Dyeing Crafts

29/04/2024

Uncategorised Maya blue pigment Posted by  Jean Beales | 29th April 2024 MAYA BLUE Maya blue pigment is a plant-based pigment used historically for wall cave paintings by the Mayans. The pigment can be used to make many different mediums like paints, watercolours, pulp, paper and wood depending on ...

20/04/2024

Uncategorised Coreopsis Lake Pigment Posted by  Jean Beales | 20th April 2024 Coreopsis This week I have been demonstrating making a lake pigment using the dried coreopsis flowers from my dye garden collected throughout the summer of last year. Coreopsis is easy to grow and gives beautiful dye resu...

15/04/2024

Uncategorised Alder Cone Pigment Posted by  Jean Beales | 15th April 2024 Female alder cones Alder Cone Lake Pigment Alder cones are high in tannins, which produce an attractive warm caramel colour that I use to make a lake pigment, making a lovely watercolour paint. Alders grow on moist ground and...

08/04/2024

Uncategorised Madder Lake Pigment Posted by  Jean Beales | 7th April 2024 I have been busy this week making a new batch of Madder Lake Pigments. I have included my recipe for you to try. Other people may have their own preferred methods, however this has always worked very well for me. MADDER LAKE ...

02/04/2024

Would you like to make your own weld lake pigment to make a fabulous yellow watercolour paint? Instructions can be found on my website BLOG. dyeing-crafts.co.uk

Uncategorised Weld Lake Pigment Posted by Jean Beales | 1st April 2024 Whimsical bird painted with my weld watercolour paint, also madder, and weld mixed with Maya blue for the grass. I have been asked several times recently how to make a lake pigment. The following works for me, although other pe....

05/10/2020

Amongst many other activities in the dye garden this week I have been harvesting my second batch of woad leaves this year and making a pigment for use over the next few months.

Woad has been used as a natural dye for centuries. Extracting the pigment takes time but when prepared correctly it yields a beautiful blue.

I shall post instructions on my dyeing-crafts BLOG later this week.

Grow your own woad - seeds available from my website;-
dyeing-crafts.co.uk

27/08/2020

So Cosy! A pair of child's slippers made from Bumble's fleece - dyed in weld - lined with sheepskin.
Alpacas carded fleece - weld - seeds and mordants available from: dyeing-crafts.co.uk

17/08/2020

Isn't she lovely!
Whilst there is still plenty evolving in the dye garden, I thought I would introduce you to one of my alpacas. This is Bumble. I use the alpaca
fleeces for some of my natural dyeing projects.

After being shorn the fleece is washed and carded ready for dyeing, spinning, or felting.

Carded alpaca fleece is available for sale on my website
dyeing-crafts.co.uk

10/08/2020

STUNNING SAFFLOWER - A cheerful and bright addition to any dye garden.

Historically an important food and natural dye plant. The petals contain the pigment carthamin and were used as 3500BC by the Egyptians as a dye source.

Yellows, pinks, orange-red and corals can be extracted from the petals.

For more information on how to dye with safflower or to buy safflower petals or seeds visit my website: dyeing-crafts.co.uk

04/08/2020

The HOPI BLACK sunflowers are looking beautiful in the dye garden - all 750 of them!

Hopi people have traditionally used Hopi Black Dye sunflowers to make a dye for cotton, wool, and basketry. Colours yielded include, maroon-red, dark purple, deep lavender, and black.

The seeds are beautiful - shiny and black and are very attractive to all the birds for miles around. Therefore, I protect them with netting at this stage - although I do leave plenty for the birds to feast on over winter.

For more information on Hopi Sunflower Dye seeds and to buy them visit my website - dyeing-crafts.co.uk

30/07/2020

GOLDENROD provides nectar for migrating butterflies and bees.
It is now out in my dye garden in full bloom and looks stunning.

Not only is it very attractive it makes a very useful yellow or green dye.

It is an excellent introduction to natural dyeing as it is really easy to use and gives lovely results which although not quite as colourfast as weld still has good colourfast qualities.

For more information on how to dye with goldenrod visit my website.
dyeing-crafts.co.uk.

Seeds available on my website fro September/October.