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.

I'm still here just haven't had a minute to post, soon I'll show you my "new" silk treasures that just seem to keep coming into my life but for today after reading Peggy's ( she a great herbalist, I learn a lot from her) blog http://www.womanwithwingsblog.blogspot.com I thought I'd share this with you.

"The old people came literally to love the soil and they sat or reclined on the ground with a feeling of being close to mothering power...The soil was soothing, strengthening cleansing and healing..."
-Luther Standing Bear, Oglala Sioux

Have you ever noticed the relationship between children and the soil? Watch how happy they are touching the dirt. The children play in it and eat it. If you are stressed, go to a spot on the Earth, sit  down, put your fingers in the dirt, dig in it. Wash your hands in the soil. When you touch it, notice what it does to your hands. Our bodies love to touch the Earth. Sometimes we get too busy and forget these simple things. Maybe you'll even want to plant a garden or flowers. These things are mentally healthy.
Great Spirit, today let me touch the Earth so the Earth can touch me.

End of Summer Fun

This has been the busiest of summers, lots of fun with the grand kids and with school starting next week so we're trying to get in the last of the beach days!

Is there anything more fun than jumping the big waves?

Everyone tries the skim boards.

It is hot and muggy here, the shoreline shows the humidity.

We're so blessed to live so close to the beach.

I did go to a wonderful lecture/tasting last week entitled "Pesto and Pasta". My favorite herbalist Marsha was the speaker.

She made 3 different recipes for pesto. (she used food processors). My favorite was the traditional recipe:
2 cups of fresh basil
1 cup fresh parsley
2 Tbs. fresh sweet marjoram (optional)

1/4 cup pine nuts (you could use other nuts, walnuts, almonds etc.)
2-3 cloves garlic

1/2-3/4 cup Parmesan or Romano cheese
3/4 olive oil

put all ingredients except for oil and cheese in food processor. Blend until smooth. Slowly add olive oil while blending on low speed. Stir in cheese just before serving. Serve immediately on hot cooked pasta.
I've only eaten store bought pesto but it does not compare to fresh made. To taste this is like you've died and gone to heaven.

Marsha also made pesto using kale, spinach, pumpkin seeds, garlic, olive oil and Parmesan cheese that was also very good. (using the same measurements and procedure of the traditional).

The only problem is having enough basil!! I think I might have enough for one batch.
One more recipe Marsha made that I have a lot of is made with:
chives, parsley, garlic, walnuts, olive oil and Parmesan cheese.

In my dye studio I've been adding new shelves made from old sewing machine drawers. I've had one for years and didn't know where to use it, then my son bought me three more from a estate sale, I found the perfect place for them. My husband put up two here.

And above my antique stove two more.

I think I may need a couple more, these will fill up fast with dried natural dyes.

I love my studio!

My rose bush is full of  hips this year, the biggest I've seen in a long time. I'm not quite sure what to do with them, I know their high in vitamin C and they make tea from them. I'll have to study on it, What do think Peggy any ideas?

Silk fabric and American Quilters Society, Grand Rapids, Mi.

Silk has been coming in and out of my life a lot in these last few weeks, starting with my natural dyed silk from hibiscus flower and vinegar.. I left this piece in the dye a couple of weeks (with the little piece of wool). After washing it I have this wonderful mauve brown. I'm thinking of ordering some raw silk from Dharma and playing around natural dyeing it.

My girlfriend Cathy O. just finished piecing this wall hanging (Karen Stone pattern). It is made from neck ties from all the men in her life, her husband, son, brother, father and father in law. It is beautiful, pictures just don't show the wonderful richness of silk.

Last Wednesday I went with my girlfriend to the AQS traveling quilt show in Grand Rapids, Mi. the following are just a few of the highlights. I've been quilting and going to quilt shows for almost 30 years so I'm always drawn to new ideas, not that I don't love the old traditional quilts but here are a few pictures of things I loved.
We'll start with an exhibit of Claudia Pfeil's quilt journey. She started like most of us with traditional quilts made from cotton. This exhibit showed her quilts in progression right on to the silk quilts she's creating now.

They all were beautiful but here a couple of my favorites.

This magical mermaid castle has so many details.

And lots and lots of machine quilting.

Beautiful mermaids,

and sea horses.

Fire and Ice.

Full of beautiful quilting and glass beads.

I don't remember the name of this tropical one,

full of tropical fish,

and beads.

The men were back from Egypt demonstrating their hand applique.

The use large needles and scissors to do very intricate
 work.

They had 30 or more pieces there for sale. Wish I brought one home with me, maybe next year.

This was a cute display with large spools of thread

and needles. The booth was selling their specialty needle.

This is Max Hamrick a natural dyer from Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. He gave a lecture about textile dyeing in colonial times. He has a new book out called Organic Dyeing available through AQS.

This piece was in the show, it is all thread work!! Looked like a painting.

This was a cute  wallhanging called Zucchini. It shows how it takes over most of the year in a gardeners life.

This piece was interesting it is made with felted wool and needle-felted.

It's a picture of a cave, Baudelaire National monument.

This was a merchant from California Carol Ziogas who deals with Japanese textiles. Her shop is called KimonoMomoI. Loved her booth.

Lots of old and new kimono fabrics. This is her blog if your interested www.theardentthread.com.

I bought this piece from her. It's the collar from an old vintage kimono from early 20th century Japan.

It is hand woven cotton, double ikat (kasuri). indigo.