25Jul 2024 by catbird No Comments
Stream Art & Paint Rocks

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…
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29Oct 2023 by catbird No Comments
Pokeberry Anthotype

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.…
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10Oct 2023 by catbird 2 Comments
Pokeberry Ink

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…
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04Sep 2023 by catbird 2 Comments
Inky Cap Ink

Inky Cap Ink

Autumn, Craft Project, Foraging, Nature Art, Nature Collection, Nature Journaling
Have you ever noticed that lots of mushrooms have “ink” in their name? Shaggy ink cap, inky cap, fairy ink cap etc. This isn’t a coincidence, you can make a simple ink from most mushrooms that have ink in their name. The process couldn’t be simpler- the mushrooms naturally (and quickly) deliquesce (which is a fancy way to say they turn into a pile of goo) into a black liquid which is filled with spores. This is both the mushroom's way of dispersing spores and a quick way to make ink. I tried to find some historical accounts of the use of mushroom ink and unfortunately came up mostly empty. Mushrooms do make a strong seemingly lightfast ink though-- the pictures below are made from ink I have had sitting…
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