The Dye Process
[[ recipeID=recipe-8lgjlai4c, title=Organic Amanita Mushroom Einkorn Sugar Cookies ]]
Artistic integrity has always been my priority. I guard my recipes closely and limit the scope of my process in order to protect my work and spirit. Thank you for respecting my privacy.
My endeavors with natural dye have always been very personal and culturally introspective. Weaving and Dye / mix media Art Processes from the Andes have been my foundation of inspiration in all of my mediums. My Plant Color work is my sacred time bonding with my plant biome and a time for ancestral communion with my Quechua relations.
That being said, below is the general flow of how I build botanical dye palettes.
Scouring and Mordanting
Scouring takes one day, I often do whole bundles of fibers together of varying styles. Mordanting can be an additional 3-5 day process depending on plants and modifiers I am choosing to work with.
The Dye Process
after scouring and mordanting I begin with light hues
Curing can take up to 3 days depending on the plants used
even single colors go through multiple dye baths
Rich deep hues are built up over the course of 7-14 days
Dark hues can take several weeks to achieve
we reside in Zone (9b) and source seasonally and respectfully
Some plants are considered invasive, unwanted, or are considered compost, many are from our land
Dye Plants Currently in Use
Madder + Cosmos + Sourgrass, Rhexia + Marigold + Black Knight Scabiosa + Logwood + Indigo + Muscadine Grape + Pignut Hickory + Oak galls + Oak leaf + Sumac + Pomegranate + Bitter Orange + Pokeberry + Goldenrod + Cochineal + Myrobalan + Weld + Buckthorn Berry
Organic Indigo
Currently Fructose and Iron are my primary vat types I work with in my studio. When in season, I work with fresh indigo from my garden, but we have yet to get settled in our new home to begin growing again, but soon enough!