OT - There is hope! The days are getting longer!

For me, its the arrival of the first seed catalog that heralds spring. While the snow is still on the ground and the days are chill and inhospitable the seed catalog offers promises of beauty and the dank smell of fresh turned earth. Happy sigh.. that keeps me going. Diana

< I do know what you mean. I planted 2 Flax seeds I got from NZ and one of them is already about an inch high! I have New Zealand Flax growing in my house. Isn't that awesome? Have I mentioned I wanted to learn to weave with flax so I could make Kete's? Well if not... I have now. lol

Harry My Ebay Auctions are at

< I understand what you mean also. My children hated the heat in summer and my son always got real sick and we had to keep his hair very short or he got bad headaches, but he has outgrown that now.

Harry My Ebay Auctions are at

Thanks for the link. My wife does a month of daylight fasting each year and can really use this info.

What is "daylight fasting"?

Tina

My wife is a Baha'i, and once a year she is supposed to refrain from eating or drinking anything (including water) from sunrise to sunset for about three weeks. There are exceptions for those who are sick, pregnant, nursing or traveling. Muslims observe a similar fast during Ramadan. This leads to some interesting breakfast meals and early dinners.

Harry, do you know much about prepping flax for turning it into linen thread? It involves rotting the outer layers off to get to the fibers...its messy and smelly and reqires a good bit of flax and usually an outdoor pond a good distance from your residence. Then be sure to wear strong gloves when handling the raw fibers to separate and card them as they will really wear your skin away. Sarajane

Sarajane's Polymer Clay Gallery

You never let on that you wanted to work with flax. You are indeed multifaceted! You need to ret it first. *I learned that from crossword puzzles*. What are Ketes? Diana

Somewhere in the house I have a small amount of flax ready for spinning. It is very rough on the hands. That is probably why it is somewhere in the house. LOL Shirley

In article , Sjpolyclay writes

< A picture is worth a thousand words. Harry My Ebay Auctions are at

Thanks. thats a totally rad tote bag. I never realized flax could take on that form. Tres cool Diana

Harry My Ebay Auctions are at

I always thought flax linen was soft? Maybe it needs to be worked more?

Harry

My Ebay Auctions are at

There are some really beautiful ones on TradeMe in NZ. Let me get the link if I remember to post it. lol Here is the link:

Just type in Flax for the search word. And if you want something that really blows your mind... type in Paua in the search window. Harry My Ebay Auctions are at

falling in love with Paua and I love the country and the people. I am hoping that I can grow, Harakeke Flax real name is Phormium tenax, here in Ohio, but I am afraid I might lose it in the winter... so I had my supplier in NZ send me, mountain flax, Phormium Cookianum, so I have both species that are original native plants of the flax family from NZ. I figure if the Harakete flax isn't hardy enough that maybe the Cookianum Mountain flax might be. Although in my research I have found that both varieties grow in a very wide range of conditions and soils. SO I might get luck and have both. I would love to have my backyard protected by 10 feet high flax and I will have a ample suppy to learn how to cut, clean, dry and weave it. lol

Harry

My Ebay Auctions are at

I had two huge NZ flax plants growing in my garden in Perth and I have a massive cabbage tree in my garden here in Chch.

Here's a link you may be interested in, Harry:

Ok, but I still say wear gloves or be prepared for sore hands...and bag balm is your friend, if you are going to do much natural fiber work. I started out as a costumer/textile artist, so I had some clsases in natural fibers and veggie dyes, that sort of thing. Flax and hemp will both flay tender skin during the prep process if you don't watch out. Think "rope burns" and try to avoid.... Sarajane

Sarajane's Polymer Clay Gallery

the fabric and thread are soft (and prone to wrinkles)---once you strip off the tough outer layers. Sarajane

Sarajane's Polymer Clay Gallery