Meandering.Khrys

Ink experiment day 5 🌳 Today I was late out to check & stir, hence the light is different. Very few bubbles & a rich, dark color greets me. The scent is still bright, but it has changed. The watercolor paper strip dip is a rich chocolate brown, really the color of walnuts. How perfect. I've decided to pull & strain. Now the mixture filters. I'll be adding a liquid gum arabic mixture I made to support good flow in the ink as well as an essential oil. This will help inhibit mold growth & blend well with the scent of the ink itself. More on this as I sit with the ink & smell the possibilities.

Photo 1: the ink as it sits, unveiled from the cloth covering

Photo 2: after a stir, the strip is dipped to yield the color of the ink now

Photo 3 & 4: all 4 strips sit alongside each other showing the change of color as the infusion macerated & the hydrosol evaporated

Ink experiment day 4 🌳 Today there are many more fine bubbles of fermentation on the surface of the Black Walnut hull in Chaste Tree hydrosol. A stir sends up wafts of bright, rich scent & a dark liquid is seen. A quick dip of the watercolor strip yields another darker shade so I will continue till tomorrow!

Photo 1: a light layer of small bubbles is seen on the top of the ink infusion

Photo 2: after a thorough stir a watercolor paper strip is dipped into the ink infusion

Photo 3: each of the test strips are held together to see the differences. Day 2 is on the right, day 3 in the center & day 4 is on the left. Each dip is darker!

Ink experiment day 3 🌳 Today the Black Walnut in Chaste Tree hydrosol ink is noticably darker with light bubbles of fermentation. The scent is rich & bright. There has been some evaporation since I've covered it with a cloth to allow better air flow. Starting today & for the next few days our weather will be in the 90s so I can expect more evaporation. I'll see tomorrow if the color is darker. Once it doesn't change I'll pull it. I'm considering giving it a brief boil once complete to stop fermentation. I'll also consider then what I want to do to about a preservative that also complements or enhances the scent. So far the fragrance doesn't last long on the paper. It would be delightful if it did.

Photo 1: the pot of hulls in hydrosol once the cloth is removed

Photo 2: the pot has been stirred & the labeled watercolor paper has been dipped

Photo 3: today's dipped paper is compared with yesterday's

Ink experiment day 2 🌳 Today I went out to check the Black Walnut hull infusion in Chaste Tree (Vitex) hydrosol. I have fermentation starting (lots of wee bubbles) & a few spots of mold. Now as a person usually crafting things for internal use this would have me freaking out. While I'm not totally sure this is fine I'm rolling with this experiment. I've given it a stir & sat the lid off kilter to allow some air flow. Soon I'll be back out to cover with a clean cloth to allow air flow but decrease bugs & bits from getting in. It is good to see color developing & to smell the ink brewing!

Photo # 1 is just opening the lid
Photo # 2 is after the stir I've given a dip to a strip of watercolor paper I've labeled

Exciting!

An ink experiment 🌳 I've always been enamored of color & this isn't my first foray into ink making. This time tho I'm reading instructions 😂

So this little experiment is Black Walnut hulls recently procured from the ground, trimmed off their nuts & soaking. Per the instructions it should be in water but I'm going on my own here & using Chaste Tree hydrosol from a distillation a few years ago. Both have such a bright, herbaceous scent so I'm hopeful the ink will have scent when complete. I'll be back with some test strips to see how the color is building.

Ah combining my loves of color & scent for creative purpose. How delightful ✨🌳🤎

from for the instructions & inspiration!

Well here we go beautiful people 🌹 The shop is closed & on I move to sharing my meandering path of creativity (with cats!). Who knows what I'll share but it will likely be colorful, smell good & be tasty. All of this while figuring out how to exist/function with complex chronic illness.

Welcome to you! ✨🌲🌹🌲✨

First of all, THANK YOU to everyone who came out to my last in-person event on Saturday! It was a delight to see you!

Now, as you may know, SWA is closing & I have too many wonderful goods to not get in your hands. So. I have a 30% off sale running on the website (with code SWA30) on EVERYTHING!

The tricky part is I have surgery on Friday so orders placed between now & 12/31 when the shop closes will be packaged up in mid to late January. Local folx can send me a message between now & Wed (12/20) for potential porch pick up or local delivery if needed by the holiday.

Thank you for everything lovelies! It has been an honor to share my love of the plants with you! I'm excited to see where to future takes me! ✨🌿🌹😘🌹🌿✨

Amidst the hubbub of this last packing day, the Makrut Lime has opened a flower! What a delight! At the moment the scent is incredibly light, perhaps I'm even imagining the very light floral scent characteristic of Citrus... I'll continue to smell throughout the day & into the evening to see if the scent grows stronger.

In other news, as you may know, I'm closing Silver Willow Aromatics at the end of the month. Today I'm preparing for my last in-person event tomorrow 12/16 from 12-5pm! Come see me Portlanders to smell all the good smells & taste all the food tastes! Everything is 25% off so save the shipping & come on down! I'd love to see you!

For faraway patrons, the shop is closed until Monday as I cannot guarantee online sales & will beed to update the inventory once the in-person sale is over. If there is something you'd like held send me a message! ✨😘✨

25% off sale ENDS tomorrow + LAST in-person event! -
Use code SWALOVE for 25% off EVERYTHING at checkout!
www.silverwillowherbs.com
If local, come see me at my last in-person event! 12/16/23 from 12 - 5pm at St. Johns Maker's Market!

Here are a few of the JOYFUL aromatic items currently on sale 25% off with code SWALOVE

Hop on over to the website to enjoy this discount &/or come see me this Saturday 12/16 from 12-5! It is my LAST in-person event so I'd love to see you!
✨🌿❤🌿✨