Natural Dyeing

One of my intentions for 2012 is to explore natural dyeing.
I have dabbled a little, but this year I would like to take it further, experiment more & keep great notes ; - D

I currently have some lichen (Parmotrema perlatum) fermenting in an ammonia solution (1 p ammonia 2 p water)
It started off a lovely golden colour, has changed to rust & then deepened. Will I get the elusive purple? or red? Only time will tell!

I also have a pan of catkins soaking (the male parts of the Alder tree)



They gave colour into the liquid on about the third day. I plan to soak them for about a week & then simmer for an hour, before testing with a little fleece that has been treated with alum (as a mordant) to see what colour the catkins have given.

Today we had a wonderful walk. Yesterday it snowed & then rained & was bitterly cold. Today we had a thaw. As we were walking through the woods I saw this:



The dye actually running out of the female cones of the Alder trees!

I have picked some of the cones & they are steeping as I type:



It will be very interesting to see how the colour compares to the catkins.

Last but not least, I have collected a little more lichen, but I have not yet identified this one. It was abundant & I was lucky enough to find some on fallen branches.

I recently went along to a spinning workshop at The Threshing Barn
& purchased a lovely Ryeland fleece, which I scoured on a warm sunny day last week. My plan is to dye the fleece with various natural dyes & spin it into a 2 ply fingering weight & knit a Fair Isle something or other for one of the girls.

Happy Crafting!

Le Weekend

Epiphany

The end of the day - hats drying in front of the fire - the view from my spinning wheel

Christmas is officially over chez Little Shoots. Once we get to new years eve I get a little OCD & down come the decorations amid much sadness.

We do have Epiphany to look forward to, however!

We will be starting 'school-lite' as from tomorrow - lots of reading, a review of maths we were studying before our December break, fun phonics & maths games, a new spelling list or two...

Friday is Epiphany, however - a jewel in the dark winter days.
Here are our plans....

~ We will be reading Matthew 2

~ We shall be singing 'We Three Kings'

~ We shall be reading the story of Baboushka in Festivals, Family and Food theough there is a version of the folktale here

~ We shall be baking a plaited Brioche

~ And of course, we shall be making Crowns

Happy Epiphany!

Happy New Year!

We began the day slowly, getting dressed in the still darkness.
After a quick breakfast of smoothie & panettone, the girls & I headed out to the woods.

The misty, muddy morning was such a different scene from the all-white world that we walked in a few days ago.

















After our walk, we settled down to some nature sketching. Our focus today seems to have become 'fungi' : )

We had a big, hearty brunch of sausages, eggs & bacon & the girls went out to the cinema with Daddy. This left me with peaceful knitting time.
I have just purchased The Sweater Workshop What a brilliant book! This book sets out to set us knitters free from the confines of patterns - to teach us jumper construction, so we can craft our own out of any yarn we choose.
It contans a strange looking sampler to knit, that covers all the techniques that would be used in knitting a jumper. I have eagerly cast on today!

Happy knitting!

A Goal for Knitting & Spinning

I keep an inspiration book. A very simple book, into which I glue any photographs, clippings from magazines, ribbons, anything that inspires me!
I have a lot of nature photographs in there & the one that keeps catching my eye is the photograph at the top of this blog post.
Isnt he a sweetheart!

Earlier this year I purchased a wonderful silver shetland fleece from Jamiesons. It is the softest, cuddliest fibre & I have high hopes for that fleece!

My plan is to make a Seamless Yoke jumper using Elizabeth Zimmermann's Percentage System. To the yoke of the jumper, I would like to add some simple fair isle detail, inspired by - wait for it! - the colours of the wee robin!
So the body of the jumper will be a soft grey & the fair isle a combination of deeper grey, browns, off white & that glorious deep red - orange.

The fleece has patches of charcoal grey - I am combing the fleece right now - a laborious but worthwhile task. Once combed, I plan to drum card the lighter fibre with the darker fibre to get an even blend of light grey. Some of the fibre will be set aside to dye in the browns & red - orange.

Resources I will be using to help me are as follows:

Knitting in the Old Way

Knitting without Tears

Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitting Workshop

Knitting around: or Knitting without a License

Alice Starmore's Book of Fair Isle Knitting

'till next time : )

Snowdrops

Friday is nature study day in our home.
This morning, we observed a wee patch of snowdrops growing in in our front garden.
The girls took great pleasure in sketching them in their nature notebooks:



Here is Elianna's sketch (7 yo)



Here is Rosie's sketch (4 yo)



Now, the waldorf purists will notice that my 4 yo has written in her notebook!
We came to waldorf late with Elianna - she was already reading a writing a small amount when we went fully into waldorf last year. With Rose I was determined to hold back on the academics. Hmmm - i should have told Rosie this! The last few days she has been engrossed in 'reading' & 'writing'.
I am happy for her to do this - it is where she is at. we wont be doing any 'formal' lessons yet & she has abundant time to play & be outdoors. We are all happy : )

Our resources for nature study today are favourites of mine:

Field Guide in Colour to Wild Flowers

My favorite guide to wild flowers. This was bought for me by my aunt when I was a small girl, so it has great sentimental value, but also, as a resource, it cant be beaten! The illustrations are hand drawn, which I prefer to photographs. The edges of the pages are colour coded, to make finding your chosen flower very easy.
There is an index of scientific names & another for common names & I just love the layout & the information contained within this book.

The second book we used is A Gospel of Wild Flowers

This description of the book from amazon sums it up perfectly:
This work is a thought-provoking portrait of the natural world, written by the former Bishop of Lynn and illustrated by celebrated artist Pat Albeck. Pat presents a beautiful painting of a different wild flower on each spread. Accompanying this is text by the Bishop describing the plant and its practical uses, and then linking the plant and its properties to aspects of Christian thought and devotion. This is a comforting book that will appeal primarily to mature people with a Christian inclination, but will also be appreciated by nature lovers of all ages. Full of thoughtful stories and insights, this is a gentle and peaceful book, written in a direct, open way that is both soothing and refreshing.

I read selected parts from the chapter on Snowdrops to the girls this morning - not all of it was (in my opinion) suitable for them, but the parts I read appeared to resonate within them - I need to let them sleep on it, as I do myself : )

This wee book is a great one for mothers to tie their own innerwork around the changing flowers of the seasons.

Happy nature study!

More from the dyepot

More 'rainbow' than the last two, these have been claimed by the girls already : )

I am waiting impatiently for some alpaca/silk blend (my favorite fibre!) to arrive, so I can dye some more.

Some dyeing

Spent the afternoon yesterday dyeing these two fine merino & tussah silk slivers.
So have aptly named the colourway 'Candlemas' : )

February Circle Time

Hymn:

This is my Father's world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world:
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
his hand the wonders wrought.

2. This is my Father's world,
the birds their carols raise,
the morning light, the lily white,
declare their maker's praise.
This is my Father's world:
he shines in all that's fair;
in the rustling grass I hear him pass;
he speaks to me everywhere.

3. This is my Father's world.
O let me ne'er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father's world:
why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad!

Scripture

Philippians 4:8:
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Verses:

If Candlemas Day be fair and bright
Winter will take another flight.
If Candlemas Day be cloud and rain
Winter is gone and will not come again.

Five little Inuits by the igloo door
One went out to feed the dogs & then there were four
Four little Inuits, rowing out to sea
One jumped on an iceberg, then there were three
three little inuits, making fish stew,
One burned his finger, then there were two.
Two little inuits hunting just for fun,
One chased a baby seal, then there was one.
One little Inuit all his work done
Went home to supper, then there were none.

(Winter Wynstones)

Finger Play

Winter tells us little bulbs (kneeling)
To tuck our heads in so (mime)
Then we will not need to shiver (cuddle self & shiver)
When the cold winds blow (blow)

Spring will come with sun & showers (pitter patter fingers)
Soon to raise our head (mime)
Then we'll grow & grow & grow ('grow' arms)
Right out of bed (standing)

(Winter Wynstones)

Song

See this post

“Quiet, Quiet, do not make a sound,
Holding now the string so tight,
We all make some winter light
Quiet, quiet, do not make a sound”

We will be practicing counting 1-100 / 100 - 1 & skip counting

French

Avec un gros nez
© 2003 Alain Le Lait

C’est un chien, c’est un chien
Ouah, ouah, ouah (repeat)
C’est un chien, c’est un chien
Avec un gros nez
C’est un chat, c’est un chat
Miaou, miaou, miaou (repeat)
C’est un chat, c’est un chat
Avec un gros nez
Un chien et un chat, avec un gros nez
Ce n’est pas souvent qu’on en voit passer 
(x2)
Un oiseau, un oiseau
(whistle 3 times) répétez
Un oiseau, un oiseau
Avec un gros nez
Un poisson, un poisson
(smack lips 3 times) répétez
Un poisson, un poisson
Avec un gros nez
Un oiseau, un poisson, avec un gros nez
Ce n’est pas souvent qu’on en voit passer 
(x2)
C’est une vache, c’est une vache
Meuh, meuh (répétez)
C’est une vache, c’est une vache 
Avec un gros nez
Un cochon, un cochon
Ron, ron, ron (répétez)
Un cochon, un cochon
Avec un gros nez
Une vache, un cochon, avec un gros nez
Ce n’est pas souvent qu’on en voit passer 
(x2)

With a big nose
© 2003 Alain Le Lait

It’s a dog, it’s a dog
Woof, woof, woof (repeat)
It’s a dog, it’s a dog
With a big nose
It’s a cat, it’s a cat
Meow, meow (repeat)
It’s a cat, it’s a cat
With a big nose
A dog and a cat, with a big nose
It is not often that you see that go by 
(x2)
A bird, a bird
(Whistle 3 times) repeat
A bird, a bird
With a big nose
A fish, a fish
(Smack lips 3 times) repeat
A fish, a fish
With a big nose
A bird, a fish, with a big nose
It is not often that you see that go by 
(x2)
It’s a cow, it’s a cow
Moo, moo (repeat)
It’s a cow, it’s a cow
With a great big nose
A pig, a pig
Oink, oink, oink (repeat)
A pig, a pig
With a big nose
A cow, a pig, with a big nose
It is not often that you see that go by 
(x2)

Recorder Practice

Mary had a little lamb

Rosie's story for this month will be the gingerbread man

Candlemas 2nd February

And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel: and the Holy Ghost was upon him.
And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death, before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law,
Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word:
For mine eyes have seen thy salvation,
Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people;
A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel.
And Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken of him.
And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against;
(Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;
And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
  And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.
And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.
And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

Luke 2:25-40

Candlemas takes it’s name from the blessing of the candles on this day for use in the church throughout the coming year. It is also a celebration within the church of the presentation of Jesus in the temple.

“At the beginning of February, when the infant light of spring is greeted thankfully by the hoary winter earth, it seems fitting we should celebrate a candle Festival  to remember that moment when the Light of the World was received into the Temple, when the old yielded to the new.”
“All Year Round”


Verse for Candlemas:

“If Candlemas Day be fair and bright
Winter will take another flight.
If Candlemas Day be cloud and rain
Winter is gone and will not come again.”


Ways in which to celebrate:

One would be to think of goals & things you would like to see happen in this New Year together, in this time of new beginnings, as the earth becomes spring again & do something to celebrate that.

Of course the major activity is usually candle making in some form - rolling candles, candle dipping or making earth candles outside in the ground & lighting them.

If the ground permits, tilling a plot for march planting.
The ground is covered in snow here, but we shall be cosied up, looking through our seed catalogues & making plans....

Dinner in candlelight - We shall light our birthday ring as well as all our home made candles.

Bake fresh bread & enjoy Vegetable soup or chowder & baked custards as your Candlemas meal.

We can also offer simply made stories & poems about our friends the bees & work with beeswax & honey in some way during the festival.

Most of my inspiration for this festival comes from “All Year Round” however I found this lovely Candlemas song from Our Little Nature Nest



What a lovely song! we shall certainly be singing this, as well as using the beautiful watercolour as inspiration for our own wet on wet on painting day.

Candlemas is a wonderful way to talk about my own relationship with the Lord with my girls - How Christ has promised to be our light in the darkness, that He lights my way & that He is the light - I am fully reliant upon Him. And for that I am fully thankful.

Happy Candlemas!

This morning we woke up to find...

...a wonderful white world!



We dressed fast, grabbed juice boxes & banana's & headed off to buy coal, as we were very short on supplies.
Once home again, we set off on foot to our local park, calling for our neighbour freinds.
We spent a few hours in the park, building a snowman, snowballing, sledging & generally having fun. And I forgot my camera.

Here is a shot of the park on a day last year. Today we have lots more snow!



We had a late breakfast of hot chocolate, porridge, fruit & toast then settled to our own activities.

Rosie went into the garden to play









Elianna made a fine zoo for all the little wooden animals in our home



















Hubby read & I napped, did a little spinning & knitted.







Somewhere in the midst of all this we ate a simple lunch

The bright sun of earlier in the day is fading now, I am blogging, the girls are playing 'zoo' & hubby is still reading : )
Soon the girls will have their evening bath & tonight is 'pizza night' We will be watching The Sound Of Music

Thank you friends for the many emails & messages I have received to ask' why so quiet'? - we have had a lot of illness & my uncle had passed away - his funeral is tomorrow.
I hope to post our February circle time plans either tonight or tomorrow.
I hope you all have had a super day, whatever the weather : )