~ Dyeing ~

I want to do this:

photo from Pinterest

{oh, wait....}

 lol I AM happy here! 

our farm is made of deep woods, open fields, creek-beds and blossoms ~

tall trees and ground lichen

moss & mushrooms

& everything wild in-between.

photo from Pinterest

 what do we 'farm' you ask?

the earth, and all that springs from it...

hay for our animals, vegetables for our bellies, herbs for our medicines

and flowers for our souls.

I also want to do this:

photo from Pinterest

photo from Pinterest

photo from Pinterest

...try my hand at doing more dyeing of my own textiles for use in my embroidery/needlework...

I would love to also make some of my own clothing from said textiles, or at least eco dye already finished garments for myself to wear ~

 

I am collecting leaves, both green and not-so.

 those below are dried Nadina leaves, dotted with fungi...

a few black walnut leaves, more nandina and a few hydrangea leaves ~ 

to add to the mix:

a rust/vinegar mordant is brewing in my old jars out in the sun ~

the rust will come from the many pins, needles & iron scraps found here at this old homeplace...

and the liquid will turn a beautiful shade and deepen with age,

then I will begin my process of laying leaves & petals, 

along with other botanicals on my prepared fabric ~

 

I am starting out small, using Osnaburg as my base fabric choice, 

which I will use for my embroidery ~ 

it is soaking inn a solution of clear dish-soap and salt,

to open the fibers to better take the dye...

 

...the seeds in the Osnaburg fabric 

will make for an interesting combo with the dyeing outcome ~

can't wait for the mordant to brew!

stay tuned for the results, I'm hoping a week of brewing will get me the right color.

{perhaps sooner if I am not patient enough!}

~ are any of my readers here dyers?

~ what are your favorite methods for natural dyeing {not using processed/commercial dyes}

~ how long have you been dyeing?

would love to hear your input....

 

Blessings from the Farm

 ~ Lori