Natural Dyes Archives - Botanical Colors

FEEDBACK FRIDAY: World Water Day with Krystle Moody Wood

Join us March 24, 2023, 9am Pacific/noon eastern in celebration of World Water Day with Krystle Moody Wood. Krystle will share a brief overview of the critical ocean and water impacts resulting from current textile and apparel systems and the key ways textile leaders can address issues such as microfiber pollution, shifts from climate change, forever chemicals, and more. Krystle will follow the presentation with a discussion centered around the role of natural dyes as a solution for these critical issues through the lens of water. (above image: Paige Green photography) RSVP here. If you love FEEDBACK FRIDAY support our … Read more

Video From FEEDBACK FRIDAY: (Alumnae) Brece Honeycutt + Anita Cazzola Talk Waste

Last time on FEEDBACK FRIDAY, we welcomed back FEEDBACK FRIDAY alumnae Brece Honeycutt and Anita Cazzola. The two engaged in a conversation about waste: wasted color, waste as invasive, waste as wasted time to not stop and smell the flowers, color under our feet people see as waste (the dandelion?!), color in sad places people see as waste… With Brece recently home from a month-long residency at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library (see in her bio below), and Anita in the middle of doing a residency at the New Brunswick College for Craft and Design, we got to experience a … Read more

MORDANT MONDAY: Silk, Cashmere + Heat

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 have several cashmere sweaters that are the most boring colors ever and I’d love to try over-dyeing. I have Orvis paste to scour with but wanted to check that the 180 degree hold for 30 minutes would also work for cashmere – I see sheep and goats on the website answer about scouring so I am assuming yes, but there is this little question in the back of my head – email to the experts it … Read more

Beginner Dyer Drop In Hours With Cara Marie Piazza + Amy DuFault

Come join us for Beginner Dyer Drop In Hours with our new Botanical Colors team member, textile artist Cara Marie Piazza and Botanical Colors’ Communications Director Amy DuFault! We have reached our 100 person max! If you’re new to natural dyes, we want to warmly welcome you! Natural dyeing is one of the most exciting crafts/hobbies/mental relaxation breaks you can take on. The opportunities are endless: change the color of your favorite t-shirt, evolve a well-worn dress, learn about how color sticks to a textile and make paint in easy to understand terms and recipes. We just created a dye … Read more

Video From FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Botanical Artist Julia Whitney Barnes

Last FEEDBACK FRIDAY, we welcomed botanical artist Julia Whitney Barnes. Kathy and I discovered her amazing work as we literally stumbled into the Albany, New York Shaker Heritage Society on a morning walk from our Hilton. We saw Julia’s work across the fruit orchard we were in and couldn’t believe our eyes. Watch the recording here. Support our time creating FEEDBACK FRIDAY and paying presenters with a donation. Website Instagram Albany International Airport Art & Culture Program (where part of Julia’s show is right now!) + pre-security at the Albany Airport. Seriously, how cool is the Albany airport??? Julia loves … Read more

RSVP: Botanical Artist Julia Whitney Barnes

Join us next week for FEEDBACK FRIDAY, February 24, 9am Pacific/Noon Eastern as we welcome botanical artist Julia Whitney Barnes. Kathy and I discovered her amazing work as we literally stumbled into the Albany, New York Shaker Heritage Society on a morning walk from our Hilton. We saw Julia’s work across the fruit orchard we were in and couldn’t believe our eyes. RSVP here. Website Instagram Julia loves using Beam Paints (and we just got a restock!) About Julia’s presentation: For “Planting Utopia” Julia Whitney Barnes photographed and collected specimens from over 150 plants in the herb garden at Shaker … Read more

MORDANT MONDAY: Mordanting Cotton & Freezing Clothes

We get mordant questions all the time at Botanical Colors so why not create Mordant Monday??? Got mordanting questions? Email [email protected] What is Mordanting? Mordanting is the most important process of preparing fibers to accept color. Using a mordant helps to ensure the most durable and long-lasting colors. With the exception of indigo (as a vat dye, it does not require a mordant), this is not an optional step. However, there are many different mordants you can use. Deciding which mordant to use comes down to the types of fibers you want to dye and how much time or energy … Read more

Video From FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Water, Sediment & Color With Minnesota Fiber Artist Moira Bateman

For our first FEEDBACK FRIDAY of 2023, we welcomed Minneapolis-based fiber and textile artist, Moira Bateman. Moira guided us through a beautiful presentation of her work and a deep look at water, sediment and color. Watch the recording here. Support our time creating FEEDBACK FRIDAY with a donation. Follow Moira here: Website Instagram Ecoartspace article Her exhibits that launch on January 5th and another on January 17th Artist’s Biography: Moira Bateman creates assemblages from waxed silk, dyed with tannins and waterway sediments. Her chosen fabrics are soaked for days, months, and even years in the waters, mud, and sediments of … Read more

Video From FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Mapping Color With Sasha Duerr + Maibe Maroccolo

For our last FEEDBACK FRIDAY of 2022, we welcomed Brazil-based artist and educator Maibe Maroccolo of Matricaria who is mapping color with Brazil’s dye plants and Sasha Duerr, an artist and designer who also maps color with plant-based palettes, natural dyes and place-based recipes. It was such an emotional and wonderful presentation highlighting both women’s connection to color through memory, place, love, experiences and through a deep appreciation for biodiversity. Watch the recording here. Support our time creating FEEDBACK FRIDAY With A Donation. Sasha Duerr is an artist and designer who works mapping color with plant-based palettes, natural dyes and … Read more

VIDEO: FEEDBACK FRIDAY: Narayan Khandekar + Porfirio Gutíerrez

Last week on FEEDBACK FRIDAY, we had presenters Narayan Khandekar who oversees the Forbes Pigment Collection in conversation on color and restoration with Zapotec Textile Artist + Natural Dyer Porfirio Gutíerrez. The two had mini-presentations of their work and then engaged in a wonderful and intimate conversation about color coming from their own unique work. Watch the recording here. More about 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 … Read more