so many books....

I recently indulged in some books from the internet. I must say the feeling of a bookstore filled with the smell of the pages and these days also accompanied by the aroma of coffee is unbeatable. However, I do relish the surprise and exhilaration of opening a package, much awaited and finally being able to hold the book only seen in pictures before, in a physical form and that feeling of content when the condition of the books is indeed 'very good'.

I am also pleasantly feeling smug about my steadily growing book collection regarding plants and happy to report that some of them are surprise charity shop finds.

And this one has been lurking around in my 'Wish list' for quite some time. I am so excited to finally get  it. Cannot wait to read through it. A quick flick has revealed intriguing paragraph tittles like Druid tree lore, Herbcraft, Alchemy as medicine... Oh my!

And in the meanwhile, I still need to read through my bedside pile... 

found old words

I used to write in a diary regularly. And then not so regularly. And then rarely.
The other day I was going through my diary and, mixed with some nostalgia, experiencing the strange sense of a third person's perspective that comes when one looks back on one's own thought in the past and wonders 'what was I thinking?' in not just a rhetorical way. I thought it would be interesting to share some diary entries when I am struggling for blogging topics. This is the one that fascinated me the most. It took me a while to remember what I was writing about. Anyone want to take any guesses?

June 8, 2012
"When one is tiny, miniscule in the greater scale of things, what moves immensely fast seems slow. Great distances covered by mighty things appear very close. When one is so tiny, far away things are invisible, out of sight. such is the delusion of reality, of perception."

Wishes, Resolutions, Plans

Today, finally, feels like the day to gear up and get on with it. Holidays, celebrations, rest, laziness, New year's blues and procrastinations are over. Today is the first constructive day in attempting to get back some normality and routine. I have been been in a contemplating mode and have decided on things I need to work on. And the new years just happened to be around.  So I thought I'd start with listing down some of the  wishes, resolutions, plans and hopes I have for this year.

Blog More.
Previously I would keep waiting for something wise and meaningful to spring to mind or something I could label worthwhile. But this meant I wouldn't blog for months and some potential amazing thoughts were never shared. This year I want to be more willing to share the mundane. I'll try to keep it short, don't worry.

Follow my heart and open my mind.
Lately I have been struggling to come up with ideas and feel like me creative box is empty. But I realised that
this is because I am trying to focus so hard with squinted eyes that my vision is narrowed preventing me from seeing whats around and enjoying it. So step 1 to correct this - open my eyes, heart and mind.
 Bringing back the creative sparkle is a healing process. It takes time.

Do more.
So many things I think of doing but don't. For reasons un-understood and probably not worth mentioning. I hope to do more of the things I think to do.

Plan my time better.

Find ways to keep up a creative stimulus. And keep it up.

Use the things I have first before buying new ones.

Exercise. Really.

Try more plants to dye.

Keep a sketchbook and/or journal and actually use them.

Write more.

See the Northern Lights.

Mend and sew and make.

Give myself at least 2 project/challenges and see them through.

Get my driver's license. 

I think that is quite enough for the time being although there are more. Looks like a busy year ahead of me.
Happy 2013!

Wovember

This Month people are talking about Movember (a month for mustaches) but not many people know that it is also Wovember. A month to show appreciation and celebrate wool and all its awesome qualities. Don't believe me? check http://wovember.com/about/
I have no intention what-soever of growing a mustache but for someone who has been consistently falling in love with wool this year, it just seems wrong to not mark this month with something woolly. So I have given myself a little project. I bought 2 jumpers. 1 from a high street shop and the other from a vintage stall at Spitalfields Market. Both 100% wool of course.

 My project, the vintage jumper has been used before obviously, and came with some holes. It is a beautiful aran style chunky knit (made in Scotland) and had sleeves much too large for me, probably being a Mens jumper.

So I first narrowed the sleeves, with woolen thread, all the while being very skeptical of the knitted edges coming loose once trimmed. I had ordered my first felting needle and it arrived just in time for me to embrace the most amazing quality of wool! I felted the loose ends into the new seam with the needle which worked beautifully.

The holes were mended with Rowan Tweed yarn which I am absolutely in love with at the moment. Bonus points for being 100% wool and having some lovely colours!

I also have ordered various wool fleece to finally try my hand at proper (or experimental) felting. What better time to do so then Wovember! In the meanwhile I spotted a tiny hole in my hat.  Can you spot it?

It was promptly and elaborately dealt with. With Rowan Tweed yarn again. I already have 8 colours and I don't even knit! I find other uses for it.

And finally, to end Wovember, I am looking forward to exhibiting again at Made in Clerkenwell Open Studios this weekend. 2 buildings, 100 designers, 22-25th November 2012! Pop by to see some amazing handmade products and meeting some very talented Designers-makers. And not to mention a brilliant place for Christmas shopping! 

I will be in unit 211, 2nd Floor in the Clerkenwell Green building, EC1R 0DX. 

in all this time...

Lets face it. I'm not a blogger really. If in need for writing down my thoughts, I find myself unconsciously reaching for a pencil or pen rather than a keyboard. Its too much engraved in my mind.
So I thought of using more pictures and a fewer words to show what I've been upto these past few months.

Way back in August I had my showcase at Craft Central for a whole week...

...during which time I conducted my first botanical dyeing workshop!

Then there was summit to Scafell Pike in Lake district

(including a classic story of being lost in the middle of nowhere, after sunset, with no torch, network or a map...)

More mountain hiking (climbing and clinging on, at times for dear life!) in Austria,

before some family time in India.

But amongst all the traveling, I have managed to make something new.

Handcrafted wrist-warmers made of felted wool and botanical dye.

Perfect for braving out the autumn chill.

New wool scarves

Perhaps a good time to mention that Entanglewood will be at the following events this winter :

20 Oct, 12 - Designer/makers, Spitalfields Market, London E1 6EW

10 Nov, 12 - Selvedge Winter Fair, Chelsea Old Town Hall, London SW3 5EE

22-25 Nov, 12 - Made in Clerkenwell, Craft Central, London EC1M 4DS

8-9 Dec, 12 - Rotary Walk Artisan Market, Clapton, London E5 8QJ

...thats a lot of opportunity to come and see some beautiful, naturally dyed textiles.

a travel expeiment

Recently, I finally had the opportunity to trial something that I had been wanting to do. My supply for material and also wonderment is nature. So the ideal place, my leaf heaven, is a forest. And I had been itching to go to a forest and do what I do, collect leaves and dye some. So when an opportunity came along to visit the New Forest (Hampshire, England) I was pretty thrilled. 

I put together a travel kit so to speak. A pot, a few fabric pieces, string, zip-lock bag and my tree guide! And on we went for some green therapy. 

Had to cross a quiet stream in a glade...

 came across a mighty oak...

And some rocks half buried in the ground. They looked ancient. Perhaps an old (or really old) building structure of a sort... there is a glimmer of some archeology fantasy stirring at times lie these... 

walked through the woods... 

my trial travel kit!

collected leaves ...

bundled and ready to dye!

Went to the wildlife park... again but this time with a camera

Saw a true sign,

some wonderful creatures

And my favorite, the wolves

Can't wait to go again.

a note about polyster

Recently, I was given a set of running clothes by a dear loved one in sincere encouragement to go jogging. This simple sweet gesture has caused me some predicament. 


I have for the last few years become a very conscious shopper. I check the garment labels order to avoid buying, as much as I can, synthetic materials. Perhaps not surprising this means I can easily eliminate most of the shop items. And I must say its nice to have my options narrowed down and not get overwhelmed with choice which tends to happen easily considering the number of shops out there times the number of things in each of them!
I recall, from a long time ago reading something about polyester being plastic. Although the details never stuck around, the concept was deeply glued. Not only do I not like the idea of wearing plastic, given the research of hazardous effects of plastic bottles, do I really want something like that against my skin most of the time? No. So in a slow transition which started a few years ago I started minimising synthetics. 
So in order to ease a bit of my predicament with the running clothes, (most sports wear these days is made from polyester under the tags of "high performance") I researched a bit about polyester and sure enough my fears were confirmed with long difficult-to-pronounce-chemistry words. 


http://oecotextiles.wordpress.com/2011/10/13/polyester-and-our-health/
This article is easy to understand and the diagram makes it simple.


http://blog.fashionandearth.com/2010/05/16/polyester-clothing-and-your-health/
This article concerns a study of polyester affecting pregnancy.


There is also an interesting study comparing natural fabrics v/s synthetic fabrics for mountaineers. (warning it is 54 pages long)
http://www.macrodiet.com/Contributors/Kulungian-SyntheticClothing.pdf


Of course, there will be articles to say how useful and practical Polyester is. And it appear to be, but the fact remains that Polyester is made from ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid, both petroleum derivatives, both poisonous and carcinogenic and same ingredients as PolyEthyene Terephthalate (PET).  


All in all, I fail to understand how a petroleum based fabric like Polyester can be absorbent, breathable and help you be sweat-free while doing actives like running or jogging... even yoga. Such advertising by clothing companies fails to convince me. Would you consider running or doing other activities in a PET bottle wrapped around you? If not, then how can one consider doing the same wearing 93% Polyester? If plastic bottles start releasing harmful chemicals as the break down, what happens to polyester after a few washes as it starts to break down?


One mustn't forget that our skin is our largest organ and the most exposed. What we expose it to surely deserves some consideration.