Broomweed

The Treasure came to me recently with a bunch of this dried

Broomweed

(click on link to see photo of it in bloom)

which I had collected and hung up to dry about three summers ago...

she wanted me to make a broom for her new

dollhouse.

I broke off a generous amount of the brittle old stems

and put them in a bowl of warm water to soak.

Several hours later the material was pliable enough to work with,

and with a few twist ties,

the Treasure is thrilled with  her newest home-keeping miniature.

 

I was pretty excited, myself, when I saw the golden color left behind

in the bowl I had soaked the broomweed in...

didn't have time to experiment then,

but I have more material and you can be sure

I will be boiling it down and adding some mordants

and some wool to see if this is a good source of natural dye!

I never cease to be amazed and grateful

for the gift of creativity...

and for the abundant riches God provides for His children

in this amazing natural world we inhabit!