couple years! 

What a delightful surprise in the bottom pan… 

5+ ounces of lovely dried marigolds! 

I do remember dropping a handful in the pan after a walk thru the garden and dead-heading. But usually I have a basket or handful of mixed blooms… zinnia, marigold, coreopsis and rudbeckia 

  and that is what I’d toss in the old hen basket! 

Again, I have no idea how long this mess has been accumulating… 

So it was definitely time to stew it up! 

Oh so lovely… 

  Today I’m firing up the pots to stew up the old marigolds… 

Hope you will visit again to see the results…

Be well, be safe, be kind, be creative ~L

Another Tuesday from the backyard…

Hello Everyone…
We’ve had lovely…almost “fallish” weather here on the northern prairie…
A delightful break from the hot and humid!

I’ve spent many days in the backyard…dyeing, gardening, hooking, reading…
our winters are so long, I like to take advantage of every moment outdoors…
to store it up…to savor it.

I was responding to an email form my friend Kris
(many of you have met her…she’s my right-hand at many events)
She’s not on social media, but I think occasionally pops in here to see what I’m up to;)

Usually by this time of year we would have had many coffees, lunches, garden tours, road trips and a few dye sessions together…
But, then, these are not USUAL times.

Anyway…as I typed my note to Kris, I realized it would be a great recap to share with you on the blog!

“Yes, I’ve been playing in the pots. My friend Karen sold her house. I was helping her pack and move. I’ve become the foster yard for her eclectic statuary and odd garden art. While hauling it out of her yard, I step on a walnut…then I saw them all over the ground! Isn’t this WAY EARLY?? I took half of a 13 gal kitchen size plastic bag…hoping the bag wouldn’t rip. Interesting shades from these. I’ve done both no mordant and alum/cot…then…
decided to cut down the stinging nettles I planted in the older washer. They were starting to flower and didn’t want to risk missing it and letting them go to seed. Enough for a tiny skein of super fine merino (alum/cot)…then did an iron after dip…on a tiny black walnut too…”

“I finally got around to stewing up the Tansy you gave me…gosh I don’t remember how long ago…”

Am I the only one who loves the smell of Tansy?
…it’s delightful.

"And the Japanese Knotweed is waiting…When can you come over to play?
This is one pot that I couldn’t find room for in the beds!"

I’ll be listing plant-dyed wools in the Etsy Shop soon…I working on some sweet bundles!

Stay well, stay safe, be kind, be creative
~L

A Little Backyard Dyeing...

One of my favorite plants to dye with is Coreopsis.
This is "Solanna ~ Golden Sphere"...not as hardy here as Tickseed, but it has the loveliest blossoms and I adore the colors it yields on wool.

Today I've been mordanting more wool fabric and yarn...

I use Alum and Cream of Tartar as my mordants on wool.

I'm still boiling up Black Walnuts...it's been a good year
tho' it seems so EARLY this year...
nothing is normal;)

simmering some wool fabric and yarns in black walnut, along with some osnaburg and cotton velvet I plan to use for eco-printing!
I'll show you those when they are dry...so stop back!

My bench box and pattern book arrived today...

All the patterns are WONDERFUL...
and the quality of the bench box is amazing...
I'm thrilled to have contributed to the ATHA Biennial KC 2021 Fundraiser!

I've had my pattern drawn on linen ever since I submitted it for the pattern booklet...
I need to get hooking.

I know that i'm using Black Walnut dyed wool for the background...and I've got some scraps of my Attic Blue...a mix of Saxon Blue...a weaker indigo and Cutch...maybe some paisley...

So please stop back to see my progress...
~ Laurie

PS...If you are interested in ordering the pattern book and/or bench box...see my previous post...or see the August/September issue of ATHA magazine!

Saturday Greetings...

calendula, lavender, lemon balm, oregano and yarrow...
a little harvest from the gardens this morning.

It seems so very early for the walnuts to fall,
but I'm so excited to be boiling up this year's first black walnut brew...

...naturally dyed wool fabric and yarns will be back in stock soon:)

I'm happy to have contributed a pattern to the ATHA 2021 Biennial ~ Kansas City Fundraiser Pattern Book...

The Pattern Books and Worm Boxes are available to order!!!

Hope you have a lovely day, L

Featured in...

the June 2020 issue of
Early American Life Magazine

I'm thrilled to be the first web-based business EAL has as a Featured Partner!
I've loved this magazine since it began in the 1970's.
~ Laurie

Happy May Day ~

~ Laurie

I’ve joined #artistsupportpledge

...and will happily support other artists!

Due to the COVID19 pandemic, many artists around the world have found themselves without work, teaching, technical support, gallery work, exhibitions and sales have disappeared. In an attempt to help alleviate some of this stress @matthewburrowsstudio has instigated the #artistsupportpledge The concept is a simple one. You post images of your work to sell for no more than $200 each (not including shipping). Every time you reach $1000 of sales you pledge to buy another artist’s work for $200.

Uniquely One of a Kind...my Mug Mats are hooked with 100% new wool, which I over-dyed with my original recipes. I professionally finish my mats by binding them with my durable, hand-dyed rug yarn or wool strips, sewing on cotton twill tape and a cotton label...signed and dated.

Matched with a hand stitched wool appliqué tea cozy to cover your mug while brewing tea...it will keep your cup HOT! Truly one of a kind...I hand cut wool and stitch these cozies to compliment my hooked mug mats.

Measuring 6" to 7” in diameter these hooked mats are perfect for under a mug of your favorite beverage! Cozies measure 8" w x 6" h and expand to fit a variety or mugs, cups and small teapots. $65.00 set + $5.00 shipping

If you are interested in purchasing any of my work...I'll be posting it here, in the Etsy shop, on Facebook and Instagram.
If you have questions, please don't hesitate to contact me
~ Laurie

Good News Arrived Today...

"Congratulations! Because of your creative talents and dedication to historical accuracy, you have been chosen to join the distinguished group of craftspeople listed in the 2020 Directory of Traditional American Crafts in the August 2020 issue."

I’m honored to have been selected each year that I have applied.

Hope you are safe, well and keeping your hands busy ~ Laurie

Still time to register for Spring Classes...

Click photo to enlarge

Happy New Year...

Frankly, I'm glad to see 2019 in the rear-view mirror...
it was a tough year on many levels for me and so many others.

Here's to 2020...a new year...a new decade
and new opportunities!
~Laurie