Page 67 – Botanical Colors

Today’s Color: Weld Yellow

I was so shocked when I first dyed with Today’s color: weld yellow. I had no idea that this eye-dazzling yellow could come from a weedy looking, grassy smelling plant. All the other yellow dyes I had tried: osage, fustic, pomegranate and myrobalan had been so much more discreet in their yellowness. Their shades were golden, buff, bronze, buttery and very beautiful, melding perfectly into my palette between the rich earthy reds and gentle teals. Weld, on the other hand, was the extrovert. The color that had the lampshade on its head. The color that was standing on the street … 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

Natural Purple

Nearly every summer in Seattle is so cold that climatologists officially classify it as the Year of the Green Tomato, which is the phenomenon where you have tons of tomatoes but none of them ripen. Ever. I didn’t think we could grow eggplants here. I was thrilled and amazed that kale and broccoli produced all summer and that cauliflower matured beautifully in the cool climate, but I wanted peppers, and tomatoes and I especially wanted eggplants. I’m used to those slender, violet-streaked, creamy Asian eggplants that are lovely in curries and stir-fry and grilled. I remember heaps of them – … Read more