Ink!

I have been waiting for the pokeberries on the edge of my yard to ripen. Making ink from the berries is something I have been wanting to do for some time. Eva and I finally gave it a shot. We also picked up some powdered ink and pens at the Harmony History Museum.

 

pokeberry bush

 

bunches of pokeberries!

 

Eva mashing the berries.

 

We found a recipe for pokeberry ink on ehow.com.

After the juice is collected a little vinegar and salt is added to preserve the ink.

 

 

Ink swatches.

 

 The red ink is from a powdered mix and the purple ink is pokeberry.

I like the color of the pokeberry ink but I have to say that pokeberries don't smell all that great.

           

                                 We had fun making the inks and playing with our new pens.
                                   Not sure what we will do next with our new art supplies.

Pokeberry do have a toxic rating. Different websites said different things. Mainly if you eat them you will have an upset stomach. Being that they smell so bad, I can't image eating one!