meka-leka hi, meka-hiney ho*

 

I found a surprise on my walk to the library and didn't know what to make of it.  Why was an aladdin's lamp on a public bench, and who left it there?  After weighing the options and contemplating the mysteries, I chose to leave it alone.  It seemed sweet and exciting to encounter, though a little creepy too.  So I played it safe and walked away leaving it on the bench, untouched.  The random act of weirdness was magic enough for me.

*Jambi's magic spell

make you blue

-Japanese textile remnant recently purchased at an ethnic textile baazar
-Detail of my much loved Chinese bark cloth jacket found at a thrift shop
-Indigo seeds I will be planting in mid February

More indigo.  I meant to post this a couple weeks ago after a lecture I attended with indigo artist and teacher Rowland Ricketts.   The event was hosted by the Fibershed community and coincided with the building of the first Japanese indigo composting floor here on the west coast.  Rowland, who guided the building of the floor, gave a slide presentation of his apprenticeship in Japan where he learned the ancient process of turning newly harvested indigo leaves into sukomo, the end product for color dyeing.  The talk was fascinating and I feel like I learned so much.  I never realized what it took, how detailed, and how back breaking the process was.  And beside the hard work, the slide show reconfirmed my opinion of how beautifully the Japanese craftspeople do things.  I admire the careful skill in every step.  Mindful, thoughtful, meticulous.

-Rowland Ricketts website
-a photo of the composting indigo pile
-Fibershed videos, philosophy and projects
-The Fibershed marketplace, and where you can purchase indigo seeds

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To everyone who left camera suggestions - thank you!   Now I need to process the info and make a decision.  Can't wait to play with an upgraded camera soon...  xo

      

somewhere off Sir Francis Drake

A mid-morning walk in the fresh air was a necessity today.  Ever wake up and start the coffee forgetting how many scoops you put in the pot?  That was me this morning and actually again this evening.  Twice in one day.  I would say mama's a bit on the foggy side.  Anyway, back to the walk.  We came across a friendly stranger on our path.  Daniel pulled a paper fortune from his wallet and left it at the strangers feet.  We're hoping for a mitzvah.

.......

I am looking to buy a new digital camera.  I have a point and shoot and would like to graduate to a modestly priced camera with detachable lenses.  Nothing fancy or complicated, just good quality.  Any suggestions?

 red walk in fall 2011

Halloween-lite, 2011

work of artist Laurie Frick

Artist studios.  Four-story clap board buildings constructed in 1907, thirteen foot ceilings, wooden floors (wooden everything), huge windows, lots of light, nestled on grassy hills and overlooking the Pacific ocean.  Once military barracks, now artist studios at the Headlands Center for the Arts.  A couple weekends ago we stopped by the open studios and wove our way in and out of artist spaces.   Lots of amazing talent and interesting work, but my favorite part of the day?  The craftsmanship of the old buildings.           

(be kind)
spotted near the farmer's market on sunday.

Inside the dyeshed

mordanted stands of wool and dyers coreopsis

workshop setting

oak galls on the table, simmering pots of sheep sorrel, tea, and toyon

tools

Sheep sorrel simmering

coreopsis flowers heating up

the dyeshed

Instructor and book author, Rebecca Burgess in the dye garden

discussing indigo and madder root plantings

The dye materials of the day:  sheep sorrel, coffee berry, sagebrush, toyon, coreopsis, and oak gall.  These are all native to northern California.

I was so focused on learning the process that I now realize I forgot to take photos of the final dyed cloth.  I think my distraction was due in part by the large simmering pots of twigs and flowers, the old tools, and the beautiful shed and garden... the outcome became secondary, the process is so pleasing in itself.  

                

Autumn

The dye shed

Indian Summer at the Commonweal Gardens in Bolinas, CA

A quick drop-in to say hello!  Hope this finds everyone doing well and enjoying the beautiful fall weather.  Whew - it's been such a long break but a good one.  Seems like a necessary thing to do every now and again don't you think?  Clears the head, rejuvenates the soul, refreshes the creative juices.

What was my break all about?  Mostly taking time away from the computer and doing regular things, but also putting some thought into how best I want to spend my time.  This is something I like to do every once in a while.  One of the things that tops my list is continuing to learning more about the natural dye process.  Seems the more I learn about natural dyes the more obsessed I become.  I recently took another workshop with Rebecca Burgess, author of Harvesting Color, and I'll be sharing photos of the session soon.  Currently I am in the process of gathering my own materials and equipment so I can dye textiles at home too.

Other posts coming up will be of places and things happening here and mostly centered around art and design.

Good to be back!

collecting flavors

Scoop flavors, Fairfax CA

.....

weee summer

Bolinas, CA

A lunchtime mini-vacation.  Up Sir Francis Drake, left on Hwy 1 at Olema, look for the (non)sign*, take a right. 

The heat wave ended yesterday which gave us a good excuse to take off for an extended lunch break.  The criteria for our mini-trip was that the location had to be fairly near, and the roads going to and from had to be pretty - not much else, and as simple as that.  So we chose our destination, found nice wooded roads to drive on, ate lunch, took a little walk, then slowly made our way back home.  A much needed mid-week getaway for the soul :)

*The community is perhaps best known for its reclusive residents. Historically, it is only accessible via unmarked roads; any road sign along nearby State Route 1 that points the way into town has been torn down by residents. -wikipedia

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Do you have a quick (maybe even secret) lunchtime getaway?

destination

 Up the steps

behind the town

past old homes

 and old gardens

past spiritual guides

and funky chickens

past signs that wish you well.

Destination:  Path 49, Mill Valley CA

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flavor of the day

 Downtown Fairfax, dessert before dinner

It's been six months and 5 days since the big move.  And what's that saying, "where ever you go, there you are?"  So true.  Even though I feel like a brand new person here, I'm still the same old me when it comes to ice cream choice. Chocolate, maybe with strawberry.  Mr. is the same too, the risk taker, always a new flavor (earl grey this time) paired with something familiar.  He shakes his head that I stay in my comfort zone.  I eat my scoop with total satisfaction.  That's the way is.

 ...and you, swinging out on a limb, or cozy in your comfort zone?

 

sustainable garden

Fabric drying in the sun, and a sprinkling of chickens

Above: natural fabric dyeing class with Rebecca Burgess.
Commonweal Garden, Bolinas CA


Plant matter: Toyon and Coffee Berry

.....

I just found out that Rebecca's new book, Harvesting Color, will be out May 1st. Also, there will be a Fibershed (grown and sewn close to home) fashion show debuting Rebecca's new sustainable clothing line on the same day in Point Reyes Station. Good things moving in a good direction - hooray.

Natural Fabric Dyeing

Plant matter du jour: madder root, turmeric, indigo, rosemary, nettles.

I spent the day with seven woman making natural fabric dyes using plant matter with healing properties. The class, "Healing Clothes: Making Dyes, Making Medicine" was filled with great information on the ancient Ayurvedic tradition prescribing "the wearing of naturally dyed clothing for specific conditions". Author, educator, textile artist Rebecca Burgess has just written a book, "Harvesting Color" which I intend to run out and get soon. What a fun day drinking hot tea, coloring cloth, and learning something new in good company. A few more photos from the class here.

dream state

Last week before the rainstorm

I took a sleepy walk through the neighborhood.

The sun warming the back of my sweater.

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Weather gods teasing us.
Back to winter for a while.