For World Water Day, 12 Ways to Natural Dye & Protect Land & Water

For World Water Day on March 22, 2024, we wanted to shine a light on 12 ways to natural dye and protect our water. As natural dyers, we have so many ways we can tackle these issues from collecting and reusing water creatively to simply stopping using hazardous pesticides as we grow our beautiful dye plants.This year’s theme of World Water Day 2024 is ‘Water for Peace.’ From the World Water Day 2024 site: “When we cooperate on water, we create a positive ripple effect – fostering harmony, generating prosperity and building resilience to shared challenges. We must act upon … Read more

Video From LIVE FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Catharine Ellis

This week, we’ve got video from our live FEEDBACK FRIDAY featuring Catharine Ellis. She even answered all your chat questions we didn’t get to (below!) Watch the recording here: You might know Catharine as the author of what many call their natural dye bible, The Art and Science of Natural Dyes: Principles, Experiments, and Results. Co-written with textile engineer and chemist Joy Boutrup, the book is a comprehensive guide that explains the general principles of natural dyeing to help dyers become more accomplished at their craft. She also has a fantastic blog that features all her experiments that’s a must … Read more

Make An Easy, Organic Indigo Vat

In 2009 and 2010 I had the opportunity to study with natural dye master Michel Garcia.  He is a marvelous and knowledgeable teacher,  fascinated with using the chemistry of simple ingredients to create natural colors.  One of the things that he demonstrated to us was to be fearless about the indigo fermentation vat.  What a gift!  For me, the indigo fermentation vat has always been a mystery and I could never quite figure out all the details so I never pursued it.  I was getting great and consistent color with my lye and soda ash and chemical reducing agents, so why … Read more

Power Panties Rule

It’s so easy to brighten up your underthings with lush natural dye colors like cochineal, lac and madder. Materials Any natural fiber underthings – socks, camisoles or panties.  Look for 100% cotton, Modal, Tencel, silk or bamboo fiber content. Fiber blends like wool/cotton or silk/cotton or nylon also work well.  Microfiber, polyester and acrylic will not take the dyes. The dye process includes mordanting, then immersing in a dyebath, rinsing and drying and you are done! Safety A dust mask is recommended when measuring Aluminum Acetate as it is a fine powder that smells like vinegar and may be irritating. … Read more

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For Sunday Visit, Botanical Colors sits down for an interview with a luminary in the natural dye, textile and art world. This week we hear from renowned Korean Textile artist Youngmin Lee to talk about her upcoming workshop with us, her love of textile and her new book! Grab a cup of tea and settle in to learn about someone you never knew! Catch up on all our Sunday Visits HERE. We are exciting a workshop with her soon! We are so excited to host you next year. Can you tell us a little bit about your love of textiles and … Read more

Sunday Visit: Dye Experiments With Madeleine McGarrity of Cold N’ Deadly

For this week’s Sunday Visit, we catch up with textile artist, researcher, and natural dyer, Madeleine McGarrity of Cold N’ Deadly. Madeleine McGarrity is a designer, textile researcher, and professional printmaker currently living and working in Providence, RI. She grew up in rural Northwest New Jersey, graduated from Rhode Island School of Design with a BFA in Printmaking in 2010, and worked as a teacher and professional textile printer in Brooklyn, NY from 2012 to 2020. In 2019, she started Cold and Deadly, a project investigating the development of a modern system for textile printing with natural dyes. She is … Read more

SUNDAY VISIT: POPS OF COLOR WITH IAN ALLEN GREER

Every Sunday for Sunday Visit, Botanical Colors sits down for an interview with a luminary in the natural dye, textile and art world. Grab a cup of tea and settle in to learning about someone you never knew! Catch up on all our Sunday Visits here. This week we sit down with Ian Allen Greer to talk proving the world wrong with bright pops of color with natural dyes! Give us your origin story, why natural dyes – what drew you to this medium? I fell in love with the world of natural dyeing as a way to reconnect with nature. … Read more

Video From LIVE FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Kathy Hattori Q&A

This week’s FEEDBACK FRIDAY was all about Botanical Colors’ Founder/President, Kathy Hattori for a Q&A. Watch the video recording here: …and here are a bunch of questions Kathy didn’t get to that she’s answered: I would like to know how to work with a lump of logwood extract that got damp. maybe in a blog post? Yes, we’ll put a post together that talks about stock solutions. I have mixed old nails with vinegar and the liquid started foaming. What is happening? It sounds like it was a reaction from the metal and the vinegar.  Perhaps some of the nails … Read more