Life on Via Verde Farm

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July 28, 2009

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Natural Dyeing with Sumac Berries

THE SUMAC BERRY Early to mid-Autumn is full of plants and berries that can be harvested for natural dyes. Sumac berries, acorns and walnuts are a few of the excellent dye stuff available. I picked sumac berries for this dye session. The bright red cones stand out on the bushes along the roadside. They are an easy plant to identify by their stunning leaves that turn red, orange and yellow in fall and the gorgeous red cones that top off the branches. FORAGE Foraging for sumac berries is fairly easy. The sumac bush is plentiful along roadsides, forest edges and in clearings. I found quite a few just a short walk from my farm along the road. When picking sumac berries find the brightest red cones that are free from mold or have not browned. Take only what you need as wildlife uses these berries for nourishment during the winter. I just used a pair of pruners to clip off the berries at the stem MEASURE, MEASURE, MEASURE I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to weigh your dye st...

Pear Bark & Leaf Dye on Cotton, Wool and Alpaca

While cleaning up the yard earlier this fall I trimmed up my pear tree by cutting off a few of the suckers near the base of the truck. I was about to take them to the fire pit when an idea hit me. I will dye with them!!! I then decided to take the branches and chop them up with the leaves and put them in a bucket. I filled the bucket with water and let it stew for about 5 days. I didn't plan on leaving the mixture that long but life got in the way and they had to wait. After the five days I put the mixture in a steel pot with 3 gallons of water and brought it to a simmer. I let it simmer for 90 minutes and then turned it off and put the lid on and let sit overnight. The next morning I simmered it again for 60 minutes this time. Turned the heat off and let it cool to room temperature and strained it. The dye sat on the stove in a pot for a few more days before I could get to dyeing. Chop the leaves up. I didn't do that. Gorgeous pale orange dye I had pre-mordant o...

Friday Fiber Arts Dyeing wool with Virginia Creeper

I have been wanting to dye alpaca fiber in virginia creeper for quite some time. Last week as I was walking a friend's dog along the road I found large vines of the native plant. I gathered a small plastic bag full and brought it home to test out. Viriginia Creeper is a woody vine native to North America. It is a five leafed plant with toothed edges. It shouldn't be confused with poison ivy which has 3 leaves and smooth leaf edges. In the fall the foliage becomes red and purple berries emerge. The berries are poisonous to humans. The vine is prolific in Michigan and I easily found it right here in Ada. I have been waiting to dye with this plant for some time. I gathered only the leaves and chopped them into 3" pieces. The entire plant can be used, but I just used leaves this time. I had premordanted my alpaca fiber from White Lace in alum and the assistant cream of tartar. I placed the leaves in a big pot and filled it with cold water. I let the contents come to a simmer ...

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