Blog - Page 2 of 65 - Botanical Colors

Mordant Monday: Mordant after Dyeing?

YOU ASKED: Can I mordant after dyeing? I just returned from India, dyed a number of silk scarves and was told the I can mordant them after they have been dyed. I have been trying to find more details but have only read on your site about post-mordanting something that has already been mordanted? KATHY ANSWERED: There’s actually a technique that is practiced in Japan that is referred to as “middle mordanting”. The process is to immerse silk fabric in dye, then transfer it to a mordant bath, and then return it to the dye bath. It definitely deepens the … Read more

Sunday Visit: Grand Prismatic Seed

Guy Banner and James Young are the co-owners and farmers of Grand Prismatic Seed, a small seed farm located in Northern Utah. They are committed to growing high-quality open-pollinated seeds that can withstand the stresses associated with high desert crop production. They specialize in growing seeds for dye plants and plants native to their bioregion, and also offer a curated list of seeds for their favorite cut flowers, vegetables, and herbs. All of their offerings are grown using organic methods. We are so excited to feature you and your incredible seeds and farm. Can you tell us a little bit … Read more

It’s Time to Start Seeds!

START YOUR DYE GARDEN TODAY Dear Plant Enthusiast, Are you ready to embark on a colorful journey? Imagine harvesting vibrant hues from your very own garden to create stunning textiles of nature. It’s time to start your natural dye garden. If you’re ready to sow the seeds of creativity, here’s a list of organic seed providers by region to help you get started: Northeast: High Mowing Organic Seeds (Vermont) Hudson Valley Seed Library (New York) Fruition Seeds (New York) Southeast: Bluelight Junction Southern Exposure Seed Exchange (Virginia) 3 Porch Farm (Georgia) Midwest: Seed Savers Exchange (Iowa) Prairie Moon Nursery (Minnesota) … Read more

Mordant Monday: All of those Alums?

We had a question come in earlier this week about the differences in the variety of alum mordants we offer. Katie asks: Hello, I am wondering if it is possible to use Ammonium Aluminum Sulfate for mordanting wool? I am finding this substance in the spice section ofthe grocery store. I can’t seem to find definitive information about this and I feel confused about all the different “alums” that exist. We answered: The different alum types are basically the same mineral but they are refined differently for different purposes using a variety of chemicals. They can look different, too. For … Read more

MORDANT MONDAY: To Mordant Or Not To Mordant + Disposing Of Mordant Baths

We get mordant questions all the time at Botanical Colors so why not create Mordant Monday??? Got mordanting questions? Email [email protected] What is Mordanting? Mordanting is the most important process of preparing fibers to accept color. Using a mordant helps to ensure the most durable and long-lasting colors. With the exception of indigo (as a vat dye, it does not require a mordant), this is not an optional step. However, there are many different mordants you can use. Deciding which mordant to use comes down to the types of fibers you want to dye and how much time or energy … Read more

Sunday Visit: Katrina Rodabaugh, Mending Matters

Sunday Visit is our interview series where we speak with an incredible maker in our community and learn about what makes them tick. Katrina Rodabaugh is an author and artist working at the intersection of sustainability, craft, and design. Using visible mending, natural dyes, and textile redesign in fashion, art, and home. She combines her training in sustainability with her experience in fiber arts to build eco-friendly solutions for modern lives. We sit down with her to learn about her practice. Katrina, you have been a friend of BC for a long time. Tell us a little bit about your … Read more

Sunday Visit: Ryan Scails Nuance & Materiality

For Sunday Visit, We are excited to sit down with the multi-hyphenate Ryan Scails. Based in Philadelphia, PA he examines the nuances of materiality within the built world and how intentional shifts in details can give humans context in ways that confront the limits of their bodies. By using fiber to create hyper specific structural relationships, his work highlights the potential in substantive engagements between the human body and our environment. In a manner that leans heavily on the sequential harmony of physical labor his work seeks to foreground pre-colonial technologies by riffing on fractured schematics, glyphs, and vernacular tools … Read more

Mordant Monday: Tannin Workshop Review

Mordanted fat quarters in iron, marigold, indigo, marigold+indigo, logwood, logwood+ indigo, logwood + marigold and logwood + marigold+ indigo. Both Cara and I taught new online workshops about tannins and natural dyes this month. Cara introduced Tannin Grayscale, a fascinating look into using iron and tannin to create a rich range of deep and moody neutrals. I had envisioned that this would be a workshop on gray, gray and more gray, but the surprise was that her techniques create some beautifully saturated shades. My workshop was Tannin Rainbow, where I concentrated on combining different tannin mordanted fabrics with natural dye … Read more

RSVP for BOTANICAL COLORS’ COMMUNITY GATHERING

Join us this week, January 24, 9am PT/Noon ET for our first ever Community Gathering. We kick off our event with the intention of welcoming you into a textile community to provide encouragement, listening and connection. We are here for each other and as act of determination and hope. To participate, click the link to RSVP and Zoom will send you the login information. Can’t wait to see you all! RSVP HERE

SUNDAY VISIT: Kristin Arzt & Her World of Rainbows

Sunday Visit is our interview series where we sit down with a luminary, visionary and creative in the Natural Dye world. We want to bring you the best of what is out there and show off all of the amazing work being done in our community. This week we sit down with Kristin Arzt, who we fell in love with when she made her incredible rainbow coveralls. We catch up with the new mama, and learn all about her practice and what makes her tick. Tell us all about you! How did your practice come to be? I’ve always been drawn … Read more