Friday, March 14, 2014

a new calendar cloth





I went to a quilt shop with a friend today and found a retro-style 2014 calendar towel by Moda. I haven't decided yet if it's to use in projects or in the kitchen. How about that label -- remember those? At our house, t.v. dinners were reserved for nights when my mom had bridge club or PTA or something. My favorite was the Salisbury steak with chunky mushroom gravy -- also my first experience of eating mushrooms.

It turns out parsley in the dye-pot is yellow and not green. The lighter yellow wool in the third photo from the top is the parsley outcome. Thinking about colors for the March wool moondala -- I like the indigo blue sky or maybe the sage green with a golden bindweed moon. Of course, it may end up to be all or none of these.

I tried ice-flower dyeing with the tulip petals from this month's flower bouquet. It's an easy technique from Eco-Colour by India Flint -- but I'm guessing that tulips just don't hold that much color? The water acquired a strong mauve color from the frozen tulip petals, but once the cloth went in, it was a disappointment. Having been soaked in a hot alum solution, the cloth turned the mauve into dark blue-green. So then I added a splash of vinegar and it turned back into a nice magenta color. You might think it's all good then but neither the silk or the wool seem to be taking on any color at all. Maybe I played around with it too much. I'll give it more time, waiting and wondering is really half the fun.

I labelled the wood butter jars today and also realized wood butter (to restore and beautify wooden bowls, utensils, cutting boards, etc.) in a small jar would be just right for a hostess gift. It would be great to have a few of these on-hand so I'll be making another batch using smaller jars. I can't even begin to say how good it smells and it's also nice on the hands. I'm a believer.

Thanks for visiting and remember to look up. Our waxing moon is nearly full, the night sky will be beautiful this weekend. xx


10 comments:

  1. Hello Peggy, not much colur at all from the parsley, but a useable colour all the same. I've had that experience too of getting liquid with a good strong colour but it does nothing to the fabric...half the fun maybe? Enjoy your full moon weekend. Oh and I sent you a 'green' email :)

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  2. Such wonderful, colorful productivity going on! Love the french knots in previous post, too...

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  3. Just posted this delightful one on my Face book page, saying--"One of my all time favorite places to go before retiring--Gives me good dreams.?

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  4. Maybe I'm easy...but I like all the dye colors! What a fun new calendar cloth. We ate TV dinners as a treat too...fried chicken, corn, mashed potatoes and apple cobbler :)

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  5. What a fun calendar cloth. You could use it in the kitchen for a while and let it soften and wear over time then use it in a stitching project :)
    I love the smell of beeswax. 34 years ago I used to make beaded earrings. I would use beeswax. That is when you could not find any stores or books that carried beading supplies. I found one bead shop in Houston, Texas that I would visit and I had to pay a young woman to teach me how to make earrings.
    Love India Flints book. Have a happy day xo

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  6. that third image makes me want to pick up a needle and just dive in. lovely colors.

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  7. We got tv dinners last wed of the month, bunco night for mom & fire mtg for dad. I loved the apple cobbler dessert & that we got to watch tv while eating them! The butter would make a fabulous gift! love that calendar cloth with its moon, stars and planets!

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  8. woodbutter, i think i need that....

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  9. Thanks, everyone -- loved reading your comments. xoxo

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  10. All of your colors are lovely, looking forward to your next moon block.

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