Blog - Page 59 of 60 - Botanical Colors

2012: The Year of More Color

How is it that we can look at a washing machine that is Harvest Gold and instantly date it to the 70’s? Or say “Santa Fe colors” and know that we’re speaking of a greenish teal, terra cotta, sage green and mauve? The answer is color forecasting. Each year a number of color experts meet (there are many forecasting organizations) and discuss the direction that colors are taking based on their observations of popular culture, political and economic climates and emerging trends. Out of these meetings come color forecasts which help guide colors for interiors, consumer goods, fashion and cosmetics. … Read more

Tips For Pokeberry Dyeing on Wool

We’re pretty obsessed with pokeberry dyeing right now for dyeing wool, making ink and just squishing them up and dropping them on paper. They are SO intense and exciting to use. I visited Japanese textile artist and katazome instructor John Marshall in his studio in Covelo, Mendocino County and was surprised to see that his entire front yard was covered in pokeberry bushes. Although pokeberries are native to most of the the United States, I had never even heard of them and was browsing through Rebecca Burgess’ book Harvesting Color on natural dyes when I spotted a beautiful red skein … Read more

A Perfect Red: A Story of Cochineal

A Perfect Red is a marvelous story about the history of the “discovery” of cochineal by Europe in the 16th century. The tiny scale insect is one of the most compelling red colors in the natural dye palette and its introduction took Europe by a storm, garnering huge fortunes for Spain and England (who pirated tons of cochineal bounty from Spain). Author Amy Butler Greenfield details the challenges that it took to bring this dyestuff to market from the fall of the Aztec empire to Perkin’s discovery of mauve. Her 300-page book reads like a natural dye bodice-ripping historical romance … Read more

A Breakthrough in Natural Dyes

Botanical Colors is offering a new line of liquid natural dyes that are perfectly suited for immersion dyeing, printing and painting. The colors are saturated and beautiful and the color line includes an indigo that does not require the traditional vat process. This means you can add this indigo (Saxon Blue) right into your dyepot along with a red and get a lovely purple, or use it with yellow and get a marvelous spring green. Used by itself, the blue color ranges from a deep teal to turquoise. The dyes are easy to use and certified as compliant with the Global Organic … Read more

Natural Dye Palette for 2012

Welcome to the first Botanical Colors palette formulated for natural dyes. These different color ideas were gleaned from trend forecasts, publications and presentations I attended over the past few months and represent my interpretation of the trends. Use these colors as ideas for a direction; they are not edicts but rather suggestions, and are designed to excite, inspire and provide you a platform to create your own personal palette in natural dyes. Enjoy the color journey! Download the PDF of the natural dye palette below. Natural Dye Color Palette 2012

India Flint: Creating Mindful Color

Once in a great while a book about natural dyeing comes along that completely changes my perspective on creating color and Eco Colour: Botanical Dyes for Beautiful Textiles by India Flint has my mind buzzing with the possibilities of using natural dyes in a whole new way. Ms. Flint is an Australian artist who collects frozen blossoms, fallen leaves, cast off vegetable trimmings and weeds to create art cloth that is local, sustainable and glows with unexpected and intriguing color combinations. Eco Colour is a complete guide to her unique method of natural dyeing and Ms. Flint generously details her process and … Read more

Japanese urushi lacquer scoops

I love lacquer and have been fortunate to receive lacquered bowls, chopsticks and bento boxes from my relatives in Japan over the years. And I was so pleased to learn that lac dye is derived from shellac, which I assumed was where lacquer came from. It was a very nice tie-in with the beautiful lac color and the muted and matte earthy reds of traditional Asian lacquer. Well, I wasn’t exactly accurate when it comes to Japanese lacquer. While it is true that shellac is used in making lacquer, what I discovered is that this type of Japanese lacquer is … Read more

On Pins and Needles

My weakness for beautiful tools was sorely tested these past few days, and I finally succumbed to the charms of these vintage needlework treasures. The objets of my desire were lovely tools for sewing, stitching and lacemaking from a French company called Sajou. Maison Sajou was founded in 1828 and was well known as a provider of threads, needles and finely crafted scissors for what is called Ouvrages de Dames, or “Ladies’ Work” until the early part of the 20th century, when it fell into decline. The woman responsible for restoring the House of Sajou to its former glory is … Read more

Cyber Monday

When you read about Cyber Monday, one thinks of people glued to their computers, madly clicking away and purchasing plasma screen TV sets and oodles of electronica that are ON SALE for Cyber Monday through all the major retailers. Instead, why not celebrate Cyber Monday with a handmade gift? There are some wonderful sites out there with amazing gifts from Fair Trade and artisan crafts where your purchase will really make a difference. Of particular note is Hand/Eye Magazine, which has a website devoted to artisan crafts called “12 Small Things”. It’s a carefully curated collection of exquisite gifts from … Read more

Holiday gift ideas

Looking for gift ideas for the serious textile artist? That can sometimes be tricky, but here are some objects that we’ve chosen for beauty and functionality and we hope will be enjoyed for many years. We spent the better part of last year searching for these items and discovered them in all sorts of unlikely places. They are handmade and one of a kind, and available only online. We love these richly colored mortar and pestles hand carved from granadillo or macawood. The mortar is weighty with a beautiful grain and the pestle is hand carved from matching wood. They … Read more