Natural Dye App

I'm still working on the natural dye app!!!  I've added more plants and more characteristics about the dye plants to the database and it's taking a bit longer than I anticipated to put together.

Rabbitbrush and Sage Dyed Wool

 

Rabbitbrush and sage dyed wool, 2007, in an iron pot.

Dried rabbitbrush from western Nebraska eastern Wyoming area.

Sage in bloom from western Nebraska.

Rabbitbrush and Sage

Rabbitbrush and Sage in a cast iron pot ~ 2007

I have studio visitors coming May 7th, the designer wants to learn how to dye with natural dyes and see some of my natural dyed fabrics.  My plans are to show her some of the dyestuffs that are native to the plains states.

Coming Soon ~ Natural Dye App

Bloodroot - Sanguinaria canadensis ~  just one of the many plants and plant images in the new app, in addition to parts to use, colors obtained, methods of extraction AND whether it's fast or fugitive!

The new natural dye app is taking a few days longer to finish than I anticipated, the good news is I currently have 120 plants in the database and there's room for about another 50-100 plants before all is said and done.  There are many wonderful things about this new database that excite me to no end, thanks to my best friend Brenda showing me how to set up filters!

If you'd like to be a beta tester for the new app please let me know :-)

Mark Making with Nature eBook Package Sale!!!

Shall continue until later this afternoon...

 

Enjoy!!!

 

 

Mark Making with Nature ebook Package Sale!

Mark Making with Nature ebook Package

$24.95

Now through Mother's Day!!!

 

Own all four eBooks today!

Mark Making with Nature eBook Package

Mark Making with Nature eBook Package

Own all four eBooks for one low price of $30.00!

• Mark Making with Nature
• Compost Dyeing and Other Fermentation Dyeing Techniques
• Rust and Clay Dyeing
• Getting Started with Natural Dyes!!!

Details on my website!

Digitally Printed Fabric

Tomorrow it's all about the crows and the redwing blackbirds! 
Silk Organza and Cotton fabrics.

Immersion Dyeing

Spring has finally sprung here in central Iowa!  Rumor has it it's going to make it into the 60's today.  Starting next week, after I hang my upcoming solo show this coming Sunday, I will be hitting the dye pots and hard.  Also on the docet is the natural dye garden, I'm planting native dye plants, and if all goes well madder root in a livestock barrel to prevent it from overtaking the lawn.  Stay tuned for photos, video, and more.

Rust Dyeing eClass

 

Growth.

Rust Dyed Cotton Fabric

Machine Stitched.

I'm working on the content for the Rust Dyeing eClass!!!  Learn how to rust dye fabric, paper, and how to overdye with tannins, etc., for a gorgeous one of a kind surface!

Bjorkboda detail.
Rust, tannin, and indigo dyed cotton fabric.
Machine and Hand stitched.

Fruit Fermentation Vat 040313

 

Fruit fermentation vat.

 

 

The dark stuff towards the center is the indigo pigment settled at the bottom of the vat.

 

 

 

A lovely shade of yellowish green.

 

Indigo

The indigo vats are looking oh so wonderful!  The indigo in the above photo was on it's way to reduction and now has fully reduced.  So part of today's plans are to dye some fabrics with indigo. 

My live streaming capabilities are on hold at the moment so I will video tape my dyeing session and place it over at the Natural Surface in the Indigo Dyeing Group!  If your not subscribed to The Natural Surface then come on over and join the fun, membership is $29.95 a year.

Earth Pigments on Cotton

From this past weekends streaming session; raw sienna and raw umber on cotton fabric.

Live Streaming from Google Groupchat Tonight!

Until I can figure out how to combine my two google accounts please follow my Google+  with the accompanying banner photo! In order to include you in my live stream tonight you have to be in my "circles" on google. For some reason I'm not allowed to stream to the "public" and I cannot figure out how to create the invite linky...

Fruit Fermentation Vat and Live Streaming

Attempted my first ever fruit fermentation vat this evening, notes about this are over in the Natural Surface forum, I liked it a LOT!  I streamed this session but was having a lot of issues with Ustream, so I will be streaming again tomorrow evening and from Google/YouTube Live instead of Ustream.  I will post a link tomorrow for the stream location.

I also worked with some earth pigments in this stream, it's recorded but will say I'm not sure how much of the recording has audio. 

I'm off to spend some quality time with hubs and my favorite pooch Angel.  See y'all tomorrow evening!

The Natural Surface Login & Pinterest

To pay for your subscription click on the "Purchase" button, I have highlighted the button in the accompanying image, the button is white on white and barely visible, however, clicking the word "Purchase" will take you to the payment center. 

 

I created a board for the network on Pinterest, you can find that board here:  The Natural Surface

 

 

 

 

Spring is Coming!!!

It really is!  Until then I'm still moving snow and will live stream tomorrow evening!

Indigo Fermentation Vats

My 150 gallon stainless steel vat, yes it is possible to keep a vat going for years even decades.  Learn more about dyeing with indigo in my Introduction to Indigo Dyeing Class at The Natural Surface!

My 30 gallon stainless steel indigo vat.  Both vats came from a defunct dairy farm.

Indigo

Indigo dyed wool strips.  Introduction to Indigo Dyeing begins February 15th, this class is self paced.  Cost $75 USD plus $29.95 subscription fee to The Natural Surface!

Prairie 2002

Prairie
2002
45x38ish inches
Natural Dyes
Silk Crepe de Chine

This is "Prairie" I found it last night in a wicker trunk with several other pieces to my 2002 Prairie Rermnant Solo Show.  I'm thinking of cutting it into four sections, after pressing, and machine stitching, maybe push the surface a little further, and work them into my Canyonland Series.  This while I wait on my indigo vat to do it's thing!