birch catkins in the dye pot

birch catkins+water+simmer+soak=soft, gentle yellow

spring dyeing

 Last fall I harvested all of our marigold blossoms 

and put them in a mesh bag to dry over the winter in my sewing studio.

Yesterday, I pinched each bloom and tossed the green

part into the compost and put the petals into a pot.

With a ratio of approximately 1 part petals and 3 parts water,

I brought the pot to a boil and then 

simmered the petals for about an hour.

 My kitchen began to small like summer...

My friends Sepi brought avocado pits and skins and set 

a pot to simmer (front, right).

Pauline brought yellow onion skins and we put them on

the stove as well (over the left two burners).

When I took this photo, we had already strained the marigold petals 

out of the dye pot and had submerged some fabric and garments 

into the pot (right rear).

I accordion folded some fabric and clamped it with 

clothespins to create the "resist".

This piece had simmered in the pan of yellow onion skins.

I love the element of surprise as we pulled 

our different pieces from the vats and held them up for

inspection.

 Pale pink from the avocado.

Three pieces made with the onion skins.

Bright yellow on the right from the marigolds.

I soaked these two pieces overnight.

They are lighter in color than the pieces dyed yesterday

because the dye vat was "exhausting".

I just LOVE the way the fabrics are dancing side by side 

in the breeze up here today!

Pauline, who runs a farm/nursery with her

family asked me about indigo plants sometime last winter.

This spring, she started a bunch of seeds in their greenhouses

and I ordered eight plants from her.

Now they are nestled in our hoop house,

waiting for the warmth they require to thrive

in the raised beds.

The banter and fun with Pauline and Sepi in the kitchen 

was a reminder of the wonders of intergenerational friendship

 and the creative energy that can come from sharing skills. 

And one of these days I will have 

a rainbow of hand dyed fabrics. 

:-)

never forget

 May 14, 2019

 At our "bit of earth" in Central Vermont.

 Seriously?!?!

That's rhubarb in the foreground.

And garlic poking out of the snow.

Erin Elizabeth Potts was born on May 14, 1991. 

She was taken from this world 

at the tender age of 18 by Ewing Sarcoma.

One of the things that brought her the greatest joy

 was walking in falling snow.

Mother Nature, I am guessing this crazy snowstorm today

is some magical tribute to Erin.

Peace and love and light to you, Erin.

We will never forget you.

xo

snapshots on the hill

a geranium dress for maggie

 spring comes to our neighborhood...

 ...and the colors are reflected in this sweet  geranium dress.

 it arrived safely in brooklyn

and i'm happy to report that it fits little maggie!

an improv quilt that went to sweden

 This baby quilt just arrived at its destination in Sweden,

so now I can share it with you here.

Our Vermont Modern Quilt Guild had a challenge this winter.

We were invited to make something quilted featuring
Kona's color of the year "splash".

We were also instructed to use color theory when we chose our fabrics.

I missed the two meetings when the fat quarters were given out,

so I decided to wing it and find similar colors in my fabric stash.

The only fabric I purchased for this quilt was for the backing.

There are many sentimental and sweet fabric scraps sewn into this 

quilt top, including bits from maternity dresses
I sewed for myself 37 years ago!

I tossed a few bits of orange in here and there to 

illustrate "complimentary colors" in my color scheme.

I used Sherri Lynn Wood's book on improv piecing
to inspire me.
This quilt was so much fun to make!
Wonky and off-kilter and spontaneous.
Some of the corners are not even square.
And guess what?
The Quilt Police have not come knocking on my door!
This is officially my new normal.
I admire precision and perfection,
but I am a wabi sabi girl at heart...