I come to the conclusion that winter (our winter) is the best time for eco-dye and printing. Either there is something in the leaves plus water (not sure yet!) or it could be my over five years of dyeing experience, but who knows? Whatever it is, I'm happy with the results lately.
You should always do what your heart tells you. My love of nature draws me to everything natural, handmade and home-made. Natural dye is so natural for me to get into. I still have long way to go. I really love to try more natural dye instead of just eco-dye, but that will come when I find more hours in my already busy life. It's okay though, because I'm happy with what I'm doing at the moment.
Enough rambling about me. In this post I will share with you all sort of dye results I have been playing with. I've discovered new leaves (to me) all around me and I am trying them out. I dyed with a wool and silk blend scarf. Vintage wool fabric, vintage silk and even cotton that I'm so excited about! Please read the captions for details of each one.
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| Eucalyptus Amygdalina (peppermint) on silk and wool blend scarf |
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| Eucalyptus Nicholii (Narrow-leaved Black Peppermint) on 100% vintage wool |
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| Mixed Eucalyptus leaves on vintage wool! Can you spot the face peering at you? |
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| Textures and seeds on vintage silk. Gorgeous prints! |
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| Something green on vintage wool |
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| Testing different leaves and fabric |
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| Trash for some, but a treasure for me! Maple leaves soaking overnight. |
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| Mixed Eucalyptus leaves on 100% cotton (exciting!) |
I have recently been taking some time to photograph Eucalyptus leaves and trees for my own reference. It's possible with my iPhone always on hand wherever I go. I just put branches against the trunks so I can recognize them in the future. You love so you learn! I have also been taking before and after shot of the bundle wrapping process of each piece.
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| Lemon scented gum. Eucalyptus Citriodora |
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| This is the famous E-Cineria (Silver Dollar) |
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| E-Sideroxylon (Black iron bark) and blue gum on vintage silk |
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| E-Nicholii on vintage silk |
Lucky find: I found a couple of things that I consider to be lucky find. Not the usual lucky find from antique malls or op-shops, but from the garden!
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| Wild baby nettle plants I found near a construction site. I've transplanted one into my garden. The witches garden. |
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| Benches are my favourite objects to photograph. This one was next to an E-Cineria tree and overlooking a pond! |
I thought I didn't have much to blog about today, but in the end I do have enough fill a post!
It held another eco-dye workshop yesterday. It was partly cloudy with a little bit of sunshine, but it was very cold. I had warned the participants to wear something warm. It wasn't too windy! Wind is not dyeing friendly. It blows the leaves off the fabric! I will share the day with you on my next post.
It held another eco-dye workshop yesterday. It was partly cloudy with a little bit of sunshine, but it was very cold. I had warned the participants to wear something warm. It wasn't too windy! Wind is not dyeing friendly. It blows the leaves off the fabric! I will share the day with you on my next post.
Until next time
Nat
11 comments:
Fabulous results you are so lucky with the eucultptus, I have never come across one in the UK that dyes red.
Why are you soaking the maple leaves overnight, do you do this with all your leaves before you use them and do you use a mordant to acheive such clear prints.
Your results with the Eucalyptus leaves is fantastic!! I'm sure it's because of your five years of exploration in observing nature and experimenting with the materials. Bravo!!
I love how you look to nature to create so many beautiful things.
beautiful results. love that scarf. the silver dollar variety is the only one we see around here and ....not the tree....but the dried variety in the craft shops.
You girls had wonderful results from the dye pot !
Lovely clear prints on that scarf, love hearing about your dye adventures.
Your dyeing results are always so wonderful, Nat. I think we must have the lemon gum variety in our yard. I can't imagine what you will accomplish when you are finally retired.
Lovely results and variety Nat; we get some of those from florists but not a big choice usually; you did indeed have enough to fill a post! I like your wild nettles and other treasures..always insp
iring..
thank you for the photos of euca varieties.i can go foraging with confidence now :)
Amazing dying and a burning question,whats the stinging nettle for ,I always grow a small bush for my Aunty Ritis (arthritis)
as dad called it.
Thanks for the advice on this. I will take it to the next.
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