….in other words eco-printing, though I’m not sure if I really am eco-printing. I am using plant materials and following some of the “suggestions” made by some better known eco-dyers but after that it’s really just a bit of trail and error! OK a lot of trail and error and a load of experimenting!
My experiments so far have included eucalyptus, but also some local plants as well…this is “honesty” or Lunaria annua for those who like proper names. I loved the colour of these immature seed-heads as they were about to be rolled.
I did lots of rolling and wrapping to create the bundles – no two the same! and then got things cooking.
I love the look of the bundles steaming away. I have always liked packages , things wrapped up and things with lids …I was sorely tempted to leave the steamed and cooled bundles just as they were.
(Sorry about the slightly fuzzy next few images, I was juggling the camera and wet bundles of fabric while wearing rubber gloves- never a good combination)
But eventually my curiosity got the better of me…
The seed-heads didn’t impart any colour to the fabric but it did make an amazing resist with lots of detail.
The fabric is a lovely semi sheer silk and the print is really pretty and quite transient on it. And yes! I do have some plans for it…. I’ll show you as soon as I can!
Bye for now, Catherine
PS- It rained here for a couple of days this weekend past and things are much better on the forest fire front. Many thanks to all of you who did a rain dance with Vancouver in mind!
Were not out of the woods yet, the drought is now a stage 3 (there are only 4 stages and I don’t know what happens after that!) but the few cool days we had were lovely.
ravensthread 
You have inspired me to go out into my garden and start picking leaves off the gum trees! That fabric is beautiful!
Oft-times the r4esisits are more beautiful than the prints!
whoa, the “resists” i mean, don’t know where that other word came from 🙂
Love the effect you got! What was in the dye pot to turn the fabric the dark colour?
Dianne
Hi Dianne, Hi Maggi, I had a piece of rusted iron in the pot as well as alum and onion skins. A bit of a hodge-podge combination but I like the results. Sorry, but I didn’t keep a record of the proportions I used- on surprise there!
Catherine
Absolutely beautiful results from a very intriguing process. How long did you leave the bundles bundled before boiling them?
Hi Suzanne, I popped the bundles into the pot right after bundling the fabric and plant stuff up. I did fish them out of the cooking pot after about 3 hours of simmering. I let the bundles sit for 2 or 3 days before I “unbundled” them. It was tough to wait! I really wanted to see how the fabrics looked, but in my reading it seems it’s better to wait!
Catherine
Gorgeous results. If the honesty seeds acted as a resist, what provided the colour in the fabric? Glad to hear that there’s been some respite for you. I hope that you get some more rain soon.
Looks great. Do you know the ‘And then we set in on fire blog’? My friend Nienke shows there her work.