Botanical Inks

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Regenerative Natural Dyer/ Studio/ Educator/ Artist. Click here for links: https://linktr.ee/botanicalinks

26/05/2026

Endless seas of Bluebells..
Dartmoor, May.

24/05/2026

A little glimpse inside The Haybarn — one of the final remaining barn stays for this Summer’s July weekend retreat at

Tucked quietly within the grounds beside my cottage and studio, the barns offer a peaceful private space to retreat and rest deeply whilst still being only a short walk from the shared meals, dye studio, fire circles and creative gatherings.

They’re a beautiful option for anyone wishing to travel with a friend, partner or family member whilst still having space for solitude, slowness and quiet.

Some of my favourite guests from last summer are returning again this season, and it already feels like these final gatherings at Southcombe are going to be incredibly special.

These will also be the last retreats I host here before moving into a new chapter beyond this summer.

Only two barn stays now remain for July.

Full info via link in bio ✨

17/05/2026

Elder carries the medicine of thresholds.

Of protection, boundaries, ancestral remembering and ancient knowing.

Its soft spring greens feel connected with tenderness, reclamation and the gentle returning to self after periods of grief, disconnection or difficult passage.
A plant of deep listening.

Of softening frozen edges.
 Of restoring relationship with vulnerability while strengthening psychic boundaries.

A tree long associated with liminal spaces and crossings — supporting movement through transition, uncertainty and transformation.

The fresh young leaves also offer something quietly unusual within natural colour work:
a direct spring green.

A fleeting chlorophyll green emerging briefly without the need to overdye indigo and yellow — soft, luminous and seasonally alive.

This month Elder becomes the plant guide for Colour Rituals — my seasonal online practice space exploring intentional colour work through plants, creativity, ritual and relationship with the living world.

Alongside the free monthly Colour Rituals offerings, I’ve also quietly opened a deeper practice space for those wishing to journey further into the science, chemistry, ecology, symbolism, alchemy and ancient traditions of plant colour work.

Sign up before the Full Moon in two weeks to receive this lunation’s full Elder leaf greens colour ritual, teachings and plant monograph.

More information and sign up via the link in bio.
🌿

16/05/2026

Colour Rituals

A seasonal space exploring intentional colour practice through plants, creativity and relationship with the living world.

Alongside the free monthly Colour Rituals offerings, I’ve also quietly opened a deeper practice space for those wishing to journey further into the science, chemistry, ecology, symbolism, alchemy and ancient traditions of plant colour work.

Created for the deeply curious — artists, makers, herbalists, dyers and devoted plant colour alchemists longing to deepen their relationship with colour through material intelligence, ritual and sensory practice.

This month we begin with the soft luminous greens held briefly within the young leaves of Elder, Sambucus nigra — a tree of thresholds, crossings, protection and folk memory.

The preparation guide for this month’s Colour Ritual has been sent out today to everyone already subscribed to the free Colour Rituals mailing list, alongside an invitation into the deeper practice space.

The full Elder leaf greens ritual and colour practice will arrive for all those signed up as we move toward the next Full Moon over the coming two weeks.

More information via the link in bio.

🌿

15/05/2026

A little glimpse around the cottage and studio here at

Studio tables, quiet corners, evening light across the moor, flowers in the garden, shared meals, fire circles and slow creative weekends unfolding through the summer season.

This place has gradually become a space for gathering, making, resting and reconnecting — with colour, craft, nature and one another.
There are now only 4 remaining places across this summer’s June & July retreats.

With love from the moor,
Babs

14/05/2026

Gathering around botanical colour at Soho Farmhouse earlier this month for a natural silk scrunchie dyeing workshop.

Bundles of peace silk wrapped with petals and plant matter, slowly steamed to reveal soft layers of botanical colour and print.

There is always something quietly magical about these gatherings - hands working together around the table, flowers scattered amongst silks, pigments and steaming bundles, each piece unfolding differently from the next.

Thank you to everyone who joined me for this beautiful afternoon of colour, cloth and creativity.

With love, Babs

10/05/2026

A recent bespoke commission transforming a wedding dress using natural lac dye.

From white into soft rose pink.

I love the idea that garments can continue evolving long after the moment they were first worn — carrying memory, story and emotion forward in new ways.

Natural dyes create such beautiful softness and depth on cloth, especially on meaningful pieces already rich with history.

I’d love to open space for more bespoke transformations over the coming months — wedding dresses, heirloom textiles and treasured garments ready for a new chapter.

You’re very welcome to get in touch if you have something you’d like naturally reimagined.

With love from the studio, Babs

03/05/2026

Happy Beltane — the gentle threshold into summer.

Even though it’s been a little wetter than expected here in the South West, I’m welcoming this shift in season slowly.
Longer evenings, fresh greens, open skies, and the feeling that life is stretching awake again.

This time of year always reminds me to soften into rhythm rather than rush — to notice what’s quietly blooming.

Here’s to the season ahead.

26/04/2026

What a truly gorgeous day 🌞 We were blessed with sunshine and a beautiful gathering of folks, travelling from near and far.

One of my favourite parts of these gatherings is hearing everyone’s unique path into Indigo - what called them here, the stories they carry, and the passions they bring.

We welcomed a mother-and-daughter duo exploring shibori together, friends celebrating a birthday, and curious makers eager to deepen their connection with natural dyeing.

& brought fascinating samples from their local flax-growing community project to test in the indigo vat - such inspiring work to witness and learn about. Stories were shared of travels to Japan, visiting master dyers tending traditional sukumo vats and resist-painting practices rooted in generations of craft.

Together, we explored plant connection through sensory herbalism, meeting Indigo through the body - an uplifting practice that invited clarity, presence & calm.
We learned step-by-step how to create a fructose indigo vat from just three simple natural ingredients, followed by techniques for achieving consistent dye results.

We experimented with itajame shibori, using pegs, string & clamps to create beautiful repeat patterns, and the big blue vats to dye personal treasures: handmade linen garments, preloved silk, grandmother’s lace, flax fibres, and treasured fabric samples.

The greatest joy is seeing people relish the practise and feeling enriched - carrying new confidence, deeper reverence for Indigo, and a spark of inspiration for where this practice may lead them next. Several left excited to begin their own indigo vats at home and continue the magic.

Thank you to everyone who joined me for this special day and also to those journeying through the online Intuitive Indigo course and sharing in this practice further afield 💙

If you’d like to join me here in June, we’ll be playing with big blue vats again as well as colour foraging, woodblock printing & painting with wild inks & some floral alchemy..

Along with nourishing organic food, morning yoga, river swims, local walks & slow time immersed in nature, creativity & connection.

19/04/2026

Ends tonight

30% off almost everything
Code: SPRING30

Some pieces are already gone

This is your moment

17/04/2026

The Spring Sale is open

30% off almost everything
Code: SPRING30

This weekend only

Address

133 Cumberland Road
Bristol
BS1 6UX

Website

http://www.botanicalinks.com/

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