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Shop News
Have you seen...?The latest Shop Local article in The Storque spotlights Japan and features a talented lot of artists & craftspeople. Lucky for me, I've been fortunate enough to be included in the...
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Edible Dyes
See what I discovered in my afternoon snack: I knew gardenia was an edible dye, long used in Japan to color a variety of traditional foods from kurikinton and other assorted wagashi to takuan but...
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Dyeing :: Annatto & Gardenia
Just your standard cold dyeing method with annatto extract. It was my first time trying a natural dye in extract form, and while it was fast and easy, it sort of took the fun out of watching the...
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Dyeing :: Yomogi
ヨモギ (yomogi), in Japanese-- in English, Japanese mugwort. A harbinger of spring, yomogi grows along almost any roadside here from about March to October. They grow quite rapidly and vigorously too,...
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:: On The Front ::
I finally made it to the front page of Etsy yesterday as a part of this handsome treasury-- my naturally dyed embroidery floss in annatto orange, bottom rightThank you for including me your lovely...
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A Late Start
Marigolds just starting to grow. The seeds are from the marigolds that were growing in my grandmother's flower garden in Nagano last summer. In fact, they're the same ones as these (third...
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Rainy Day Bear Bag
A simple flat bag. Just big enough to carry a picture book or two. Or a magazine. The embroidery design is my original.This one's been in progress for a long time, but I finally finished it! I'm...
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Found
I found another familiar dye source in the neighborhood-- アカソ (Boehmeria tricuspis)In truth, I've actually walked past these akaso countless times and have seen them growing there. But until I started...
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In My Lunch
There's more to this sandwich than meets the eye... コチニール色素 (cochineal pigments)A casual glance at the back of the ham package while I was making my lunch gave me a startling realization that it's...
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Patchwork Coaster
Just a little patchwork sample-turned-coaster. Because I was in a mood for a bit of weekend sewing. I started this project with no particular end in mind, but to have fun with a few of the leftover...
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Dyeing :: Purple Gromwell
ムラサキ (purple gromwell root chips)Murasaki-- literally, purple-- in Japanese. It was the traditional source of its namesake color in Japan. Highly prized, the deep purple from murasaki was at the...
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'On Natural Dyeing'
Looking for something to read this weekend?I was a guest blogger at Mary Corbet's Needle 'N Thread last week (so I'm a little behind...) and wrote a two-part article on natural dyeing. If you haven't...
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Color: Then & Now
Another rainy day. Another day in.Half in search of something interesting and half with the intent of cleaning & re-organizing, we were rummaging through the closet today when I stumbled upon...
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Front Page Again
I just found out that I got a spot on the front page of Etsy again, yay! This time, as a part of this colorful treasury-- my naturally dyed embroidery floss, you pick 3, bottom centerThank you for...
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Dyes in Food :: Jellies
I found more natural dyes in my food. This time, safflower yellow and gardenia-- 紅花黄、クチナシ (safflower yellow, gardenia)They were used to color to these little jellies-- I didn't think there was...
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Christmas In July Sale!
Just dropping in to say that I'll be having a Christmas in July sale over at my Etsy shop. From July 12 to July 25 (JST, at my shop), all 100% silk laceweight yarns will be 20% off from the list...
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Storing Embroidery Thread
I've been focusing on embroidery work recently, with the result that I'm finding myself with an increasing number of partially used threads. Up until now, I've just been winding them in little loops...
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Dye :: Stitch
I love natural dyeing. But I love making things too. So I decided to combine the two.I've longed wanted to try my own naturally dyed embroidery threads, but have been too engrossed by the dyeing part...
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Inspirational *
As it turns out, I'm not the only one working with my naturally dyed embroidery threads. See what these creative Etsy artists have made with them-- Lichen Jars 4, 5 & 6, by OttomanOttoman has...
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Colors of Alder
cotton embroidery thread + linen dyed with alder conesAn earthy range of colors, so cool and harmonious. All variations achieved with alder, just by altering a factor or two. Lovely, woodsy shades...
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