iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Lynda Shoup @lyndashoup.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

Playing with rose ink and walnut ink on 1 inch circles. Some of these will end up in my botanical ink journal. #botanicalink #handmadeink

Circles of white paper decorated with shades of brown sit on a pink table.

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Lynda Shoup @lyndashoup.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

Thank you. They really have a luminous quality that I love.

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Lynda Shoup @lyndashoup.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

My basket of hand dyed embroidery floss. I’m working on a journal full of botanical dyed papers. Decided to dye some embroidery floss to go with it. The colors are achieved with red cabbage, avocado and rose dyes. The bunny cards were drafted by @chasingtheroserabbit . #botanicaldyes #botanicalink

Cardboard cutouts of rabbits are wrapped in different colors of thread.

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Reposted by Lynda Shoup

Rosemary Mosco @rosemarymosco.com · 13/07/2026

What to do if you find a baby bunny. Thanks @portmanteauface.bsky.social for the suggestion!

A six-panel comic titled "what to do if you find a wild baby bunny in North America." There's a drawing of a cute baby bunny on a patch of grass with some daisies, and it's saying "You found me. Hello."

A drawing of rabbit nests. The text says "Most North American rabbits don't burrow. The mom rabbit makes a nest on the ground." There's an image of a circle of dried grass against a green lawn, labeled "It's well-hidden under dry grass or leaves." Then there's an image of baby rabbits curled up in fur, labeled "Underneath, the young are in a fur-lined bowl". "Check your lawn before you mow!"

An image of a mom rabbit nursing her tiny young who are crawling out of the nest against green grass and daisies. Text says "If you find a nest and don't see the mom, don't worry. She only visits for a few minutes every day to nurse." The mom says "Dinner is served." Text at the bottom says "Leave the nest alone and be sure to keep dogs and cats away."

An image of the top of the nest against green grass with a tic tac toe pattern of dried grass on it. Text says "If you think the babies have been orphaned, do this test: Use sticks or long grass to make a Tic Tac Toe pattern on the nest. Come back after at least 18 hours. If the pattern hasn't been disturbed, contact a wildlife rehabilitator."

An image of a small baby bunny sitting on some green grass. Text says "A baby bun leaves the nest in 3-4 weeks. If you find a bun on its own that looks like this, ears stick up, open eyes, 4-5 inch (10-13 cm) long, hops well, furred, uninjured, then it's just fine. Don't kidnap it!"

A cute bunny is jumping over green grass, and another is sitting up and saying "Thank you for bunderstanding." Text says "If not, or if a bun was touched by a cat, contact a wildlife rehabilitator. These are just the bun basics. For more detailed advice, consult your local wildlife rescue!"

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Lynda Shoup @lyndashoup.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

Hollyhocks are a favorite of mine. I made hollyhock dolls with my grandmother as a child.

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Lynda Shoup @lyndashoup.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

I love making ink from the world around me. These heirloom roses smell heavenly! #botanicalink #handmadeink #rose #roseart #botanicalcolors

Three glass containers with rose ink sit on a pink table. Along with a rose ink a glass vase.

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Lynda Shoup @lyndashoup.bsky.social · 22/07/2026

Sometimes my commute is a little out of the ordinary. In June I carried several crocheted hula hoops to work on the bus. These were later the base for a seascape made with students. People have stopped being surprised by what we bring with us. #buslife #teachingart

Woman wearing white shawl carrying a hula hoop over her shoulder.

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Lynda Shoup @lyndashoup.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

I needed a new bag so I made one. The purple satin is a scrap from a dress i made 35 years ago, the ruffle from a worn out garment, the flower embellishment crocheted from my scrap pile and the zipper and buttons from my friend Don. Happy memories every day I use it. #handsewn #fabriccollage

Cross body bag in violet satin embellishments from the scrap pile.

Violet satin handmade bag with scrappy embellishments is worn with a floral scarf and crocheted shawl.

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Lynda Shoup @lyndashoup.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

Recently bought a ceramic paint pallet to use with my inks. Wondered how ceramic would be. I love it. all these funky circles in different sizes are great for mixing the inks with vinegar or baking soda to change the PH and therefore the color. #ceramicpallet #artsupplies #botanicalink

Ceramic pallet with various sizes of circular holes contains peachy, purple and yellow ink. In front of it is a paper with lines of the color.

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Lynda Shoup @lyndashoup.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

Noticed my stash of ink dyed paper was getting out of hand so threw myself into making a self-made ink centric journal. Why not dye some embroidery floss to match, I thought over tea. And so the journey has begun. #botanicalink #botanical #cabbagecolors #mixedmedia

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Lynda Shoup @lyndashoup.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

Sketching in public is a favorite activity. Watercolor pencils in a self made journal. #sketching #makingartinpublic

Hand holds up a journal with a drawing of the hand holding up the journal.

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Lynda Shoup @lyndashoup.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

I love making/using botanical ink, but it does not follow regular rules of color mixing. Here is difference number one. It doesn’t dry the same color it goes on. Like not even close! I love the magic and surprise. The inks used were rose and red cabbage. #botanical ink #naturescolors #botanicalcolor

Pattern in two different colors shows the difference between wet ink (pink) and dry ink (aqua)

Once the ink dries it turns aqua and mustard.

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Lynda Shoup @lyndashoup.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Thanks for the reposts and likes!

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Lynda Shoup @lyndashoup.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

Hi Lynda, botanical inks are not lightfast. They do fade over time. I don’t have any clear answer for how long, but ink i have made 2 years ago still looks lovely to me. I will find some older work to photograph and post.

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Lynda Shoup @lyndashoup.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

Had a lovely time making ink from roses after a pruning session. The colors are muted and soft and the whole place smells like the deliciousness of old roses before they bred the scent out of them. #roses #botanicalink #botanicalcolor #art

Pink roses and bottles of pink ink made from them

Pink rose petals in crock pot in preparation for making botanical ink.

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Lynda Shoup @lyndashoup.bsky.social · 17/05/2026

Group project done by my students, residents in a memory care facility. The bouquet reflects the trust students have when I tell them “This is going to look great”and they can’t yet see how it will all come together. #memorycare #artclass #paperflowers #groupproject

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Lynda Shoup @lyndashoup.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

Between class and catching the bus I often stop for a Dunkin’ and some sketching. I didn’t use the first months of this 18 month planner, so I decided to use the month’s grid to examine parts of things. Great practice for developing my noticing. #sketching #sketch #planner #notice

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Lynda Shoup @lyndashoup.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Today is #transitdriverappreciationday @roserabbit.bsky.social and I are giving our bus drivers a token of our appreciation. Thank you for all you do! #wrta #worcester,ma

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Lynda Shoup @lyndashoup.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

I became interested in #sacredgeometry a while ago. I started drawing and embellishing this pattern - #theseedoflife . For this version I drafted the shape and then cut the pieces out of mixed media papers I made. #mixedmediaart #artyear #meditativeart #spiritualart

The sacred geometry pattern called The Speed of Life consists of 7 intersecting circles. For this version patterned papers were cut out to fit in each section of the design.

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Lynda Shoup @lyndashoup.bsky.social · 20/07/2025

Thanks, Anna. I have been having the social media doldrums. Hopefully, I am back at it.

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Lynda Shoup @lyndashoup.bsky.social · 20/07/2025

Adding the jeans at about 30 - 40 % seems about right to me. Unmilled botanicals might be more like 10 - 20%. So many colors to try! Every day when I walk down the street I have to practice self control to not pick botanicals that are growing in someone elses’ yard.

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Lynda Shoup @lyndashoup.bsky.social · 20/07/2025

Using paper pulp means that the fibers are already milled. It makes it easy to form a sheet of paper. I tried to make some with 100% jeans material. It seemed likely, but I ended up with something that looked like felt, but crumbled like an oatmeal cookie.

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Lynda Shoup @lyndashoup.bsky.social · 19/07/2025

Close up of the middle signature of my #handmade #artjournal I make these small journals to take in my bag so I can have a little creative escape in the in between moments. #mixedmediaart #makingartinpublic #momentsofcreativity #artyear

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Lynda Shoup @lyndashoup.bsky.social · 19/07/2025

Absolutely. As for making paper, I do make paper out of discarded paper and often include plant material or shredded textile material in it. The desire to make paper entirely from botanicals has taken a back seat to using up other materials. Some day I hope to do it.

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Lynda Shoup @lyndashoup.bsky.social · 19/07/2025

I love the variety of life in this piece.

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Lynda Shoup @lyndashoup.bsky.social · 19/07/2025

I really enjoy making ink and watercolor paint from botanicals. I’m still learning so much. After they are made playing with them is lots of fun.

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Lynda Shoup @lyndashoup.bsky.social · 18/07/2025

Had fun playing with my #watercolors made from plants on leftover strips of paper. Why not weave them? The result made me happy. #artyear #botanicalpaint #handmade #botanicalcolor

Paper strips painted with natural watercolor paints are woven together to make a fun design.

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Lynda Shoup @lyndashoup.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

Back and inside of yesterday’s crossbody bag. The tabs were leftover from a project 10 years ago. I added them to hang things from. #upcycle #handstitched #slowfashion #usewhatyouhave #handmade #memade

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Lynda Shoup @lyndashoup.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

Took a break from re-organizing my supplies to make this cross body bag. Every element of the bag is left over. Body of the bag - old jeans. Straps - bias tape made from 30 year old fabric. Embroidery - 5 years ago. Interior fabric - 30 years old. Zipper - bought in 1960s. #upcycling #handstitched

Blue denim cross body bag made with left over materials. Emblem made from several floral fabric circles surrounded by bullion roses.

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Lynda Shoup @lyndashoup.bsky.social · 27/05/2025

Those droughts are so disheartening. I’m proud of you for putting paint on the paper!

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Lynda Shoup @lyndashoup.bsky.social · 18/05/2025

I love the choice of pieces and how you placed them. Very energetic.

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Lynda Shoup @lyndashoup.bsky.social · 18/05/2025

Aww, Amanda, you made me feel happy! I am so glad my work resonates with you. Taking a peek at your art, I feel a kinship and a common language. Thanks for making my day. I’ll be looking for your posts.

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Lynda Shoup @lyndashoup.bsky.social · 18/05/2025

It surprises me every time I look at it. So much fun! Love your work.

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Lynda Shoup @lyndashoup.bsky.social · 18/05/2025

Thank you! It is really a joy to see such simple materials yield such beautiful colors.

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