"...moon bright, dark night, threads to sew, 'round I go, moon bright, dark night, threads to sew, 'round I go, moon bright, dark night, threads to sew, 'round I go, moon bright, dark night, threads..."
Yesterday's full moon was a full day of taking stock and winding up. There was stirring, squeezing, and straining. Full-moon feasting at mid-day with a girlfriend. Daydreaming and writing. Stitching a spell into the night. Drawing down the moon before bed.
My sewing ritual on full moons this year is stitch once again -- 13 moondalas -- using home-dyed wool and colorful floss. The first little moondala is just beginning to take form, a creamy moon on a 4" amethyst square.
I wanted a shade of violet for the background because the sky is sometimes that color early in the morning in January. So I tried to find violet in the dye-pot two different ways yesterday. The light blue/green wool, which I didn't use on this moondala, came by way of frozen purple pansy petals from last summer's flowerpots -- I like the color but it's nowhere near what I was looking for. And the successful amethyst wool came from a grape dye-bath made with frozen grape pulp and seeds, leftovers from making grape juice last summer.
As long as the grape dye-bath was in front of me, I thought I'd see what I could do with this blouse to change the hue. I'm pretty happy with the outcome and a hundred times more likely to wear it now.
Sure, unrolling the pomegranate and eucalyptus bundle was a moldy business but the eucalyptus leaves made it smell heavenly. I can't say how much I love the way white wool takes on color and pattern.
Straining herbal concoctions is another task for a full moon. There is more to strain today and it will be nice to get my little home apothecary in order.
There is satisfaction and pleasure in all this activity but now I'm looking forward to quieter, slower days ahead. Balance.
WOW! To all of it! Those flower impressions, the perfect purple and moondalas…all of it so so vivid.
ReplyDeleteha...moondalas...love that. and so many gorgeous colors in your dyeing. what came of the avocado peels? did you get any color from them?
ReplyDeleteI love the moondalas set of cloth you are making this year. Your dyes look terrific. I hope you are happy with them. I will open a few of my bundles this weekend too - Hugs Nat
ReplyDeleteHi Cindy and thank you -- I'm nearly always surprised with eco-dyeing!
ReplyDeleteDeanna, I took a photo of the avocado-dyed pieces but forgot to include it here! Nothing is pink but the colors are still nice, will remember to include it next time I post. And think I'll wait until spring or summer to try again.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nat -- yes, I'm thrilled with all of these. I'll watch for yours!
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful projects! Reminds me that I need to do a few things... :)
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh Peggy, love your whole post. I'm so inspired with your moondalas, I might join you again this year. A little late but maybe I'll have time to start one this weekend with natural dyed wool too.
ReplyDeleteYour purple turned out wonderful, let me know how the color stays.
Your wool looks like a record of Summer.
Me again,
ReplyDeleteI also love your moon chant.
What will you use your ech. tonic for?
What a beautiful shade of lavender! When you make grape juice do you use a steamer? I use one and hate just throwing the pulp onto the compost...the pulp after the steamer is pretty blanched! haha
ReplyDeleteLove that Moondala! You're right about a January sky, so this lovely shade was a great choice. All of the colors here are so rich. The blouse turned out great.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Deb -- there's always something fun to do (or dye), isn't there? ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kathy -- I hope you do join me with full moon stitching this year! I'm still stitching on this one, haven't had much time. The violet color will hold, I'm pretty sure, I've dyed with grapes before and even cotton retained the color.
ReplyDeleteThe echinacea tincture is mainly to help resist infection, colds & flu -- for my family and friends. I usually make it from homegrown e. purpurea but needed some before next fall, so used purchased dried e. angustifolia.
Hi Sherri -- I just put the grapes in a big pot with a tiny bit of water and simmer them down for a short time, then strain with a jelly cloth strainer set-up. All still bright.
ReplyDeleteI'm interested in how you continue to feel with the magnesium supplements -- what form are you taking? So wonderful that it's helped you already!! Yay!
Hi Nancy and thank you. You are my sky friend. There are many sunrises and sunsets with the blue pink skies, too -- I guess blue and pink together make violet, right? :)
ReplyDelete