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How To Use Natural Dye Extracts
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The latest from our blog
French ochres
In May 2010 I went to France for two weeks as part of a tour group Our itinerary included a workshop to study natural dyes with Michel Garcia, visit the French ochre fields, learn the magic of woad from Denise Lambert of Bleu de Lectoure and eat exceedingly well. This was the land of foie […]
Liquid Indigo and Saxon Blue
Many long time indigo dyers have been curious about the liquid indigo that I sell that works like an immersion dye. How can it possibly work that way? Traditional vatted indigo is not water soluble and it’s created through a complex set of steps and careful dipping, not in an immersion dye pot. Our liquid […]
Handwoven Fair Trade Wool Shawl – Temporarily out of stock
Something for cooler weather that takes dyes beautifully. Our sumptuous wool shawl is handwoven of fine wool in a lofty, gauzy weave. Large enough for a wrap but light and soft enough as an oversized scarf. Handknotted decorative fringe. Size is a generous 79”x39” (200×100 cm). 100% wool. $34.00 Color Natural $34.00
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. […]
Deena Schnitman: Paste Paper and Natural Dyes
Boston artist Deena Schnitman creates works on paper using the age old technique of paste paper. She writes: “Paste paper dates back to the late sixteenth century when it was widely used by bookbinders in Europe for endpapers and bookcovers. The process has changed little and remains simple. A paste is cooked, colored with paint […]
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 […]
Natural dye recipes without Logwood Grey
Having been unpleasantly surprised to discover that Logwood Grey, one of the workhorse dyes of the natural dye palette is a synthetic dye, I have been experimenting with alternatives that don’t use this color. I’ve also stopped offering it for sale on the site. If you still want to use Logwood, make your own Logwood […]
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 […]
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 […]
Marrakech
I have a friend who leaves Seattle annually and wanders the globe for months, eluding the dark, cold and gray of the Pacific Northwest for as long as she can. Her countries of choice are usually sunny, Mediterranean and are situated well below the 47th parallel. This year, she chose Istanbul and generously invited me […]