Silk rugs and more

Last week my son stopped by my work and took me with him to an estate sale. I wasn't going to go because I know I always like the most expensive things there. So here we go, I walk in and immediately see this rug hanging, after further investigation I find out the people whose estate this was from traveled the world and this was one of their purchases. A silk on silk rug from Istanbul with all the purchase papers, bought in 1990 for $2,050.00. This silk rug was dyed with natural dyes and made with the Turkish knot. It is a prayer rug with a tree of life design. Size about 22"x 36"
It was selling for $600.00, OK that wasn't in my budget so I thought just forget about it. But then that night I remembered Saturday it would be half price and how could you pass that up! So Saturday I went an hour early and was the first one in line (for about 45 minutes) and came home with it. I wish I could photograph it so the shimmering silk would show, it is simply beautiful.

Down the trunk of the tree is lettering, is it the artist signature or name of the piece?

There are 10 birds in the tree.

So much beautiful detail, the more you study it the more you see.

There was another silk rug there also, no paper work. Size about 3'x 5'. I could see it had been used and got it quite cheep.

After research I find it's hand-woven and made with the Turkish knot. I gently washed it and have it by my bed side. It feels so nice to wake up and the first thing my feet touch is silk.

On this rug is a copper identification. After looking at this I believe this one is also from Istanbul.

In the mail that day came my 5 yards of raw silk. New adventures a wait in the natural dyeing world.

Last night was my Herb Society meeting we were making scented tiles. Start by mixing 1 cup of baking soda with 1/2 cup cornstarch, add 1/2 cup plus 1/8 cup cold water, and 1 1/8 Tbsp. of crushed dried herbs. Cook over medium heat stirring constantly until mixture reaches consistency of moist mashed potatoes (5 -10 minutes).

Remove mixture to plate and cover with a damp cloth, when mixture is cool enough to handle add about 10 drops of essential oil and kneed in. Roll out between wax paper to about 1/4 inch thickness or less and cut into shapes.

You also can press leaves in and pull out to give the leaf imprint.

Allow to dry on a screen.

We also had a speaker there who makes natural home products.  Have you ever heard of "wool dryer balls"? I didn't but apparently everyone else did. There made from wool roving, they are suppose to take the place of dryer sheets (not that I use them), reduce wrinkles, fluff, soften and cut dying time down a lot. Sounds like a good project to make this winter.

A gift from a friend, a box full of black walnuts!  I am so ready to spend some time in the studio.