First off, thanks to Carol Knox (see racing beach art blog below), the headless women wearing the lichen dyed sweater.....for advising me while setting up this blog. Another craftsperson from the great Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, she is also a techno savvy botanist/teacher with a good eye on the natural world. What a gorgeous color for a sweater and who would know the color came from Rock Tripe! I used to do EE programs, one I recall was about using natural things for colors-then I discovered the secret hidden hues inside nature.
Anyway, this blog is not just about me, but about using nature for art, sculpture, dyes, food, structural materials, and any other inspiration that one finds. You don't have to be from the NEK either. This is open for business.
11 comments:
Hi Carolyn,
Your blog looks absolutely spectacular. That Lupine photo is something else. You are inspiring me to do more with my blog! I tried to leave a comment earlier, but couldn't; I think it was because you were working on it. Anyway, I look forward to many great posts about your woodworking and crafts! Wonderful start!
Carol
Hi Carolyn,
I agree with Carol, your blog looks very attractive and it's a great start! The color of the sweater is beautiful too! Sometime I'd like to learn more about how the yarn was dyed. And thanks for your generous invitation to join in!
~Reba
I went Carol's site and read about the process of dying wool for the sweater, facinating! I'm also a fan of E. Zimmerman's knitting book!
~Reba
Interesting to know that lichens can be used for dying...I knew if you were lost in the woods they were eatable...have actually tried it and it isn't all that bad. Do you take all the pictures on the blog?
:) Sandi
HI Sandi
The pictures so far from me, the lichen was from Carol. Thanks for checking things out. It is somewhat tedious to do this, but fun, too.
I will put on more stuff about the wooden things soon. My neighbor makes block prints for note cards and fabric, she wants to post here, too. bbo soon..
Yay! I figured out how to comment on the blog. The photos are beautiful and I love the lichen dyed sweater. I will keep checking back. Ivy
Carolyn, you're off to a great start on your blog and I expect it to grow into a very interesting and informative site. Personally, I would also like to see some Ukulele content, if you could work it in, at some point. Jesse
Carolyn: Congratulations on your blog! A very exciting new enterprise.
The opportunities to gain inspiration from and use natural objects are limitless. Do advocate for using downed and dead items as much as possible though. One should take lichens from fallen branches, for example, instead of carving them off trees.
I am a spinner and weaver but I have never dyed anything -- don't care for the process and chemicals. I have spun wool + my cats' fur though. Does that count???
Guess Who
Dear Guess Who,
You are very right that collecting of anything needs to be done with caution (unless you are getting rid of invasive species). The Rock Tripe Lichens do not grow on trees; they typically grow on large boulders and if the population is a healthy one, a small sample once a year for a dye bath should not hurt the population. Other lichens can easily be collected from downed branches as you suggest. If you are interested in some beginning dyeing for weaving, onion skins (a new way to recycle them) make a beautiful yellow. Like you, I steer clear of dyeing with chemical dyes. Rita Buchanan has a wonderful book called the "Weaver's Garden" which has information about growing plants that can be used to dye wool. Like me, she combines a botanical background with an interest in wool craft.
Carol
Hey! finally made it to your blog, Carolyn! Nice job! and wonderful promotion of the NEK! Let me know how I can place some of my pictures on your blog, I have a few wild flowers, some birds, and also moose from our trip to Bloomfield last week (there were 2 moose after Island Pond but one went right in the brush while the second one lazily looked at us.....).
Anne -frenchcolibri
Wow!
Your blog is wonderful. It is always a pleasure talking with you, I learn a lot.. I hope you share some of your knowledge on here. Congradulations - for doing such a great job with the pictures and layout.
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