I have been dyeing with natural material: my notebook records preparing fabric with a mordant such as Sumac;
using onion skins or walnut husks for the dye bath.

Shibori, silk in dandelion root bath with black beans tied with string.










A strip of cotton, I had wrapped around rusty nuts & bolts. 

Recently I took a class with Velma Bolyard called Spirit Papers where we used materials such as leaves, berries, plants to make bundles to go in the dye pot with mordants of sea water, iron, rust etc. Lots of fun.


Arches paper, wrapped bundle of various natural material.

Nature's way

I watch the birds fueled by nature building their "sub rosa" nest. It breaks my heart to know that last year the squirrels found it. Female House finches are more likely to return to the same nesting spot than to return with the same mate. There are many males with which to mate but finding a dry, sturdy spot for a house is primary or should I say primal. Matter of fact she might find a brighter colored male (brighter means better diet.) 

Early days of the garden

Mother and child outside my window.The red dot garlands are hung to prevent the birds from hitting the windows.I would love to have the deer visit but they are actually grazing on: Azalea (I haven't seen flowers since the first year I planted this bush because the deer annual enjoy the buds.) The Hellebore budded out in March through a layer of snow but they never had the chance to bloom before the deer ate them. I feel so sorry for a long winter and a lack of food for the beautiful creatures. 

nothing compares to nature's beauty