Amy DuFault, Author at Botanical Colors

Video From Live FEEDBACK FRIDAY: The Mushroom Color Atlas

This past week on FEEDBACK FRIDAY, we had Mushroom Color Atlas Founder, Julie Beeler! Julie talked about her Mushroom Color Atlas which is a resource and reference for everyone curious about mushrooms and the beautiful and subtle colors derived from them. Julie says the atlas is also the start of a journey and a point of departure, introducing people to the kaleidoscopic fungi kingdom and our connection to it. Her hope is that everyone will be inspired to learn more about the mycological world, and begin to understand the importance of the networks, connections and symbiotic relationships that live in … Read more

Video From Live FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Donna Brown of the Janice Ford Memorial Dye Garden

Our last FEEDBACK FRIDAY was with Donna Brown of the Janice Ford Memorial Dye Garden. Donna is a textile artist, natural dyer and teacher of natural dyes and it’s multiple possibilities for the past 30 years. Donna will tell the story of the Janice Ford Memorial Dye Garden at the Denver Botanic Garden which is a natural dye garden that she started in 2014. Watch last week’s video recording here. Donna has taught natural dyeing internationally and at institutions based in the United States, such as Penland School of Crafts and John C. Campbell Folk School. She is also a … Read more

Video From Live FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Sara Goodman

Our last FEEDBACK FRIDAY was with textile artist and natural dyer Sara Goodman whose textile background is pretty prolific including helping to get the Symplocos Project off the ground in Indonesia, serving on the Board of Directors of the Goodweave Foundation and teaching for decades the art of weaving and natural dyeing. Sara talked about her work and travels in pursuit of textiles around the world and now as Dye Studio Manager at New Hampshire based Sanborn Mills Farm’s being part of a team teaching traditional crafts and farming methods. Did we mention she also just co-founded the Northern New … Read more

Video From Live FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Kenya Miles

Our last FEEDBACK FRIDAY was with Kenya Miles. Kenya is the artist and alchemist behind Traveling Miles Studio and founder of Blue Light Junction, a natural dye studio, alternative color lab, retail space, dye garden and educational facility in central Baltimore. In January 2022 Blue Light Junction opened its inaugural Ibura Art & Research Residency to support 6 individuals investigation and praxis in botanical color and medicine.\ Watch last week’s video here Founded by textile artist, farmer, and natural dye practitioner Kenya Miles, Blue Light Junction focuses on growing, processing, and preserving the history of natural dyes and their artistic, practical, … Read more

VIDEO From FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Jason Logan of Toronto Ink Company

Last week on FEEDBACK FRIDAY we had Jason Logan, Founder of The Toronto Ink Company. Jason looked at the many layers of meaning that ink can be and how that definition relates to the larger world of natural color and finding color in unlikely places. He also talked about working in, and with, and as a part of nature as an urban color forager. We also got to see some great sneak peeks of a film he is working on. Watch the recording here. Jason says: “Most importantly, this hour aims to embrace the opportunity to get a bunch of … Read more

Video From Live FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Artist Yasuna Iman

Our last FEEDBACK FRIDAY we had artist Yasuna Iman who uses art as a vessel for reflection. Based in Berlin, Yasuna (b.1995) is a multidisciplinary artist developing a visual abstract language on natural paper and wood, using handmade botanical pigments, rust, plants, and other raw materials sourced in the natural world. Yasuna says “We can learn to embrace our own fragility and fleetingness in the same way we are accustomed to celebrating them in the natural world.” Watch the video here. Links to connect with Yasuna: Website Mailing list sign-up Spotify profile with monthly playlists, music that inspires her work … Read more

Q & A: Round Up of Mordanting + Scouring 101

Mordanting and scouring should be at the top of your things-to-do list before natural dyeing. Botanical Colors Founder Kathy Hattori recently took on as many questions as was humanly possible to clarify the processes. Before reading, also please see our How-To Scour and How-To Mordant pages. Scouring Questions If I use untreated and unbleached fabric, is it a must to scour the fabric or is washing it enough? If you mean by “untreated” that it has never been scoured, then you should scour. If untreated and unbleached means it is also prepared for dyeing (PFD or RFD), then you can … Read more

Video From Live FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Making Green With Natural Dyes

This week on FEEDBACK FRIDAY we had Botanical Colors President Kathy Hattori show us how to make green with natural dyes. Using powdered fustic, weld, and as Kathy calls it, “a new crazy chlorophyll mixture,” she showed the versatility of our dyes to achieve colors maybe you’ve only dreamed of. Watch the video here. Recipes and suggestions -Dye mordanted wool and silk fibers in 10% fustic, then transfer to another dye bath with 10% Saxon Blue to get a vivid lime green -Dye mordanted cotton or linen fibers in 10% fustic, then transfer to another dye bath with 0.5% iron … Read more

Video From Live FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Around the World in 80 Fabrics

Our last FEEDBACK FRIDAY was with National Geographic Explorers Tierney Thys (a marine conservationist), Carroll Dunham (a medical anthropologist), and Lesli Robertson (a textile educator/consultant) for “Around the World in 80 Fabrics.” The three shared their discoveries of fabrics from nature through their project, Around the World in 80 Fabrics – from natural dyes used in Bhutanses textiles, to clay-dyed barkcloth of Uganda, and cutting edge dyes and fabrics from algae. Watch the video of the entire presentation here. See Carroll’s video recording of her presentation that wouldn’t load (darnit!) last Friday HERE: Project: Web, www.atw80fabrics.org IG, @atw80fabrics Newsletter signup, … Read more

Video From Live FEEDBACK FRIDAY: (All Things Indigo) With Britt Boles of Seaspell Fiber

Our last FEEDBACK FRIDAY was with “indigo doula,” yes, that’s what we all call her, Britt Boles, founder of Seaspell Fiber and the super popular Indigo Pigment Extraction Methods group on Facebook. Britt shared lots of exciting and helpful information on the nuances of growing/vatting homegrown pigment vs commercial pigment and showcased her recycled plastic clamp resists we are now selling! Shop all Botanical Colors indigo products here. Watch the video here. Additional topics and products Britt talked about: -The Blue Biographies series -Intuitive Indigo E-course -The Seaspell Fiber Vat Table, 4’ x 2.5’ equipped with power– Inquire for custom … Read more