Yosemite

      Close to the end of October I took a day trip to possibly one of the most beautiful places in the US- Yosemite National Park.

     It was sadly a solo trip but was absolutely stunning. I hope to return next summer for a few days backpacking with a friend. (But first I need gear and maybe an easy weekend trip to warm up to it first!)

     Looking through these photos has me missing California. It's hardly been half a month since I left to return to Washington but I miss it.

     SO far the plan has been to find a job, apartment (check!), and small space to farm. That;s right, I'm starting a farm! It's still a major work in progress, but my plan is to grow mostly medicinal herbs to sell bulk and as teas, salves and the like at one of the local farmers markets as well as online. One step at a time though- I'm still on the hunt for land low-key as it is (regular job is more important at the moment. Also it's December, there's not much I can do anyways. Another lesson in patience). So keep your eye out, there will be more changes to the blog as this develops.

New things to end the year on

In the midst of applying to new internship for the spring and staying warm (the house I'm living in isn't heated...), looking after two vivacious dogs, I've finally found time to photograph and list the patches I made a few weeks ago. Uploading is slow so I'll only list a few a day, I think (despite what it may look like sometimes, I do have a life). The patches have all bee photographed, so they'll be up followed by shirts, which is very exciting! I only got adult mediums this round, and have decided I don't like white shirts... so after this batch I'll be sticking to all black.
You will be able to find all of these patches here.

Shop Announcements

And the holiday season is just about to sneak up on us, I would like to (well, not really, but I have to for "marketing" and blah blah blah, the sad side of loving to make stuff but disliking the impersonal sale side of it all) remind folks about my Etsy shop here where you can find all of these wonderful things. Links will be provided below each photo. I will be unable to ship anything between November 23rd and December 2nd, so be sure to order before this or be prepared to wait for a bit. To make sure everything arrives by Christmas, please order by December 15th. :)

 Wild Goose Chase dress

 The Lioness infinity scarf

 Pomegranate Patch

 Hobbit Door Patch

 Canada goose triangular patch

I also have these cards

 

 Crystal fabric patch

 Molar patch

I also have these in a batik fabric

Some time later this afternoon or Friday I'll also have three small original skull paintings up for grabs which I'm pretty stoked about, and new patches in early December. I hope to see you at the shop, and that I am forgiven for this shameless self-promotion.

New things up in the shop!

Three new patches up in the shop! (you can find them here) The teeth & crystal patches are limited edition and won't be found on this cute fern fabric again. Also coming up soonish (next week or the one after) are new hobbit door patches & possibly geese patches as well, so keep and eye out!
     Grape harvest is upon us and work has been crazy. Have an idea for a large painting that I really want to do but it may have to wait...

Current works in progress

     Figured I would share some of what I am working on outside of my actual job.
     Have several dye projects soaking for patches and bandanas, two different kombuchas (black currant black & green), experimental plantain & usnea oil, a ginger bug for sodas sometime next week, as well as working on branding for the shop!

Water falls & patches

     Went to the neatest little local park today, one I haven't visited since high school. I've never been here in the winter, and this may be my last chance to visit (again, moving across the country is beginning to feel a little unreal!).


One of our towns half-dozen churches

     The waterfall comes from a pond created to run a mill, under a road then through a gorge to Port Bay and then Lake Ontario. If all of the surrounding land were publically owned that would be one heck of an adventure.



Originally called Ganadsgo

In the summer, this is a 50 foot drop. It has never (to my knowledge) frozen completely. At the base the ice opens up in an icy slurry caldron.

     Now this is where it gets interesting. See that bright blue? No one knows what it is, although it looks like the dye used to color herbicides to me. Heard rumors the DEC is looking into it, it'll be good to figure out what it is before everything melts next week. It's supposed to get above freezing again!

     I would have loved to get closer but one of my legs went through a snow bank and I got stuck & didn't trust the ground any further. Had to dig my foot out and now have some really great little cuts on my hands. Definitely wish I had remembered my gloves...

     Lastly, I'm going to be putting up some more things in the shop early next week. Mostly patches, but probably a few sets of cards & possibly some bracelets from tooth patches (see above) that didn't turn out right; would hate to waste that nice fabric. So stay tuned. I'm also going to foray into doll making/ paper mache later next week, hoping to make a little bear puppet inspired by one of my favorite poems that makes my bones burn.

Mid-January geese, quilts and cards

     This Friday I am planning an intensive soak for my hands. Between carving linoleum blocks stress on my fingers, and printmaking stress on my wrists as I have no formal print press but instead improvise with a full metal water bottle... (the plan is more improvisation to make a simple press eventually) Until then however, I have one last block to carve. So far this week there have been little hobbit doors and just now a goose triangle.



     A few days ago I mordant-ed and dyed fabric with willow bark and a few old black walnuts. Using diluted soymilk for mordant, I was impressed with how well it turned out and I'm excited to experiment more with natural dyes. Soon if I can find a red cabbage I would like to try to get a blue-green dye. And when it's all said an done, print some of the brown fabric with the little goose and sew a flying geese table cover.


Sorry for the blur, took this quickly with my phone

    While Canada geese may be extremely aggressive and territorial (I've been bitten myself... admittedly when I was young and interested in exactly how soft a gosling is...), after growing up with several dozen residing in the pond in front of my parent's house they now remind me of home no matter where I am. In using local dyes, the little table cover will be a way of bringing a piece of home with me wherever I am, especially next year when *fingers crossed* I will be in Virginia.



     Shop news: In the next few days I will have Tom patches, Hobbit thank you cards (in a different color scheme), and hobbit door cards and patches up. Next week I plan on having goose cards and patches as well as pomegranate cards and patches if my fingers survive until Friday.

     It's 5pm here and still light out, so I hope everyone is able to enjoy this. If you have a garden, I have heard that some people are already starting seeds- indoors of course- so have any of you started yet? We haven't here, but I'm beginning to look for medicinal wildflower seeds, especially yarrow to sow when it's warmer. 

SHOP IS OPEN

Time for celebration!
     You can visit it here.
     So far I have several photo print options up (more tonight/ tomorrow morning), and my Hobbit thank you cards. Soon I hope to include patches and some other card designs, so keep an eye out over the next few days. :D