Showing posts with label elderberries. Show all posts
Showing posts with label elderberries. Show all posts

Monday, August 10, 2015

PERSONAL EFFORT

Happiness is the consequence of personal effort.
You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and
sometimes even travel around the world looking
for it. You have to participate relentlessly in
the manifestations of your own blessings.

~ Elizabeth Gilbert









It's a new week and a new attitude
for me, no more pity party, there is
a life to be lived and I want [need]
to do it with peace and Grace.

I was asked about bible journaling
and the best way I can tell you about
it is to just show you as I am still
learning this medium too. I am a huge
fan of Pinterest [after resisting for so
long] and now have a Bible Journaling
page that is quickly filling up. I draw
each morning after my bible reading,
picking a verse that speaks to me at
the time. To me this is not about what
kind of artist you are, it's about furthering
your relationship with your God.

The elderberries are ripe and with winter
not that far off [I can hope] I am storing
berries in the freezer to make this.

I made 'healthy' almond joys which
may or may not be good thing. I know
I didn't eat them all,that was someone
in my home,  but I did eat my fair
share, ahem.  [recipe below]

I'm trying my hand at making more buttons,
this time out of clam shells. I do love the touch
of lavender and now need to knit a sweater
to put them on, but first I am going to finish
knitting my hat.

Clover's Almond Joys

1/2 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup raw cocoa powder
1/2 cup almond/coconut butter [or whatever butter you like]
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup chopped raw almonds
1/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix all ingredients well, pour in mini muffin cups
and put in the ice box until solid.
Store covered in ice box, eat through out the day. :)

Sunday, April 26, 2015

FIBER

You have the potential to
make beautiful things.
Yes, you!

~ the berry










I wanted to try it just because I
thought it would be fun, I didn't
realize I was starting a whole
new obsession that has taken
over my weekend, and maybe
my whole week, Fiber Dyeing
is addictive!

I ordered several skeins of yarn
from Knit Picks, but for my first
go round I only dyed one skein,
a wool/nylon blend that would
be a little forgiving if I really
messed up with the temperature.

A few weeks ago I made an iron
mordant from rusty pieces of iron,
water and vinegar, so I had that
waiting.

I picked a pot full of mint, cooked
it on the stove for an hour and then
cooled it overnight.

After soaking the yarn in water I
added it to the dye pot and let it
hang out over night.

The next morning I checked the
color and it was tan, not quite
what I was looking for so I needed
to move along.

I put the pot on the stove,  added
the iron mordant, slowly heated
everything up to 180 degrees and let
it simmer for 10 minutes, then
I let it cool for three hours.

After washing the yarn in a natural
dish soap and hanging it to dry my
final result is a soft grey, perfect!

Now I have moved on to elderberries
and using a pre mordant,..exciting
times here at Clover Seven!

To be continued.....

Note:: Thanks to the book,
The Handbook of Natural Plant Dyes
and the internet for all the help with
this craft.

Joining Karen.