Smurfy

Just a silly little treasury collection...

A Strange and Golden Brew

My skeins of handspun yarn have been mordanted (see July 17th post) and they are ready for the next phase of the dyeing process.

The little yellow coreopsis plant outside my door has been steadily yielding golden blossoms for the last two seasons. I have kept them frozen in ziplock baggies up until now.

The flower heads, along with some marigolds blossoms are roughly chopped up and are added to my enamel dye pot with just enough water to cover them. They are simmered for about an hour and then the liquid is separated from the spent flower pulp.

Meanwhile the skeins are soaked in water and then immersed into the dye bath. They are left there for quite some time to take in the color.

The fiber is checked for color intensity every now and then.  After about an hour the yarn is lifted out, rinsed, spun out in the washer and hung to air dry.

I am so pleased with the lovely sunny yellow color!  The skeins will be carefully wound into balls and will patiently wait to be knitted into something special.  Creating this yarn has been a long but very rewarding process.  I have taken a raw fleece, scoured and combed it, hand spun it into yarn and dyed it with natural organic plants grown in my yard.  Projects like this one really open my eyes to the lifestyle of women generations before me.

A Labor of Love

This crocheted wrap was truly a labor of love. Very fine 100% cotton thread and a tiny hook were used to create each square motif in this a pattern that was adapted from a 1950's table runner. The squares were then crocheted together and an edging was added.

Today it will be blocked and stretched into a gorgeous finished garment that I am not sure I will be able to part with. Originally it was intended to be sold in my Etsy shop, but I'm really getting attached to it...

Malachite ~ Mysterious Green Beauty

Today StoneandFibers's Malachite and Green Swarovski Crystal Bookmark has been chosen by ExoticTreasuresJewel to be included in their latest treasury. They are a mother-son team of talented jewelers on Etsy who create beautiful and unique pieces using semi-precious stones and minerals.

Malachite is an enchanting and vibrant green stone with dark veining or matrix.  It is said to be a protector of children and to help promote loyalty in one's relationships.  Long ago the Romans and Greeks used it in ground up form as eye shadow.  Enjoy!

Renaissance Faire

Got Gold?

Can't believe that gold prices are at $1600 an ounce!  I can remember when the shiny stuff commanded a mere $800.  Today's treasury features many of my Treasury League pals in a collection inspired by this new gold rush!

In My Dye Pot

 Recently I stumbled upon the most wonderful old enamel pot at a yard sale that I plan to use exclusively for fiber dyeing. 

Today I used it to prepare four skeins of my handspun yarn for dyeing.  Soaking the fiber in a mordant is required for the yarn to "take" the color of the dye and for it to last, especially if you are using natural dye.

 After simmering in a bath of alum and cream of tartar on the stovetop for about an hour, the skeins are rinsed, drained and hung to dry until next week when they will take on some color!