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VIDEO: Botanical Colors Talks Invasive Plants + Color

For this year’s New York Textile Month, the team at Botanical Colors talked about Invasive Plants + Color. Invasive plants, we see them roadside, in highway medians, standing as sentries in drought-tolerant fields and abandoned lots. We call them “invasive,” adversely affecting the habitats and beneficial plants we do want to thrive. The fact is, they’re not going anywhere so what if we worked with them to create color on textiles? Join the Botanical Colors team as they take you through a visual journey from Seattle to Cape Cod to share experiences and recent color journeys with this type of … Read more

Hands, stained blue with indigo, removing wet fabric from an indigo vat. The fabric is a golden color

FEEDBACK FRIDAY: This Week in Natural Dye Questions

This week: Urine vats, keeping your indigo vat alive and can you fix color with sea salt?

5 Unexpected Natural Sources of Dyes

Shaina Shealy wrote a great article a while back on Rubina Magazine. Her take on five unexpected natural sources of dye are a fun read still. Shaina writes: “Natural dyes are magical. Ordinary plants and roots are transformed into a spectrum of evolving shades and textures; their colors vary depending on the fibers they are applied to, the mordants (fixing agents) that are used to set their colors and, yes, elements of weather such as humidity or cold. And in addition to the magic, many people have turned to natural dyes in order to fight today’s environmental and human health … Read more

Handwoven Silk Tussah Gauze Shawl-Temporarily Out of Stock

One of the really fun things about working with suppliers around the world is when DHL drives up and the very nice driver lugs a bucket, barrel or box up the long driveway. The dog is barking wildly, desperately trying to make best friends before I drag in the goods and close the front door. We both eye the parcel (he sniffs it), and depending where it’s from start unraveling packing tape or string to see what’s inside. I just received a cache of gorgeous handwoven scarves and shawls that are a delight to dye and look beautiful colored with … 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

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

Today’s Color: Madder Red

Madder is one of the historical dyes of antiquity and has been used throughout Europe, Central Asia and the Indian subcontinent for centuries. It is possible to see antique textiles from the 16th and 17th century that have been dyed with madder and the colors remain rich and vivid. The famous Turkey Red recipe was based on madder and incorporated many steps and immersions in different baths of soap, alum, dung, ox bile and oil to achieve the famous bright red color prized throughout Europe. Botanical Colors madder extract is easy to use and produces a deep, beautiful red without the hassle … Read more

5 Tips to Make Natural Dyeing (More) Environmentally Friendly

Using natural dyes is certainly a lot more friendly than using something like Rit but there are ways you can be a lot more efficient in how you use them. Here are some tips we’ve put together for you.

MORDANT MONDAY: Fresh Rhubarb For Mordanting Wool?

We get mordant questions all the time at Botanical Colors so why not create Mordant Monday??? Got mordanting questions? Email [email protected] YOU ASKED: I use fresh rhubarb leaf for pre-mordanting wool, and I’m wondering if it can be used dried, and if so, what is the ratio of dried leaf to WOF? KATHY ANSWERED: Since you are already using the fresh leaves, do you have a percentage or weight that you are using? If so, I would use about half as much with dried leaves and see if you like the results! YOU ASKED: Kakishibu Japanese persimmon dye is used with … 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