Very interesting watching you strip it. I always thought the fibers were on the inside and maybe that explains my failure with hemp years ago. Huh. Nice to learn something new every day and many thanks.
You are so welcome -- and I'm glad that videos made it clearer. I haven't (yet) worked with Hemp, but my guess is that it, like flax, has been bred through the years to have less core and more fiber -- but still probably in the same part of the stem. So much to learn, eh?
Your posts about milkweed and the videos above (which I love) have had me pondering what we might have in our Arizona desert that could be used. Maybe decomposing yucca, or old agave leaves... I think an experiment is in order!
P.S. May I ask what tool you are using in your videos?
Oh yes -- I've heard that yucca fiber is pretty great. I bet if you googled it you'd find some info. And maybe agave? I just learned about banana fiber bast. Such abundance!
What is that tool used to scrape the milkweed? I suppose any knife would do, right? Have u shown something made with the milkweed? Do u blend before spinning?
Any knife would do as long as it isn't too sharp -- don't want to cut the fibers accidentally. Not to dull either or nothing will happen..... Fun to experiment.
And yes, I'm pretty sure I've shown a few "finished object" photos somewhere or other. Maybe last spring?
Dear Sarah, How I love your relationship with Beryl. The week you posted the video that allowed for the amazing reveal of her stump tail delighted me no end. In no small part because as I watched the video, I realized she had a half tail, which I'd never seen before (and in fact, I think you paint her without her tail - or maybe it's tucked). But it reminded me of our dear Nina, an aussie mix with a third tail. And once I got used to it, I found it amusing and jaunty and so expressive. It inspires me that you are so deeply engaged in whatever you're doing. Happy Thanksgiving to you!
A third tail! that is super cool and wild. I love Beryl's tiny tail - though yes, I often draw it as though it isn't there because most of hte time you can't even see it. And she rarely wags it, which can be hard because tails (at least in dogs I"ve had before), express so much. On the other hand, I now have to really notice her whole body language, which is also a find thing.
"a delicious respite from the insidious tentacles of “never enoughness” (so different from yummy curiosity), that pervades so much—too much—of life" -- yes please, more of that!
My kid, who has been an animal lover since their earliest years, was looking over my shoulder as I read this and informed me that I'm looking at a blue heeler. ?
Your kid is exactly right! Well spotted. A blue heeler she is -- also known was an Australian Cattle dog. And if they are interested in such minutiae, you might share that Beryl is specifically a "Stumpy Tail Australian Cattle Dog/ Stumpy Tail Heeler" -- a parallel breed/variation about which I've only recently learned . They have naturally docked tails, long legs and are all one color or the other (red or blue) rather than a mix.
And Oh my yes -- more yummy curiosity (your words are a marvelous source of this)-- and less of that paralyzing never enoughness.
I was about to quote this exact passage. Never enoughness vs. curiosity, scarcity vs. abundance. I want my imagination to lean toward the later. Thanks to you Sarah and Antonia.
“I’ve always been a big fan of the freedom of limitation.”
There you go girl... causing my creaky old brain to spark and hark yet again at your wit and wisdom. I’m going to ponder this all week. AND, I am determined to find some milkweed over here in East Idaho, next summer, and explore the fine beauty of it.
Thanks Beryl for your deep insights and be safe at dog parks this winter because there is a doggie respiratory illness spreading as we speak. ♥️
Oh gosh, I hope you find some. I think it grows all over (milkweed that is) -- and I bet it'll show itself at just the right moment.
As for the freedom of limitation -- I first noticed the relief of it when I switched from synthetic to natural dyes. SO much easier to work with one blue, two reds, one yellow and a brown, than dither in front of the vast array of synthetic choices.
ooooh yes. Peeling things is so so satisfying. One of the delicious parts of working with these bast fibers. Love that you can feel that visceral pleasure.
Always so inspirational. My husband constantly complains I take an interest in a new craft, fill boxes with the ‘tools’ and then leave the box in the hall. Of course, spinning has always been at the forefront of all my crafts. When I got home from my drive this morning (enforced day off work) I marveled at the milkweed growing behind my house, away from hungry animals and insects. A new inkling of desire to learn something new. Thank you.
How marvelous to have a stand of milkweed behind your house! And one of the most delectable things about working with it is that it doesn't really need any tools. A medium dull knife and hands are all it takes. And gathering /working with it is so slow that it is super hard to feel overwhelmed...
Can’t wait to start. I will wait for it to grow to the 6’5” mark then start on it. I do have to spray the blackberries though. As much a I love them, the create such a mess, especially after the birds have been at them.
“ Like weaving a cartoon-less tapestry, following this (somewhat bossy) fiber and being free from the need to be faster or more efficient en route to some mythical end point is a gift indeed— a delicious respite from the insidious tentacles of “never enoughness” (so different from yummy curiosity), that pervades so much—too much—of life.”
fascinating…I’ve never done anything with milkweed…perhaps in the future
Wonderful
Thank you
I loved watching your videos and found them very instructive. And fun!
Thanks Bonnie. I'm so glad
Very interesting watching you strip it. I always thought the fibers were on the inside and maybe that explains my failure with hemp years ago. Huh. Nice to learn something new every day and many thanks.
You are so welcome -- and I'm glad that videos made it clearer. I haven't (yet) worked with Hemp, but my guess is that it, like flax, has been bred through the years to have less core and more fiber -- but still probably in the same part of the stem. So much to learn, eh?
Belleh rubs!!!!Squee!
Your posts about milkweed and the videos above (which I love) have had me pondering what we might have in our Arizona desert that could be used. Maybe decomposing yucca, or old agave leaves... I think an experiment is in order!
P.S. May I ask what tool you are using in your videos?
It’s a palette knife--used to mix paint on an artist’s palette.
Thank you, Linda.
Yes! Thanks Linda.
Oh yes -- I've heard that yucca fiber is pretty great. I bet if you googled it you'd find some info. And maybe agave? I just learned about banana fiber bast. Such abundance!
And yes -- a palette knife...
What is that tool used to scrape the milkweed? I suppose any knife would do, right? Have u shown something made with the milkweed? Do u blend before spinning?
It's a palette knife. You can get one at just about any art supply store.
Exactly Ellen! Thanks for answering.
Any knife would do as long as it isn't too sharp -- don't want to cut the fibers accidentally. Not to dull either or nothing will happen..... Fun to experiment.
And yes, I'm pretty sure I've shown a few "finished object" photos somewhere or other. Maybe last spring?
Your musings make my day. Thank you for your thoughts, cartoons, sweet Beryl, and your always fascinating take on life.
And thank you for being here and enjoying it all.
Dear Sarah, How I love your relationship with Beryl. The week you posted the video that allowed for the amazing reveal of her stump tail delighted me no end. In no small part because as I watched the video, I realized she had a half tail, which I'd never seen before (and in fact, I think you paint her without her tail - or maybe it's tucked). But it reminded me of our dear Nina, an aussie mix with a third tail. And once I got used to it, I found it amusing and jaunty and so expressive. It inspires me that you are so deeply engaged in whatever you're doing. Happy Thanksgiving to you!
A third tail! that is super cool and wild. I love Beryl's tiny tail - though yes, I often draw it as though it isn't there because most of hte time you can't even see it. And she rarely wags it, which can be hard because tails (at least in dogs I"ve had before), express so much. On the other hand, I now have to really notice her whole body language, which is also a find thing.
Beryl belly-up on your lap--priceless.
OH yeah. So cozy and silly.
This post reminds me of Keats concept of negative capability, achieving can be overrated
Gosh Margaret --thank you for that wondrous connection. And yes -- my time with Milkweed definitely leads me in that direction. How lucky is that?
"a delicious respite from the insidious tentacles of “never enoughness” (so different from yummy curiosity), that pervades so much—too much—of life" -- yes please, more of that!
My kid, who has been an animal lover since their earliest years, was looking over my shoulder as I read this and informed me that I'm looking at a blue heeler. ?
Yep, Aussie cattle dog breed
Your kid is exactly right! Well spotted. A blue heeler she is -- also known was an Australian Cattle dog. And if they are interested in such minutiae, you might share that Beryl is specifically a "Stumpy Tail Australian Cattle Dog/ Stumpy Tail Heeler" -- a parallel breed/variation about which I've only recently learned . They have naturally docked tails, long legs and are all one color or the other (red or blue) rather than a mix.
And Oh my yes -- more yummy curiosity (your words are a marvelous source of this)-- and less of that paralyzing never enoughness.
I was about to quote this exact passage. Never enoughness vs. curiosity, scarcity vs. abundance. I want my imagination to lean toward the later. Thanks to you Sarah and Antonia.
Same. 💗
yes yes yes to you both. Thanks for laying it out like this Emily.
“I’ve always been a big fan of the freedom of limitation.”
There you go girl... causing my creaky old brain to spark and hark yet again at your wit and wisdom. I’m going to ponder this all week. AND, I am determined to find some milkweed over here in East Idaho, next summer, and explore the fine beauty of it.
Thanks Beryl for your deep insights and be safe at dog parks this winter because there is a doggie respiratory illness spreading as we speak. ♥️
Oh gosh, I hope you find some. I think it grows all over (milkweed that is) -- and I bet it'll show itself at just the right moment.
As for the freedom of limitation -- I first noticed the relief of it when I switched from synthetic to natural dyes. SO much easier to work with one blue, two reds, one yellow and a brown, than dither in front of the vast array of synthetic choices.
I so love peeling things, and even as a child I was enamoured , and now just watching you is fulfilling….love the translucent fibers….
ooooh yes. Peeling things is so so satisfying. One of the delicious parts of working with these bast fibers. Love that you can feel that visceral pleasure.
Always so inspirational. My husband constantly complains I take an interest in a new craft, fill boxes with the ‘tools’ and then leave the box in the hall. Of course, spinning has always been at the forefront of all my crafts. When I got home from my drive this morning (enforced day off work) I marveled at the milkweed growing behind my house, away from hungry animals and insects. A new inkling of desire to learn something new. Thank you.
How marvelous to have a stand of milkweed behind your house! And one of the most delectable things about working with it is that it doesn't really need any tools. A medium dull knife and hands are all it takes. And gathering /working with it is so slow that it is super hard to feel overwhelmed...
Can’t wait to start. I will wait for it to grow to the 6’5” mark then start on it. I do have to spray the blackberries though. As much a I love them, the create such a mess, especially after the birds have been at them.
My favorite thought for today.
“ Like weaving a cartoon-less tapestry, following this (somewhat bossy) fiber and being free from the need to be faster or more efficient en route to some mythical end point is a gift indeed— a delicious respite from the insidious tentacles of “never enoughness” (so different from yummy curiosity), that pervades so much—too much—of life.”
Gosh thank you. It's nice to remind each other again and again, eh?