albedo

After seeing Wendy‘s results with natural dyestuffs wrapped into bundles a la ecoprint method, i thought i’d give it a shot as well. Surprisingly, i got the best results from brazilwood, next best with sandalwood and the least impressive with the illusive (to me) madder. The results are (always) different on cotton vs silk also, with the sandalwood and madder giving better results on the cotton, the brazilwood loving both almost equally, except in detailing.

sandalwood: top cotton, bottom silk

madder: top cotton, bottom silk

The madder also had the best results with the euc as well–all of these experiments had eucalyptus leaves rolled with them at the same time as the dye powders. I do like the lovely soft watercolour effect of these 2 dyestuffs on the cotton and the silk, very feminine and delicate without being wishy-washy.

brazilwood (and euc) on cotton---definitely better colour saturation than madder or sandalwood

But this below is my WOW WOW WOW of the whole:

brazilwood (and euc) on silk

detail of brazilwood on silk

Question is CAN I DO THIS AGAIN?????

I have several more pieces in her again, and am wondering how it will affect subsequent dye batches because of the seepage into the water. Never know what wonders may occur–and are never ever repeatable I kept meticulous notes, but Mother Nature always has colourful tricks up her sleeve. Collaboration of the purest kind! I rarely dump the pot i use for my ecoprints, unless it gets scummy. If i do, once in awhile a third to half of it gets disposed of, and then topped up with fresh tapwater. Calgary water is quite hard and i’m sure that’s why i get such spectacular results with some things and  very underwhelming with others!

Digging through my dyestuffs, i found my bag of dried hollyhock blooms. Part of my morning summer ritual is a wander around my garden areas, collecting every spent blossom. They dry small and look like nothing special, but OH the COLOURS they give.(They get used tray dyeing, not in a hot bath in the Mother Pot.) Hmm, i *was* saving them for winter use–well, isn’t it winter??????? (It is despite the fact that Calgary has no snow to speak of this year, fingers crossed, spit on the floor, bunny foot kissed evil eye protection invoked.)

hollyhock on silk

and some colour extravaganza surprise details:

I love how the colours mottle, streak and separate with these shrivelly things!