Pleasing Pinks

I don't know about you, but June is one of those months 

that sneaks up on me. BAM! The days fast become a blur.  

Thankfully, during the first week of June I can always 

look to these gentle giants, Japanese Tree Peonies, 

for a sense of calm. 

 Despite June's frantic pace, yesterday 

I managed to start a dye pot following ice flower 

dye instructions from India Flint's book, Eco Colour. 

After 24 hours in an Iris and Peony concoction, 

the roving (gifted from my dear friend Marjorie) 

and tightly bundled silk habotai & silk gauze 

achieved a light pink. 

Feeling their color wouldn't get much deeper, 

I moved them to a shallow tray containing the 

liquid remains of a jar of pickled beet juice (above). 

  

Tomorrow I'll check their progress.

I really hope the roving's color will wick

from deep magenta to light pink. 

Cross your fingers for some beautiful summer spinning!

At our house, pink yarrow is flourishing.  

Darn my luck, another dye pot in my future.

 French Breakfast Radish.

For eating, not for dyeing. ;)

While they're milder than round varieties 

we've grown in the past, their tender small 

leaves certainly spice up a tossed salad.

 I'm hooked!

 I've got a few more natural dye experiments

up my sleeve that I'll share right here 

over the course of the summer. 

I have a feeling this month's pie challenge 

recipe is one you won't want to miss: 

(not just any) Strawberry Rhubarb Pie. 

Come back next week for the lip smackin' results!