Nature Art Materials – Wineberry Wood Press

06Sep 2024 by catbird 1 Comment

Summer Stream Craftbrunch

Craft Project, craftbrunch, Hike Ideas, Nature Art, Nature Art Materials, Nature Collection, Play, Recipes, Summer, Summer Solstice

Summer is miserably hot and swampy where I live and sometimes we struggle to get outside as much as we do the rest of the year. It’s theoretically a slower time of year, but it never feels that way to me. One minute the whole summer stretches in front of you and then suddenly it’s September. I started hosting “craftbrunches” years ago to slow down and connect with friends and family. The premise is simple, everyone brings a simple dish and works on a seasonal craft together while laughing and gossiping. It’s an afternoon event which feels easier to schedule between clubs, camps, and soccer games. Including a simple kids craft keeps the littles occupied while the grownups catch up. A Summer Solstice craftbrunch is a perfect respite from…

25Jul 2024 by catbird No Comments

Stream Art & Paint Rocks

Craft Project, Foraging, Nature Art, Nature Art Materials, Nature Collection, Summer

One of my favorite things to do while the kids are splashing around and collecting minnows is to look for paint rocks. Paint rocks are actually little chunks of ochre which is a soft rock that has been used as pigment since prehistory. Ochre can be found in various red, yellow and brown shades and largely derives it's color from iron. The best way to test and see if you have found a paint rock is to scratch it on a rock or hard surface. Ochre will not only make a mark, but mix with water to make, an almost creamy textured paint! You can see how it transferred to my fingers in teh picture below. There are a number of things that look like they might be paint rocks…

10Jul 2024 by catbird 1 Comment

Turmeric Dyed Shibori Bunting

Craft Project, Nature Art, Nature Art Materials, Summer, Summer Solstice

I am not a huge bunting person generally, but our summer nature table needed more sunny yellow. At the same time i had been meaning to make some non-indigo shibori forever. Shibori is a Japanese dying technique that is the great grandparent of tie dye. (It was introduced in Japan about 1300 years ago.) Most often used with indigo dye, fabric is folded or bound so that only the edges take dye which creates beautiful patterns. It was a favorite way to refresh old or damaged clothing. I especially like the triangle fold method, the result is almost sun like! While it may seem intimidating, the folding process is quite straightforward and easy to do. Turmeric as a dye is the brightest sunniest yellow with a tinge of orange. Like…

20Dec 2023 by catbird No Comments

Cold Moon Puddle Ice Sun Catcher

Cold Moon, Craft Project, Nature Art, Nature Art Materials, Play, STEAM, Winter

The Mohawk people call December the Time of the Cold Moon. December is the start of real winter for us here in the Mid-Atlantic, and many of this month’s full moon names reflect that. The Creek call this moon the Big Winter Moon, the Shoshone refer to the Winter Moon, the Abenaki call it the Winter Maker Moon, and the Oneida call this moon the It’s a Long Night Moon, which is relates to the Winter Solstice, which occurs this month and is in fact the longest night of the year. In my mind the Cold Moon is always linked to hibernation: animals are hibernating, and we humans spend more time inside, slowing down and getting cozy. It's also the time we start to find what I call "puddle ice"…

29Oct 2023 by catbird No Comments

Pokeberry Anthotype

Autumn, Craft Project, Folklore, Foraging, Nature Art, Nature Art Materials, Samhain

Pokeberry (Phytolacca americana L.) otherwise known as; pokeweed; poke, poke salit, pigeonberry; inkberry; redweed or red ink plant, is the plant that I am most drawn to at Samhain. I am not usually one to say that I am drawn to plants, but pokeberry always calls to me in the fall. It’s deep purple, almost black, berries ripen in September and October. All parts of the plant are poisonous, yet the berries appear lucious and inviting. It’s a North American plant and has no direct connection to the Celtic traditions of Samhain. (Although, I celebrate Samhain in a secular nature based way so I am not worried about that.) It was, however, traditionally used by the Iroquois for bewitchment. It’s dark and mysterious and the perfect metaphor for this season.…

10Oct 2023 by catbird 2 Comments

Pokeberry Ink

Autumn, Craft Project, Nature Art, Nature Art Materials, Samhain

While pokeberry is a native plant in North America it is generally considered a weed. It spreads readily from birds eating the berries and can often be found clustered under fences and trees where the birds were enjoying (and expelling) their meal. Phytolacca americana comes from the Greek word phyton which means “plant” and lacca which means “crimson lake.” Crimson lake is a traditional red pigment. It was a common source of ink in early America (hence the name inkberry) and during the Civil War particularly, it was the most common way for soldiers to write home and journal. The Kiowa people used the dried berries for jewelry and the Mahuna made dyes and inks. The Pawnee people made a red paint that they decorated horses and clothes with. Early…

Category: Nature Art Materials