Crone's Cottage

When I first saw this video, the amount of leaf needed to make the indigo dye, as well as the time it took to make it, was what struck me most. The wax resist (done in two dips to make two shades of indigo) was beautiful, but for me the amount of time and space it takes to make enough indigo to do the piece is what really struck me.

 One of the things I've really enjoyed in the past was the "sheep to shawl" process, where I'd spin and dye my own wool before weaving. My wool of choice was always churro (a Spanish sheep preserved by the Navajo in the US) and most of my dyes were the same dyes used by Spanish Colonial people.  I did dabble a bit (somewhat unsuccessfully) with some Navajo dyes, and although using a supported spindle (like the one used in this video) has always been my spinning method of choice, I've lost some interest since I don't have my favorite wool or a space to do natural dying.   This video brought back a lot for me, and I often think about my time in New Mexico, where all this was available to me.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Liz Spencer • Natural Dyes & Growing Color (@thedogwooddyer)

 One thing I've been interested in is multimedia basket weaving. Willow bark is a basic for basket weaving, and I recently found this video on processing willow bark:

 I've been thinking for some time about posting skill videos I find online someplace where I can reference them when I want to again.  This is the first of those videos: making cordage.

 I've been doing some sample weaving with various scrap fabric.  So far, texture has been a problem on the smaller pieces.  It wouldn't be an issue on say, a braided rug, but on a placemat or table runner it just looks shabby (without the chic). At this point, I'm also conflicted about the use of any of this fabric, since I've been reading about the microplastics from old   fabrics, which seems to suggest higher shed as fabrics age.  It's discouraging to think that cutting these older fabrics (especially into thin strips to weave with them) might increase the amount of shed. The next step, I suppose, would be to only weave with cast off natural fabrics. That feels like it defeats the purpose. Anyway, with regard to cutting older clothing into strips:  I know too much clothing ends up in landfills in other nations.  I also know some of companies are recycling some of that fabric. It also turns out that I'm not the only person who is thinking of weaving with old

Crone's Cottage is the name for the subset of my artistic endeavors that involves fiber, and most recently, combines fiber art with conservation and environmental awareness. In the past I've produced a lot of yarn that was hand spun on a supported spindle, and dyed using traditional dyes used in Spanish Colonial New Mexico.  The dyeing took place while I was volunteering in the dye shed of El Rancho de los Golondrinas, in New Mexico.  for the time being, I have no location where I can dye using these methods, which involve mostly items that you can find in your kitchen (with the exception of working with indigo dye). Since moving to California, I've had less time and fewer resources to pursue the volume of work I did in New Mexico, even though I am still volunteering in a living history museum, teaching about wool, spinning, and weaving as it would have been done over 100 years ago. I've also been involved in Marine Education and have been trained by the American Cetace