this is an interesting talk on using dye woods like alder, oak, hawthorn and bramble cane. (first 15 mins). Woods and their seeds, leaf, galls and bark generally contain high levels of tanin and this acts as a fixative, so there is no need to pre-mordant the cloth (they are called 'substantive dyes'). Alder cones, acorn, dock, chestnut and cut back bramble might be easy enough (in some places) to harvest in quantity and are substantive. Windfall and coppicing can be used for harvesting.
Bracken can be used in quantity but needs very careful handling (masking) as it has a toxicity.
I hope to take a look, thanks @Fire. No wonder red wine stains then, with the tannins. Maybe I should use the wine as a dye, next time I get a dud bottle!
Have you enjoyed working with galls yet? Would the insects be part of the outcome or have I got that all a bit wrong?
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I have saved some tulip petals from a bunch, but am looking forward to scavenging my own garden a.s.a.p.
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I hope to take a look, thanks @Fire. No wonder red wine stains then, with the tannins. Maybe I should use the wine as a dye, next time I get a dud bottle!
Yes, good to try it all. Any mouldy berries from the fridge are good.
Have you enjoyed working with galls yet? Would the insects be part of the outcome or have I got that all a bit wrong?
I have not got there yet. They are precious and I need to set aside a weekend to focus just on them. I don't think insects come with/inside the galls (like figs). The wasp larvae eat the gall as they grow and fly off. I guess there are always casualities.
My celandine is just coming out so I will try some fresh 'daisy' shapes and hope I can get some printed definition. I'm just making little unmordanted swatches at the moment to experiment with printing.
That sounds good. I have some iris reticulata, crocus, narcissus and anemone blanda starting to come through and I will also not be using mordant at the moment. What about pressing flowers in a flower press in order to then decide whether to use the flowers for ink or for something else like a pressed flower arrangement? Maybe that makes no sense!
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Have you enjoyed working with galls yet? Would the insects be part of the outcome or have I got that all a bit wrong?
.....
I have saved some tulip petals from a bunch, but am looking forward to scavenging my own garden a.s.a.p.
Dark tulips petals are also excellent for drying and crafting with. They make sculptural forms as they dry.
I will wait with interest, your galls project.
The tulip heads I dried did just that, keeping a good form. They were red, so I feel optimistic about the resulting dyes, when I have half a day free.