natural dyer Archives - Botanical Colors

Sunday Visit: In The Mountains of North Carolina With Catharine Ellis

Thanks for spending some time with us today for this special Sunday Visit with Catharine Ellis. You might know Catharine Ellis 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. We’re excited that she just launched a companion to this in the form of The Studio Formulas Set for The Art and Science of Natural Dyes. Catharine has been a weaver and a natural dyer … Read more

MORDANT MONDAY: Alum + Tannin & Line Fade

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 live in India and where I live there is a lot of rust in the water. When I have tried to do a tannin-alum procedure before dyeing I noticed as soon as I put my fabric in the alum after the oak gall soak my fabric turns grey!!! The alum I have is alum sulfate for cotton because I don’t have alum acetate. I am trying symplocos now. Any suggestions how to avoid staining all material grey?? KATHY … Read more

Video From FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Farm & Folk

Last week on FEEDBACK FRIDAY we welcomed Sara Buscaglia of Farm & Folk. Sara is an organic farmer, natural dyer and textile artist residing in the high desert of southwest Colorado. Her inspiration is found in the paradigm shifting slow processes of tending soil, seeds, and plants. Through her experience of being directly connected to food, natural color and fiber she has gained an understanding and appreciation of their true value. Her naturally dyed quilts are an embodiment of that. Watch the recording here. Shop Sara’s new book here! Support our time creating FEEDBACK FRIDAY with a donation. Farm & … Read more

Video From LIVE FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Lotta Helleberg

This week on FEEDBACK FRIDAY we had natural dyer and artist Lotta Helleberg. Lotta talked about her artistic journey, specifically how and why botanical printing, and natural dye processes have become the main focus of her art practice. She also discussed the roles of her local flora and the plants in her dye garden (including weeds and less desirable inhabitants) and presented her most recent work involving a vintage, badly damaged quilt, which has regained new life with the help of natural dyes and patient repair work. Watch the video here. Lotta Helleberg bio: Lotta Helleberg is a Swedish-born artist … Read more

Video From LIVE FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Zapotec Textile Artist Porfirio Gutíerrez

This week, we’ve got video from our live FEEDBACK FRIDAY featuring with Zapotec textile artist, natural dyer, researcher, educator Porfirio Gutíerrez. Porfirio Gutíerrez is known internationally for his exceptional devotion to the textile traditions of his home pueblo of Teotitlán del Valle, Oaxaca, a richly historic Zapotec textile artist community. His mission has been reinvigorating and preserving natural dyeing techniques for future generations. Gutierrez’s work brings awareness to a profound spiritual belief that nature is a living being, sacred and honored. Watch the recording here: If you are interested in exploring cochineal, which Porfirio talked about and is farming in … Read more