July 1, 2025

I guess I completely missed posting in 2024!  We had a good year and looking forward to this year!

In February two of my grandchildren got engaged to be married.  My grandson, Dillon, surprised us in June at his girlfriend's 30th birthday party.  It became their Wedding!  A surprise wedding, a first for me!  It was wonderful, set outside in a wooded area decorated with lavender and white tuile on posts.  So much happiness.  Loved it!

My granddaughter Kimberly became engaged on Valentine's Day.  No date yet, still in the planning stages.  She isn't sure of the type and size of the wedding she wants.  It will be lovely whatever she chooses.

Ronnie and I celebrate our 5th Wedding Anniversary on the 24th of this month!  We may go away for a few days to Maine or something similar.  We have had a good season at the Wilmot Farmer's Market so far this year.  One of our best sales last week.

Off to plan for a lake get together with old friends!

I have to figure out how ot post photos from Google Photos on this platform. Until then...

Remember to Play a Little Every Dat!

Diane

November 2023

It's been another break in time since I posted.  I use facebook much more on my phone now.

Convenience I guess.  Today I enjoyed re-reading previous posts and found I have been doing eco printing and dyeing since 2014!  I have sold many, many scarves at fairs and farmer's markets.  Ronnie continues to make his wonderful handcrafted utensils, bandsaw boxes and so much more.  It's kept us busy and we enjoy the people we see and talk with.  He's very generous with his knowledge and has instructed many people on how he works and how they can do it too!  Especially his bandsaw boxes!

I have also enjoyed explaining to people how I do eco printing.  This past summer I gave a demonstration at the Wilmot Farmer's Market.  The market has a special tent and each Saturday during the summer months it is used by individuals showing their products, how things are made or information about gardening, cooking and so forth.  I enjoyed my day but I was very tired at the end of the 3 hours.

I have read many books on eco-printing as well as following posts from Botanical groups who specialize in the process.  I have learned so much in the past few years and I continue to learn.  

This year I took an on line class with Nicola Brown from Ireland. I learned about "Cooking In The Dirty Pot".  I set up a dyeing station in my backyard where I use a gas tank to heat my aluminium pot.  The process is interesting and I've been pleased with most of my results.  Right now though I believe there is too much rust water in the pot so I'm dyeing too dark.  Also my iron water used to dip fabric into prior to boiling is probably too strong.  More work needed on that.

Remember to Play a Little Every Day!

Peace,

Diane

 March 2022

I'm looking forward to Spring!!!

This week we were told that masks aren't mandatory anymore.  School children don't need to wear them anymore.  They are back at school and some have become sick. I'm not sure how this will all work out.  Hoping for the best.

Ukraine is being attacked by Russia.  No provocation!  Russia just wants more land, resources and people under his thumb!  Hoping for the best.

Winter was difficult this year, very cold and windy.  We didn't get very much snow but what we did have is finally going away.

I enjoyed my new porch the end of summer and fall.  My cat loves being out there on his "perch".  All winter he's been begging to go out!  Now I can let him out for a bit, it's still pretty cold out there!

I love how the porch came out and I'm excited to do more work on the gardens and landscaping.

Before.........................

After!....................

Also, some large pine trees in the front of the house were removed!  I think it looks better opened up a bit. Neighbors and those walking by have positive comments.

Landscaping.......

I'm still eco-printing and working with men's neckties on silk scarfs.  Dharma is the company I purchase from and I tried to order more today, they are not in stock. 

Hopefull soon!

That's all for now,

Remember, play a little every day!

Peace!

Diane

August 26, 2021 Summer is coming to an end.

August has been one of heat waves, floods (not in my area thank goodness), fires in California and nearby states.  The summer has been a poor one with the exception of us being able to get together without wearing masks finally.  Ronnie and I had our vaccinations and now there is a new variant that's making younger people ill!!! The number of cases has gone from 300 up to thousands in NH.  I hate it!  I really don't understand the reasoning behind not getting vaccinated.  It's free to people and there are few side effects.  We are so fortunate to have medical professionals provide us with vaccines.  Anyway................

I've been dyeing and printing scarves and upcycled clothing using the Eco Dyeing and Printing method.  I've been selling them very successfully at the Wilmot Farmer's Market this summer.  We did one church fair in Alexandria and the Hebron fair.  I did well selling at each of those.  This weekend is another big one, The Apple Festival in Newport, NH.  I'm hoping it doesn't rain and that the humidity isn't too high.

I have a new porch on my house finally!  I'm loving it and so is my cat, Buddy.

I will be working with a garden designer/landscaper starting next week.  That's very exciting!

Off to do more dyeing!  Remember, play a little every day!

Diane

 December 2020!  What a year it has been.

But Christmas is here and we are almost into the new year.  We are hoping for an end to the pandemic so we can meet with friends and family and give hugs all around.

I'm baking cookies today and I'll share with my adult children.  We'll do a cookie swap with our chosen Christmas cookies.  One of my favorites I found on another blog and have been making them ever since.  Give them a try, I think you'll agree they are delicious!

Here's a copy of my original posting so you don't have to search for it in archives.

"Well the countdown is here. My shopping is almost completed so now I'm focusing on the cookies.  I read a friend's blog yesterday and she posted a recipe for Brown Sugar Shortbread Cookies.  So I gave them a try.  My dough was not holding together well so I added about 1 TB of cold water.  My first batch I took out of the oven at 10 min. to check them and the centers weren't cooked.  They just needed a bit more time. 17 minutes seemed to work with my oven.  I'm a chocolate lover so I drizzled melted cho. chips over the cookies when they had cooled.  Thanks Rayna for the Recipe!
Give 'em a try, they are delicious and easy!"

1 Cup soft butter
1/2 Cup brown sugar (I used light, she uses dark.  Either will work)
2 1/2 Cups sifted flour
1 TB cold water-I added this as my dough was not holding together well.


Beat butter and sugar till fluffy, stir in flour till smooth.  Divide dough in half and refrigerate till ready to roll out.  Roll out first half of dough on floured surface, quite thin, cut w/ cookie cutter of your choice.   
Bake 15-20 min at 300 (or 325) or until lightly golden brown.

Merry Christmas to All and Wishing for a Happy New Year!

Remember to Play a Little Every Day!

Diane

April 2020

So here we are at home and losing track of what day it is.  I'm thankful I have a warm home, a loved one with me, groceries and a car (if needed.)

I go outside each day.  Sunny days I work in my yard, raking and cleaning up my gardens, pruning flowering bushes.  

Night times include watching tv, Netflix and the like.  Face time with my family and eating a snack or two.  Chocolate is a favorite!

No one knows right now when this will all end and it will be okay to get back to our old routines.  For now, I'm going to take heed in what Lesley Riley recently posted.

"I am also aware that for many, this is a time of bewilderment, distraction and even inertia. If I were there with you now (oh, how I wish!), I would take you by the (washed) hand and say, "Let's go play with your fabric, your paints, pencils, camera, recipes, or yarn." Because there is one thing I know to be 100% true - and I'll borrow a phrase from Mark Nepo here, "an irrepressible cinder of life-force waits in the ruin of every catastrophe." Putting your hands on your creative materials is the spark that will ignite it. Give it 5-minutes today and if nothing happens, come back tomorrow. But do return, because what you're doing is coming home to yourself. Remember, YOU are the art. We do it to become whole. To experience and flourish in the abundance your creativity creates."
Lesley Riley

Stay Safe and Remember to Play a Little Each Day!
Diane

Winter 2020!

The weather has been pretty mild so far and not much snow.  They are expecting temperatures in the 50's tomorrow, January 11, 2020.  Strange.  

I am in the process of starting up the planning committee for my 55th high school reunion. Boy, that was a LONG TIME ago!  I still have many friends from those days and we meet for lunch at least twice a year.  Good group of people!

Ronnie and I did well this year with the Wilmot Farmer's Market and Craft Fairs.  I'm still busy dyeing and printing scarves.  We have some of our items on sale at a little shop in Andover, NH for the winter months.  We are also selling one Saturday a month at a Winter Farmer's Market in Danbury at the Grange Hall. Last week I had request for scarves but I didn't have any to sell.  I sold out over Christmas holiday.  Been busy this week catching up.

Remember to Play a Little Every Day!!

Peace,
Diane

2019 Summer Time

Wow!  I haven't posted for a year!  Shame on me!

It's summer time in New Hampshire and the entire Northeast!
Probably not a news flash but it makes me happy to type it out.
I didn't care for our spring weather this year, rain, rain, rain and cold.  I was looking forward to the new growth, flowers and leaves to eco-print and dye with.

I'm happy and proud to report that I have been part of a project for a young woman, Marie Clarke-Wilson, in the UK to earn her MA degree.  She posted a call for women who would like to participate in printing two squares of fabric, one cotton the other silk using eco-printing.  I signed on and she completed the project today. An exhibit opened today and she did an amazing job putting all of this together.  There are 103 women from around the globe who have participated.  We sent her our two squares and a little extra of our choice.  I sent her a small scarf I had printed using local leaves.  

This is a photo of the silk square I printed and mailed to her.  It is placed on the top row, 7th one in from the left.  A nice red one is right next to mine.  They are all quite beautiful and this has been a very exciting adventure for me.  She also made a video of this project "How Far Does the Hand Reach".  I will try and load it shortly.  I had made a short video telling about my experience (which she requested) and tried to send it to her.  I got it to her but she couldn't open it.  Darn!  I tried a few more times, then decided I was done with it.  She did include some of the participants videos in the main piece she had recorded.  What fun!!

Hot and humid right now and I'm hoping to go to the ocean in a couple of weeks. Happiness!

Remember to Play A Little Each Day,
Diane

July 2018

July is almost over!  I'm not doing very well keeping up with my Blog.  I have been busy getting ready for upcoming fairs.  We have one every weekend in August and I'm looking forward to them.
I've eco-printed more clothing and I'm very pleased with how some of my scarves have printed lately. Makes me want to do even more.  Right now I'm waiting for an order of blank scarves from Dharma and I'll be busy dyeing and printing again.  I have lots of men's neckties so I can work on those scarves for now.  I like making them but they aren't as fun to open as the eco-dyed ones are.  I have some pictures on my phone that I need to get onto the computer so I can share on this blog.  More technology to deal with.  Lots of rain lately, first the drought, then the rain!!!  Humidity isn't fun and I've had to use the air conditioner more than I like to lately.  Off to check on a scarf I steamed today.  The Hebron Fair is Saturday and I have to get things ready, new tags for clothing, some note cards made with eco prints and organize!!

An up-cycled linen shirt I eco printed this month. Very pleased with the results.

Ronnie and I took a short vacation trip to Camden, Rockport Maine. We had perfect weather and enjoyed visiting two lighthouses and their small museums.  We also spent a day at the Maine Transportation Museum.  So many vintage cars it made my head spin!  They also had vintage airplanes and excellent displays including photos and a summary on each item.  I took many photos and really enjoyed the visit.  I would recommend to everyone.  I had my lobster roll and Ronnie his fried clams.  We celebrated summer!!

View of the bay from our room in Maine.

The roses in front of the house were beautiful again this year.  Only wish they would bloom all summer long.

Remember, play a little every day!
Peace,
Diane

May 2018

I enjoyed my Mother's Day very much.  Cards, gifts and hugs!

Eco Printing Continues:
May has been a good month, much warmer and the trees and flowers are coming alive.  I'm ready to gather some leaves and print more clothing  Over the winter I have purchased some tops from thrift stores.  Quality brands and in great shape only.  Here's one I printed last week.  I soaked it in soy milk overnight after giving it a good hot wash with Dawn in the machine.  I used trash bag cut up as a resist and rolled the blouse up on a wooden rod. I dipped leaves in iron water and placed them on the linen blouse. It was steamed for two hours and I'm pleased with the results.  More results in the future. Practice and surprise is the name of the game.

In these photos it still needs to be washed and ironed.

Remember to Play a Little Every Day,
Peace, Diane

Spring is Here, Finally!!

Yes, finally Spring seems to be here.  It's taken it's time coming this year. Now I heard it will be in the 80's next week in NH.  Oh no!!
I love the cool/warm spring air and I'm in no hurry for the blazing sun of summer.  However, I am very anxious for all the plants and trees to come alive with flowers and leaves.  Here are little plants that have come up in my small garden recently.

I have been dyeing more scarves in preparation for the upcoming fairs and Farmers Market.  As of last week I have some of my transfer dyed and eco dyed scarves for sale at a shop in Concord, NH. The Marketplace of New England on Main Street.  Ronnie has some small bandsaw boxes and shawl pin and disk pin sets for sale there as well.

Here's some of my latest work:

Iron Carrier cloth for silk pillow

Transfer Dyed Silk Scarves                                        Simmered in Logwood Dye, Eco Printed

Onion Skin Dye, Simmered 1 hour


Remember to Play a Little Each Day!
Peace, Diane

February 2018

Knee Replacement Month!

I've had my surgery and recovery is going well, much better then the other knee.  Thanks to friends and family for all their help, visits and delicious meals!

I'm anxious to get back to eco-printing and dyeing with men's neckties on to silk scarves.  I'm planning on doing more with watercolor paper and eco-printing.  I've had time to research the web and read more about the process.

Our weather has been outstanding, so warm and sunny for the month of February. Hoping March is as nice.

My cat Ginger is behaving herself.

Remember to Play a Little Every Day!
Diane

Happy New Year!

January 2018
Snow Storms and below zero temperatures!!  Cold in NH!!

We had a very nice Christmas gathering this year.  As always there was delicious goodies for all of us!  We had many special dishes made by family members including a beautiful chocolate roll made by my daughter Karen.  She made it in memory of her grandmother, my mother.  "Mima" made my kids a chocolate roll for their birthday each year when they got older.  It had become a tradition that they looked forward to.  We all miss my parents and other loved ones who have passed on, especially at Christmas. We have wonderful memories of Christmas' Past and will hold those in our hearts forever.

We had a busy season vending at craft fairs most weekends.  I was successful in selling most all of the eco-printed silk scarves and transfer dyed scarves I made.  I taught one class to friends in July and look forward to teaching another in this new year.  Ronnie did very well at the fairs too!  His hand crafted utensils and pin and disk sets were very popular again this year. 

Eco Printed and Dyed Silk Scarf close up photo.

I had my annual Dinner at Diane's with six dear friends to celebrate the season.  We had an enjoyable meal and pleasant conversation. 

I'm having knee replacement surgery in February so I won't be doing any eco printing and dyeing, or much else for awhile.  

 Remember to play a little each day. 

Peace,
Diane in NH

More Eco Printing

I had some fun recently and tried my hand at bundle dye printing a small silk blouse I bought at a thrift store.  I'm relatively happy with the results but not pleased with the large space of brown/gold near the neckline but I do like the diagonal lines of the dye on the blouse.  That was due to the bundling and then simmering in onion skins.  I have another blouse I will be attempting and this time I plan to steam it so it won't have such a strong dye color on it.  

Please leave a comment if you wish. :)

Remember to play a little every day!
Peace, Diane

2017 July Eco Printing and Dyeing

Eco Printing and Dyeing.......
I have been working on many new techniques I have learned on line through Tutorials, Blogs and Facebook Eco Printing Groups.  I've learned much of what I know from India Flint's books and through the classes taught by Kathy Hays.  I have studied about natural dyes and the difference water can make in your results. I'm feeling more confident in my process and satisfied with my results. I felt I was ready to teach a class as my friend Kathleen had been encouraging me to do.

This month I had a class at my home outside.  It was a Sunday and it's usually pretty quiet outside on Sundays in my neighborhood.  Well, wouldn't you know it!  Heavy equipment arrived across the street around 6 a.m.  Radio blasting as well.  Shortly they left only to return to start their work just before I started my class instruction.  Apparently they were repairing an underground pipe at my neighbor's home. No one seemed to mind the noise as we were out behind my house as far away from my neighbors as we could get.  Kathleen's husband thankfully brought over and put up a tent so we wouldn't be standing out in the hot sun.  There were five students and I started off telling them about the blank silk scarves and how to prepare them prior to printing.  I reviewed the class steps with them then I took them on a walk around the yard each with their own baggie to collect leaves and flowers for printing.  I offered two choices for their bundles.  Simmered in onion skins or steamed.  We had a fun time and everyone said they enjoyed it.  Some asked when I would be having another class!  I'm thinking I might have one in the fall. :)  Here are a few photos from the days events.

Remember to play a little everyday!
Peace, Diane

July 2017

JULY a Wonderful Month!!

I had a lovely vacation the beginning of the month and enjoyed spending time with my children and grandchildren.  A few boat rides on the lake in son's boat, fireworks, cookouts, swimming, relaxing by the lake, campfires, taking pictures of wildlife, laughter and sunshine. Happy times!

We went to a car show at Castle In The Clouds.  We haven't done that in a few years since the shows are usually on Saturdays and we have been doing a Farmers/Crafts Market every Saturday for a few years. 

Near the end of the month I taught a class on Eco Printing and Dyeing to a few friends.  They said they enjoyed it and others would like me to teach the class again.  I'll do that possibly in the fall.  I continue to eco-print and dye scarves to sell at upcoming craft fairs.  We have a fair every Saturday in August.  It would be nice to have sunny Saturdays for the month!!

Peace & Love,
Remember to Play a Little Each Day!
Diane