Friday, January 23, 2009

Some Weather

Finally! We have had no moisture for weeks and it's winter - this is when we get our water. It's rained over the past two days and is supposed to continue for several more. Desert plants draw from humid air and even though nothing is growing yet, the rain has made the plants appear brighter. I counted at least a dozen different shades.

You can see the potential green at the base of the sage plants. I think it's because the desert palette is restricted that the spring wild flowers are so spectacular. I just wish I were able to mix dyes predictably enough to emulate these shades. This would be a great "squadgie" color pathway - swamp colors Suefleen calls them. I'm spinning this pathway right now, but it's from Mim. She said when she was dyeing this roving, that she thought of me.
The dogs and I had a dampish walk this morning and it was absolutely wonderful. They only needed a quick towel-down and were house ready. How lucky for me that this beautiful day is also my day off.

Eddie elected to take Ian's path. Alexia always takes it because it's "cute" - besides, she says, it's "shortew." I take the long way because, doggone it, if I'm out for a walk, I want it to count for exercise. Cute paths don't count as exercise.

The bags are done. The two on the left are natural dyes and the two on the right are acid dyes, except the light top of the right bag. That's white border leicester that I blended with snippets of sari silk. Click for big to see how well it felted. I'm very disappointed that the cochineal and rabbitbrush bag looks like something from the Marine Corps. I think it would have worked had I not added the cochineal band on top. Very disappointing.

9 comments:

~~Sittin.n.Spinnin said...

Which one are you talking about 'from the Marine Corp'? They are all gorgeous as usual! I can market my yarn, but I would like to have something that was my own, like the purses are yours, that I could market. Someday I will come up with something :)

Sharon said...

Thanks Becky. I guess I assumed that everyone knew that the colors of the Marine Corps are burgundy and gold. I forget that not everyone was a Marine Corps wife and competitive MC wives volleyball player.

MiniKat said...

I love the light one on the end and the second from the left. But they are all quite lovely. Even the one that screams: Semper fi!

Marie said...

All the bags are wonderful! You always create such beautiful work. Love the landscape. We still have oodles of snow and ice on the ground.

Leigh said...

I got a kick out of your title. "Some Weather" as opposed to "A Lot of Weather" or "No Weather"! Glad you got the rain.

Love the bags. And honestly, I've never seen a Marine carrying anything like those around.

Jodi said...

The bags looks great! Thank goodness for some rain at least.

Mim said...

I love all the purses! You never know when it comes to color. Over and over again I come up with colors I do not like when dyeing and always they are the first to sell. Never say never or yuck when it comes to color.

bspinner said...

All the colors are great. Love your bags.
The pictures of the plants are sure interesting.
Glad your getting rain.

Tina T-P said...

Oh, your bags are beautiful! Thanks for the help on the hats - the good news is that the four hats I sent to my nephew's family in Eastern Wash. ALL FIT! Yay! T.