Color as it translates, top to bottom, inside and out, primary to hip, I am immersed!

I am posting a few photos and have learned that what I thought would work before may be even more effective in new ways! Natural dyeing has never been an exact science and this week is proving the theory true by teaching me that prior parameters of mordanting, dye temperature and dyestuff collection as well as many other variables can be change yielding with even more exciting results. Tonight I need to do some homework and then get to bed but trust me, this is an eyeopener! Natural dyeing is never conclusive, never dull and never finished!

Top to bottom: Michele Wipplinger; weld studies; madder studies; Rose, the dog who rules my home away from home!

I have arrived in Seattle; left the east coast at 5:30 AM and had a 3 hour delay in Charlotte due to a number of mechanical problems on the airplane but arrived at the Earthues studio at 4:30PM, enjoyed a few hours of socializing with the group attending this week and now am settled for the evening. My body says 12:30AM, the clock says 9:30PM….oh dear, and it’s till light out! This is a picture of the fresh Weld Coby brought down from Canada for the work this week….isn’t it magnificent?!

I am leaving today for Seattle to spend the week at the Earthues studio for the annual invitational, delving into more natural dyeing concepts, color theory, color trends and a complete immersion in Earthues world, both in Seattle and beyond. I am completely excited!

Stay tuned for entries this week in late evening or early morning as the week unfolds.

Also, there are just a few spaces left for the August workshop here at the farm with Michele Wipplinger, click here for the printable brochure www.longridgefarm.com/events.asp Michele will not be on the east coast for an open workshop again this summer/fall…don’t miss the chance!

I think the sheep in this picture are sharing secrets, don’t you? Today is a gorgeous summer day, a moderate breeze, high 70’s, no humidity, perfect for such nonsense and daydreaming!

And on to shed number three! Jack had lots of assistance for this one as the sheep were using this pasture when he built the addition. At first they jumped and ran every time he made a move, but by the time the walls were up the sheep were lying around like it was old news. When Jack put the metal roof on Trinity was lying in the new area and never even budged while he lifted, placed and screwed the metal down! Later in the old area Trinity, Charlotte, Georgia and Jasper all just chewed cud and snoozed! They be happy!

Second cut haying is right on time. We got our first cut Memorial Day and the call to get second cut came Sunday afternoon. The sky threatened our plans all day with big gray clouds and it was pretty cool so the hay had to sit before baling til about 3:30, but we hightailed to the field and managed to pick up and get into the barn 140 bales in about an 1 1/2 hours. Lauren, grandaughter and pony paid us a visit and as we left the field after the second trip, the raindrops started but, thankfully, not for long. We have been getting our hay home with pickups for too many years now so we are buying a multi-purpose trailer this week to make one trip with 150 bales. We aren’t getting any younger! We now stand at 1/2 way to done for haying. Yea!