I still have a few pieces from my last trip to Sturbridge, but they’ll all find a place. Some can be used straightaway, and some need mulling over.
May 17, 2012
May 1, 2012
apple, oak, and birch barks
More samples from my ongoing natural dye project. My results do not always tally with the books, but that is part of the fun. I’ve been enjoying experimenting with tree barks, which are easy to collect from the trees felled for furniture projects or the woodstove. I was surprised by the depth of color I readily pulled from the crab apple bark, and will surely gather as much as I can for continued experiments. Oak bark is known for its susceptibility to modification, which brings a special alchemy to it I think. And the birch bark gave some nice browns, but not the rosy hues I was led to expect by the books. Some say it should be fresh, some say aged over 6 months, and some refer to the mysterious wood ash lye fermentation process. I have read about fermenting lichens with ammonia, and this must be a similar process of extracting less accessible colorants. Research continues…
Left column from top
Fresh apple bark, soaked 1 week, on:
cotton
raw silk
merino
60 merino/40 silk
Right column from top
Same dye bath followed by a copper modifier, on:
cotton
raw silk
merino
80 wool/20 linen
Left column from top
Fresh oak bark, soaked 1 week, on:
raw silk
60 merino/40 silk
merino
80 wool/20 linen
Right column from top
Same dye bath followed by an iron modifier, on:
cotton
raw silk
60 merino/40 silk
merino
Left column from top
Inner birch bark aged outdoors 1 year, soaked 1 week, on:
raw silk
merino
80 wool/20 linen
Right column from top
Outer & inner birch bark aged outdoors 1 year, soaked 1 week, on:
cotton
raw silk
merino
80 wool/20 linen
April 23, 2012
April 22, 2012
threads
A new and lengthy project has begun, and one which I am very much enjoying. It involves foraging and dyeing…and the rest is a surprise! But I will shares these thread samples, dyed with ivy leaves on the left and ivy berries on the right. I have learned quite a lot about natural dyeing during my time working on Sewing Seeds at the Textile Arts Center, and I’ll be spending the summer putting that to good use.
March 8, 2012
marbling
Some results from a day of marbling. I love the informal pattern-making and playing with color!
February 20, 2012
a cordial invitation
Friday, February 24
7-10pm
26 W 8th Street
Textile Arts Center Manhattan Studio
Stop by to enjoy some good company, have a drink, and support Sewing Seeds! Bid on amazing fiber art (including a piece by yours truly…) made by artists with a focus on natural dyes, sustainable materials, and local production.
Also, check out my posts on natural dyeing at the Textile Arts Center blog…
January 27, 2012
dyeing
After a day in the kitchen, I have a mess of freshly dyed materials for new books. Logwood, madder, red cabbage, tea, iron. I love working with natural dyes!
January 25, 2012
sewing seeds
I’ve been hard at work at the Textile Arts Center in Brooklyn as an intern on Sewing Seeds, an amazing natural dye outreach and education project. We are preparing for the inaugural season of our Natural Dyes CSA, which will transform an abandoned 1000 sq ft lot in the heart of Brooklyn into a natural dye garden! However, we have some start-up costs for such an undertaking. Check out my animation and help us raise $2200 to build the garden and become a part of sustainable practices in Brooklyn.
We will shortly be looking for CSA members whose shares will fund the planting and upkeep of the garden once it is built, and in turn receive 3 batches of dye plants, dye recipes, and several hands on workshops. I’ll be posting more information soon!
January 23, 2012
January 19, 2012
in quantity
For those interested in great quantities, I am now accepting wholesale orders for select books. Retailers please drop me a line if you would like to view the wholesale catalog and terms.
