Thursday, March 12, 2009

fruition

Spring is in its full glory in Phoenix. The jasmine has burst into perfumed bloom. The grapefruit flowers hang heavy and sweet on the trees. Green things are going into their growth spurts.


I've had my own burst of productivity and fruition, at least when it comes to my natural dyeing. Over the past few months, my hands have been kept busy gathering dyeplants, measuring out mordants, stirring pots, straining, dyeing, skeining, and labeling.


The dyes that I've used include juniper, creosote bush, sumac leaves, oak galls, pomegranate, pecan and walnut hulls, coffee, cochineal, and madder. All but the latter three are plants that I've grown or locally gathered.


These plant-dyed organic wool yarns are soon to be released as Ever Green Yarns, sold through the marvelous One Planet Yarn and Fiber shop.


I've been tending and nurturing these yarns for months, and I am so happy and proud (and, dare I say, relieved?) to finally share them with the world!

11 comments:

Sue said...

They look gorgeous!

Best of luck with the new venture.

lexa said...

Those are gorgeous!!! Best of luck to you. :)

Maria said...

They are absolutely beautiful! I love that you used natural/plant dyes!!

rockbridge said...

congratulations!! the colors are beautiful... rich and yet naturally muted at the same time. best of luck! and doesn't the desert smell wonderful now!? this is my favorite time of year in tucson - the fragrance of the orange blossoms almost knocks me over.

loopykd said...

wow that is some beautiful dying you have been doing! I love it! Nice photography too, as always.

Veronique said...

Wow! Congratulations! And can I say that I wish you could use jasmine as a dye? ;) That would be heaven...

kathy b said...

Oh my. One of each! My wish!

Anonymous said...

Hi--They are beautiful...but isn't cochineal from an insect, not a plant?

Anonymous said...

All I can say is, that is beautiful ART!

Aidan said...

Selling your own yarns? Yay!! I'm gonna have to get me some of that so I can "wear" Phoenix.

mel said...

OH, how awesome! They look beautiful and natural dyes? Organic yarn? What a labor of love. Congratulations and best of luck!