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Making dyes, inks and paints from plants

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  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Just experiments
  • Oh yes, of course! Just thought (not very creative, just practical, but I might dye some string green for the garden as I have a few rolls and the white string looks too much like string when used to tie up stems and vines etc (I lost my actual green twine in the garden last year).
    Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus 
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited 19 February
    Yes, I was thinking that last night - string, raffia, non-synthetic ribbon would be a good use of small amounts of dye. It's a lovely present to give.
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    I used the last of the amaryllis solution to make up some paint/ink. Around 10 tsp of powdered gum arabic added to 25g of dye solution. Make a gooey mix that drips well. I used a wooden block print, with foam underneath. A foam sponge is best to apply the paint to the block, such that it's not too wet or it will splodge. Good to do lots of tests first on kitchen paper and scrap fabric before any final project. The more you work with foam, fabric, block and paint over a project the more even and precise the outcome gets.

    It's nice to finish the last few days of mess with this. There was juuuust enough to cover a red cotton napkin. Not bad for ten petals. You don't want to see the state of my kitchen. :D








  • Oh my, @Fire, that is gorgeous. So worth the mess and chaos I think?!
    Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus 
  • Spotted in the April edition of Country Living Magazine there's a 9 page spread on natural dyes...
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    Nettle, onion, iris and wax resist.



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    Onion with wax resist


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    The paper behind is made by tea dye, which is a wonderful thing.
  • clematisdorsetclematisdorset Posts: 1,348
    Hello, just to say I have been collecting petals from spring bulbs. The rain hasn't helped has it. Going to frantically try to save some of the brilliant links you posted @fire, before the forum closes. Thanks for your great help and encouragement. 💐
    Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus 
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    edited 13 March
    I have joined the "Plants and Colour" network and am studying with them. They run study groups and online workshops on making botanical dyes, making lake pigment paints, working with fungi, earth and mineral colour, inks, printing and all sorts. If anyone is interested in pursuing any of this, then Plants and Colour is a good place to start. If you sign up to their newsletter they will send you news of when spots open up.


    Jenny Dean's book Wild Colour is a bit of a bible in plant dyeing world. Very solid and practical. She lives and runs regular in-person workshops in Sussex.

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    I will be growing coreopisis this year, for the first time, to harvest the flowers for printing. That will be exciting. It gives one of the best colours out there.

    It's been fun to share my experiments and learning here. @pitter-patter
    @Obelixx  and @clematisdorset I hope you will give botanical colour making a go. x


  • clematisdorsetclematisdorset Posts: 1,348
    edited 13 March
    Thanks so much. @Fire. I will miss our exchanges too. Good luck with  the coreopsis and the 'plants and colour ' network. I will look into these links when I can.
    Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus 
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