An Herb Scented Life

At the intersection of art and science, my journey. Fiber artist and metalsmith. Natural dyer - now known as eco-dyeing, I've been making color with plants for over 40 years. #naturaldyer #ecodye #plantdye #silk #silkscarves #metalsmith #fiberartist...

[foxrydegardens]

Dream   New Humunculus.  I love this one!

[ucsdhealthsciences-deactivated2]

Scarce as Hen’s Teeth

The image above is an aerial view of a medieval human mandible (lower jawbone), produced by Kevin Mackenzie of the University of Aberdeen (courtesy of Wellcome Images). Mackenzie created the digital model by capturing and combining 4,800 virtual x-ray slices with a micro CT scanner.

The bone is colorized brown; the teeth are blue. There aren’t many of the latter. Given that the jawbone’s owner lived somewhere between 500 and 1,000 years ago, it’s possible the tooth loss was a sign of the times. Then again, maybe not.

According to Tim O’Neill, an amateur historian writing for Quora and Slate, medieval folks valued healthy, white teeth and fresh breath as much as their modern-day successors. O’Neill says the average person in the Middle Ages sported chompers in pretty good condition. The reason: Most people couldn’t afford sugar and, when they had some, used it very sparingly. Natural sugars, such as honey and fruit, weren’t abundant either. Thus, tooth decay was relatively rare.

Archaeological data suggests that most persons living during the medieval period experienced an average of only 20 percent of teeth showing signs of decay, compared to up to 90 percent in some early 20th century populations. These days, almost 18 percent of American children between ages 5-19 have untreated dental caries; the percentage is 27.4 percent for adults ages 20-44, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Aside from an advantageous diet, medieval people regularly cleaned their teeth and gums by rubbing with rough linen cloths treated with various pastes and powders that also whitened and refreshed.  

The downside of dental hygiene back then involved what happened after a tooth went bad. Most treatments involved simply removing the offending molar, usually by the local barber without anesthetic.  

[foxrydegardens]

Title: Women are the Fabric

Medium: Recycled copper - wire, cable, rod, and sheet

Size: 29” x 25” x 4”

Price: $1979

Families are woven together by the hands of women.  

They knit together the strands that make a life together.

A tapestry of work and love.

[foxrydegardens]

Survived!  This one was a challenge to finish. Lots of construction and cold connections.  It was inspired by a brush with a heart attack scare, which wasn’t one but was still scary. Special heart vignette inside the Altoids tin body. 

[foxrydegardens]

The galaxy in an egg.

The chicks start laying odd eggs during molt.  Almost through the process of getting new feathers but they will lay very few eggs until the days start to lengthen again. 

[foxrydegardens]

The galaxy in an egg.

The chicks start laying odd eggs during molt.  Almost through the process of getting new feathers but they will lay very few eggs until the days start to lengthen again. 

[yarnshine]

For every $100 spent at local small businesses, $68 returns to the community✨- make an impact this season by supporting your favorite makers!!!👍👍

[foxrydegardens]

Sculpture, Whimsical guardian of your bailiwick, Figurative Sculpture, Re-purposed, Recycled, Up-cycled

[foxrydegardens]

Shawl Pin Copper Bronze Dragonfly

[foxrydegardens]

Homunculus. Manikin. Created of my life’s debris.  Rooster feather, amber, pyrotized ammonite, Altoids tin, and twig.  Titled “I live to garden.”

[foxrydegardens]

Making Humunculi!  My little mens.  Created of the detritus of modern life.  In process, the personalities are emerging.  Fiber arts and metalsmith.  I know it’s confusing.  Imagine how it is for me...

[foxrydegardens]

Beautiful rabbit brush grows wild along the fence line. The bush blooms yellow for months.  It makes a powerful green or yellow dye. Such a good plant!

[foxrydegardens]

Been feeling the need to play with metal and gemstones.  This finally came together, I bought the raw materials almost 15 years ago but never had the sense of what it wanted to be.  I’m loving what happened!  New in my Etsy store: https://www.etsy.com/listing/254294094/necklace-vintage-garnet-beads-hill-tribe?ref=shop_home_active_2

[foxrydegardens]

What I did instead of dressing up - posted things on Etsy!

[foxrydegardens]

Been feeling the need to play with metal and gemstones.  This finally came together, I bought the raw materials almost 15 years ago but never had the sense of what it wanted to be.  I’m loving what happened!  New in my Etsy store: https://www.etsy.com/listing/254294094/necklace-vintage-garnet-beads-hill-tribe?ref=shop_home_active_2

[foxrydegardens]

Forever summer.  Showing two different black walnut scarves.  Use only leaves with some heat and pressure and a non-toxic metal salt. 

[foxrydegardens]

Forever summer.  Showing two different black walnut scarves.  Use only leaves with some heat and pressure and a non-toxic metal salt. 

[pendropscouture]

“If I could just come in I swear I’ll leave Won’t take nothing but a memory From the house that built me.”    - Miranda Lambert  

home. our homes are like a container for our lives. there’s beauty and love inside, pain and sadness, sleepless nights and celebrations, all in the confines of four walls. we have our dream homes, houses we’ve seen on distant travels, the homes of friends and family, the place we lay our head. that’s what intrigues me about making these house softies…they are not just decorative pillows to me. they are something more. something powerful. something that tells a story. perhaps, it tells your story…

{ #thehousethatbuiltme #house #home #handmade #inspired #story #journey #organic #upcycle #recycled #repurpose #rustic #patina #pillow #ecodye #fiberart #collage #sustainable #shabby #wholehearted #natural #nature #authentic #stitch #freemotionquilting #embroidery }

[foxrydegardens]

Thinking of homes and houses.