Mel Sweetnam
@melsweetnam.bsky.social
Writer. Natural dye educator. Facts advocate. Democracy defender. Former public policy strategist. Living on un-ceded L'nu territory. Meta escapee - join my new natural dye community: https://mewe.com/join/naturaldyeeducation
www.mamiesschoolhouse.com
www.mamiesschoolhouse.com
Lovely work, Jude. I just finished a cardigan (not naturally dyed, as I used gifted wool). Now it's on to my long list of Christmas knitted gifts...
November 8, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Lovely work, Jude. I just finished a cardigan (not naturally dyed, as I used gifted wool). Now it's on to my long list of Christmas knitted gifts...
It's never about actually addressing a problem in an evidence-based way, otherwise no straight white man would be allowed to own firearms. Instead, the far right leverages every disaster to scapegoat and target already marginalized communities.#banstraightwhitemenfromowningfirearms
September 4, 2025 at 5:45 PM
It's never about actually addressing a problem in an evidence-based way, otherwise no straight white man would be allowed to own firearms. Instead, the far right leverages every disaster to scapegoat and target already marginalized communities.#banstraightwhitemenfromowningfirearms
I'm in the extreme area. No real rain in months. Down to 3 minute showers every 3 days. Used dish washing water goes on my outdoor plants. It makes me think of my time in Africa, & the endless labour of women there walking hours each day to access water. #climatechange #canadadrought #conservewater
August 10, 2025 at 10:17 AM
I'm in the extreme area. No real rain in months. Down to 3 minute showers every 3 days. Used dish washing water goes on my outdoor plants. It makes me think of my time in Africa, & the endless labour of women there walking hours each day to access water. #climatechange #canadadrought #conservewater
Just finished my last knit from this past Winter. Used up some of my own #madder and #butternut dyed wool, along with some undyed wool (soft grey), plus some synthetically dyed blue wool I bought at a farm on a roadtrip in southern Ontario >20 years ago! #naturaldyeonbluesky #knittersofbluesky
May 13, 2025 at 9:36 AM
Just finished my last knit from this past Winter. Used up some of my own #madder and #butternut dyed wool, along with some undyed wool (soft grey), plus some synthetically dyed blue wool I bought at a farm on a roadtrip in southern Ontario >20 years ago! #naturaldyeonbluesky #knittersofbluesky
Please don't vote split and throw your vote away. Know which non-maplemaga candidate has the best chance of winning in your particular riding, and vote for them: smartvoting.ca/ridings/fede... #defenddemocracy #fightfascism
April 27, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Please don't vote split and throw your vote away. Know which non-maplemaga candidate has the best chance of winning in your particular riding, and vote for them: smartvoting.ca/ridings/fede... #defenddemocracy #fightfascism
Beaver dam behind a house I am hoping to buy. What amazing engineers they are. Just spent hours reading about #beaverbaffles - a cruelty-free win-win for beavers and humans that protect their homes and ours. Thank you kind and clever people who figure out these solutions. #beaversareamazing
April 12, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Beaver dam behind a house I am hoping to buy. What amazing engineers they are. Just spent hours reading about #beaverbaffles - a cruelty-free win-win for beavers and humans that protect their homes and ours. Thank you kind and clever people who figure out these solutions. #beaversareamazing
Anyone who refuses to get relevant security clearance should be disqualified from serving in Parliament, never mind running to be PM. #whatispoilievrehiding #neverpoilievre #stopmaplemaga
March 30, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Anyone who refuses to get relevant security clearance should be disqualified from serving in Parliament, never mind running to be PM. #whatispoilievrehiding #neverpoilievre #stopmaplemaga
2024 #canadareads winner. I highly recommend it if you love lyrical writing, which is especially compelling as I'm reading the English translation, so kudos to the translator, as well as the author. What recent book written by a woman have you loved?
#booksky #womenwriters #womenshistorymonth
#booksky #womenwriters #womenshistorymonth
March 19, 2025 at 9:02 AM
2024 #canadareads winner. I highly recommend it if you love lyrical writing, which is especially compelling as I'm reading the English translation, so kudos to the translator, as well as the author. What recent book written by a woman have you loved?
#booksky #womenwriters #womenshistorymonth
#booksky #womenwriters #womenshistorymonth
Two of my most popular courses start April 1. If you are interested in the most comprehensive #naturaldye education available online, please find full details under 'Online Courses' on my web site: www.mamiesschoolhouse.com
history | chemistry | methods #naturaldye
history | chemistry | methods #naturaldye
March 17, 2025 at 10:41 AM
Two of my most popular courses start April 1. If you are interested in the most comprehensive #naturaldye education available online, please find full details under 'Online Courses' on my web site: www.mamiesschoolhouse.com
history | chemistry | methods #naturaldye
history | chemistry | methods #naturaldye
I seem to recall another good litigation tracker out there, but this also looks very comprehensive and is written in accessible, plain language. Screen grab is just one (high profile) example from this comprehensive tracker. #litigationtracker #ruleoflaw www.justsecurity.org/107087/track...
March 14, 2025 at 11:03 AM
I seem to recall another good litigation tracker out there, but this also looks very comprehensive and is written in accessible, plain language. Screen grab is just one (high profile) example from this comprehensive tracker. #litigationtracker #ruleoflaw www.justsecurity.org/107087/track...
In case anyone, anywhere, still doesn't understand why Canadians are so angry & so resolved. #vivelecanada #trunnorthstrongandfree #canadasovereignty #cdnpoli
March 13, 2025 at 11:16 AM
In case anyone, anywhere, still doesn't understand why Canadians are so angry & so resolved. #vivelecanada #trunnorthstrongandfree #canadasovereignty #cdnpoli
The overwhelm is real, so I have so much respect for those who collate, analyse, and explain the big picture.
#patrimonialism #mostcorruptpresidentever #grifterinchief #noneofthisisok #oligarchy
#patrimonialism #mostcorruptpresidentever #grifterinchief #noneofthisisok #oligarchy
March 11, 2025 at 3:49 PM
The overwhelm is real, so I have so much respect for those who collate, analyse, and explain the big picture.
#patrimonialism #mostcorruptpresidentever #grifterinchief #noneofthisisok #oligarchy
#patrimonialism #mostcorruptpresidentever #grifterinchief #noneofthisisok #oligarchy
I have broken all ties to Meta, including archiving my 24K+ strong Natural Dye Education group on FB. We are just getting started on MeWe, but with the same focus on facts, evidence, and a kind online culture. Please join us! #naturaldye #factsmatter #artandscience
mewe.com/join/natural...
mewe.com/join/natural...
March 7, 2025 at 10:30 AM
I have broken all ties to Meta, including archiving my 24K+ strong Natural Dye Education group on FB. We are just getting started on MeWe, but with the same focus on facts, evidence, and a kind online culture. Please join us! #naturaldye #factsmatter #artandscience
mewe.com/join/natural...
mewe.com/join/natural...
In case you need a blast of shamelessly hopeful yellow in these trying times. I knit this yesterday/today. It's wool & I dyed it a few years ago with foraged Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis). Knitting is one of the ways I do not cede my creativity & joy. Please protect yours, too. #naturaldye
March 4, 2025 at 3:43 PM
In case you need a blast of shamelessly hopeful yellow in these trying times. I knit this yesterday/today. It's wool & I dyed it a few years ago with foraged Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis). Knitting is one of the ways I do not cede my creativity & joy. Please protect yours, too. #naturaldye
Now open for registration. Students are first grounded in foundational skills, from which we then explore a wide range of applications from surface design methods to natural inks. #naturaldye #appliedchemistry #artandscience #evidencebased
www.mamiesschoolhouse.com/beginners-club
www.mamiesschoolhouse.com/beginners-club
March 2, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Now open for registration. Students are first grounded in foundational skills, from which we then explore a wide range of applications from surface design methods to natural inks. #naturaldye #appliedchemistry #artandscience #evidencebased
www.mamiesschoolhouse.com/beginners-club
www.mamiesschoolhouse.com/beginners-club
Yesterday, I spent precisely $0.00 & deleted all Meta apps. Like everyone else, I felt sick watching felon47 & his lapdog vance hideously ambush the heroic & democratically elected leader of Ukraine, so was thrilled to see this on Ravelry this morning. Might come in handy!
#craftivism #slavaukraini
#craftivism #slavaukraini
March 1, 2025 at 9:39 AM
Yesterday, I spent precisely $0.00 & deleted all Meta apps. Like everyone else, I felt sick watching felon47 & his lapdog vance hideously ambush the heroic & democratically elected leader of Ukraine, so was thrilled to see this on Ravelry this morning. Might come in handy!
#craftivism #slavaukraini
#craftivism #slavaukraini
Now that Washington Post's opinion section will only publish writing advocating personal liberties and free markets, I look forward to its wall to wall advocacy of #reproductivefreedom and the end of all #corporatewelfare. No? Hmmm...
February 26, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Now that Washington Post's opinion section will only publish writing advocating personal liberties and free markets, I look forward to its wall to wall advocacy of #reproductivefreedom and the end of all #corporatewelfare. No? Hmmm...
When the snow is too ice-heavy & as hard as Canadians’ resolve against the fascist administration south of the border, blowers and shovels won’t do the trick and a very thorough snowshoe stomping is what’s required to save the day. #feelingverycanadian
February 18, 2025 at 2:50 PM
When the snow is too ice-heavy & as hard as Canadians’ resolve against the fascist administration south of the border, blowers and shovels won’t do the trick and a very thorough snowshoe stomping is what’s required to save the day. #feelingverycanadian
Textiles Asia includes a lovely 8 page spread about Lynelle Barrett's natural dye journey. She describes how the accessible chemistry I teach in my Turkey Red Dye course allowed her to understand the chemistry of historic SE Asian dye practices. #naturaldye
www.mamiesschoolhouse.com/turkeyreddye
www.mamiesschoolhouse.com/turkeyreddye
February 11, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Textiles Asia includes a lovely 8 page spread about Lynelle Barrett's natural dye journey. She describes how the accessible chemistry I teach in my Turkey Red Dye course allowed her to understand the chemistry of historic SE Asian dye practices. #naturaldye
www.mamiesschoolhouse.com/turkeyreddye
www.mamiesschoolhouse.com/turkeyreddye
Or, now just hear me out on this, not firing the very individuals whose role was to independently review and investigate instances of fraud, waste, mismanagement...
February 10, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Or, now just hear me out on this, not firing the very individuals whose role was to independently review and investigate instances of fraud, waste, mismanagement...
OK, I had to do it. I honestly don't understand why an arrest warrant hasn't been issued for the muskrat. What he is doing is so beyond even the terms 'illegal' and 'unconstitutional'. At least the FBI has now been put on notice - that is, if there are any FBI agents left. #arrestelonmusk
February 3, 2025 at 9:48 PM
OK, I had to do it. I honestly don't understand why an arrest warrant hasn't been issued for the muskrat. What he is doing is so beyond even the terms 'illegal' and 'unconstitutional'. At least the FBI has now been put on notice - that is, if there are any FBI agents left. #arrestelonmusk
One down. I'l be deleting my FB and Messenger at the end of Feb. Thank goodness for Bluesky. I so appreciate what an important source of information, community, and organizing it has become. #byebyemeta
February 3, 2025 at 11:37 AM
One down. I'l be deleting my FB and Messenger at the end of Feb. Thank goodness for Bluesky. I so appreciate what an important source of information, community, and organizing it has become. #byebyemeta
The latest addition to my online repository of evidence-based #naturaldye resources is my recommendations of the best books, with some special notes on how to avoid enabling fascism during these trying times. I hope this is useful. #craftersagainstfascism
www.mamiesschoolhouse.com/howto
www.mamiesschoolhouse.com/howto
February 2, 2025 at 10:27 AM
The latest addition to my online repository of evidence-based #naturaldye resources is my recommendations of the best books, with some special notes on how to avoid enabling fascism during these trying times. I hope this is useful. #craftersagainstfascism
www.mamiesschoolhouse.com/howto
www.mamiesschoolhouse.com/howto
I don't think it's stupid (evil, sure). I think it's intentional. It's the new model of disaster capitalism. Instead of just waiting for a crisis to exploit, they're cutting to the chase and making the disasters to exploit.
February 1, 2025 at 3:04 PM
I don't think it's stupid (evil, sure). I think it's intentional. It's the new model of disaster capitalism. Instead of just waiting for a crisis to exploit, they're cutting to the chase and making the disasters to exploit.
Unless the tariffs are part of a larger strategy to destabilise other democracies and the global economy, then it makes perfect sense. It's the new model of disaster capitalism - they don't want to just exploit a disaster somewhere, they want to create them, then exploit them.
February 1, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Unless the tariffs are part of a larger strategy to destabilise other democracies and the global economy, then it makes perfect sense. It's the new model of disaster capitalism - they don't want to just exploit a disaster somewhere, they want to create them, then exploit them.