New Look

August 29, 2009

Wild Flowers Wild Color

I've been doing a bit of reading by Jenny Dean.  There are no more copies of Wild Color available at a reasonable price these days.... but I found one at the library.    

I also ordered a copy of Colours from Nature by her.  While I've been reading and processing,  several bloggers I follow have been doing some wonderful experiments and projects with natural dyes.  So, of course, I had to give it a go. 

I found some Goldenrod almost 5 feet tall where I was able to trim with abandon so I took a large bag and a knife and helped myself.  I came home with almost a pound of flowers and top stems.  I decided to simmer, soak over night then see what was revealed this morning.  It's a brownish yellow....not particularly enticing as the colors on the book covers....but I know how dye can change when it strikes onto fabric.  I took a big gulp and plunged in some perfectly white silk.
 
I'm going to try and leave it for a week...lol...me with no patience trying to teach myself not to lift, pinch, poke, twirl or otherwise mess with this for a week will be darn hard!




I also had ordered India Flint's new book: EcoColour: botanical dyes for beautiful textiles.  This was a pricey investment....but worth every penny.  The book is refreshing to read as she is very environmentally aware but encourages lots of experimentation.  There were ideas that have left me what iffing every time I open the book.  And the photos of her work are breathtaking.  Oh, to have access to eucalyptus leaves .... it's just not dry enough here in the East.  India will be visiting the US next year....and I plan to be at a dyeing class she is teaching. 


I have not neglected my felting project either!  I worked on Jack in the Pulpit.  I like it very much though the background brown faded a bit during the felting process and became a subtle grey.  So not two squares this weekend.....just one....as I go tomorrow to take down the What's Out Is In Guild show in New Bedford.  But here is my rendition of that green brown weed that grows in the shade of ferns in my yard.    

8 comments:

Doreen G said...

Looks like some good reading there Joei.

Karen said...

I have a copy of 'wild colour'. I have had it for years and find it fascinating yet I won't actually do any dyeing, I hate getting my hands dirty.

LOVE STITCHING RED said...

Oooooh - I'm so jealous of your books Joei! I haven't got a single dye book yet, but I must get one! Which one would you recommend if I only could buy one?

I start work again next week (the 10th September). I am really looking forward to getting my studio back and probably won't know where to start! I have been dyeing with blackberries and will be showing the results soon

I am eagerly awaiting your first dyeing experiments

Best wishes, Carolyn

florcita said...

hey!
Jenny has a blog http://www.jennydean.co.uk/wordpress/ where she posts regularly about he experiments and I have found out, after reading, commenting, etc; that she is incredibly generoud sharing her knowledge and helping people out that reach out. Great woman...

India's book is on my waiting list...
Intrigued about your experiments!

Jackie said...

Hi Joei, you left me a comment and I think you mixed me up with Carolyn for half of it.
I couldn't reply becasue you are a 'no reply' so I've left this comment.
If you add an e mail address to yoru profile i can just click reply and get straight to you.
Of course, I've enjoyed reading your blog too as always.

Florcita said...

Great colors! What is the name of the flower? it' s a pretty one too!

florcita said...

booo... ahahah I put that last comment in the wrong post! Sorry!

Chrissieday said...

love these
Chrissie
www.feltingfibres.wordpress.com