This is a wonderful book about natural dyes, it really is easy to dye with natural dyes and you will have so much fun if you decide to give it a try:)
We also managed some school work today:) Erin is busy with her Mineralogy block for grade 6 and so today we have learnt all about volcanoes. How they form, what happens when they erupt and we even did a little experiment out of the Childcraft book called Our Earth. What a fantastic resource these books are! I managed to buy some from Betterworld books they are amazing! To make our volcano, we used a shallow cardboard box, a glass jar, sand around the outside of the jar for the volcano. Into the glass we poured 3 large spoons of baking soda, red dye, water and a glass of vinegar. The end result was wonderful and really looked like a volcano!
Jen is busy with Chemistry, Grade 8, she is learning all about ph and we have been using litmus paper to test, lemon, juice, vinegar etc… for acid or alkeline ph solutions. It has been such fun. So this afternoon she has asked if we can go down to our lake and test the water ph there as well:) I am thrilled she is so keen to do more, I really love that we have the freedom to learn in our own time in our own way!
Last night Erin lost one of her first incisor teeth, she was so excited, she put her tooth in a special tooth box and left it for the tooth fairy… we she was so surprised to see this adorable little chicken waiting for her this morning in place of her tooth:) Aren’t these little birds adorable?? I found them on Swirly Arts on Etsy. I will definately be back for more.
And here is my love, Richard… doing what he adores… mountain biking. He rode in the Valentine’s Dirt Ride last Saturday and he had the most wonderful day… Tonight, he has invited me on a belated Valentine’s date, the day after Valentines, the restaurants are much quieter and that’s how we like it… just the two of us… I am so looking forward to it, I think I’m in love…
xo
My daughter is in the 6th grade too and learned yesterday also about volcanoos. It’s funny to read there are children in South Africa do the same thing at the same time! greetings from the Netherlands, Kirsten.
Hello my friend,
Beautiful wool dyeing. Lovely colour and process! I have that natural dyeing book, Linda. It is great! I also use the Childcraft books a great deal. My boys love them and so do I! They are just the best! Right now, we are using one called Celebratiosn and Holidays I think it is called. For months of the year, week days, celebrations and festivals around the year. And also Mathemagic which is just the best, best , best! I had been getting one or two boks when I could find them here. A few months back I managed a get the whole set in perfect condition from a lady in Ireland selling hers on. I have one or two of the same copies. Mathemagic and Green Kingdom I think. Will have to check! It sure is wonderful to be able to learn alongside our children and for them to learn at their own pace, own time – no pressure. I see this particularly with one of my boys who has learning challenges. School would just not work for him at all!
Fantastic action pic of your man. It is so good he has such a wonderful, active outdoor interest.
One day I shall visit you, dear friend – one day!
This comment has turned out long. I should have emailed you instead!!
Best wishes
Kelly
You speak with so much love!
Great way you teach your children! Seams like they’re having so much fun, learning everything about nature by their cool mummy 😉
And beautiful yarn you dyed. Pretty colour.
Love, Yvonne
My Dear Friend Kelly,
How wonderful to hear from you! Thanks about the wool. I am busy with an exhaust dye bath now for a lighter shade of the cochineal. I love the Childcraft books, how wonderful you have a complete set, I still need a few. I found another lovely Childcraft book the other day, it is called The Magic of Words. It’s all about why words have certain names, amazing!!
I would love for you to come and visit! I really hope you do:)
Take care
xo xo
Linda
such a lovely shade linda, your yarns are beautiful.
I was brought up on Childcraft. I’ll have to take a second look at the set I inherited and see what I’m missing. Did you get a chance to see my article on the chemistry experiments Max and I did together a couple of weeks ago? We were discovering the same thing, really, using red cabbage powder and combined litmus values. It’s so much fun to do – even when you’re old. But to watch the discovery happen in a child is amazing.
What I don’t understand is how you end up with so much wool to dye. Is there a great supply of wool in SA where you are? As far as I can tell, all that’s available to us is retail wool – awfully expensive to play with. Sometimes it just seems to me that you live in the garden of Eden or something. It certainly LOOKs that way. The dying book looks so tempting. But I need to be content simply using up the mound of yarn I’ve somehow amassed this past year –
the volcano! I can’t WAIT to do this with my girls, i suppose it’s never too early, but it was always one of my faves.
your yarn is beautiful. Ive been wanting to try natural dying. I hope you had a wonderful date (not a bad idea going the night after valentines)
we dyed with cochineal in my foundations class last month! loved it!
i hope you enjoyed a lovely evening with your honey. xoxo
The Swirly bird is adorable. And I love that dusky pink color of your yarn. Hope you enjoyed your post-
Valentine’s day celebration.
You big softy!
Love the pink yarn. Spectacular volcano. Busy day in your home!
you are just too clever Linda will have to dye some wool again soon myself, much love
Wendy
What a lovely color! I would love to try to dye my own yarn – someday 🙂
I have the same book. I recently dyed silk noil in red cabbage. I was wondering if you have tried to dye wool in red cabbage following the directions? I did and was not at all able to get the dye to absorb. It just didn’t work with cabbage. I googled dyeing with red cabbage and wool and couldn’t find anyone who has been able to get it to work. Do you have any experience with this? Thanks. your cochineal dye bath is gorgeous!Tamara @ Via Verde Farm
Your tooth fairy leaves very cute rewards in exchange for a tooth! Great post, you had a busy week!!!
I recently found an affordable source for natural wool roving and after seeing your post, I think I may try to do some natural dying of the roving. Thanks for the inspiration.
Dear Tamara,
Thank you so much!
I haven’t dyed with red cabbage before, but I will be buying some today and will give it a try:) I will be using Alum as a mordant and then see how this works out colourwise, they also mention in the book that vinegar can be added to alter the colour. Once I have a colour, I will also try this. I will blog the results. Thanks so much for stopping by:)
Take care
Linda