Natures Colours from my Garden

Bee Balm a red flower gowing in my garden, gives this colour. 

Margaret Merrill at Summers End

A bunch of 'Margaret Merrill' roses from my garden, gracing a vase in our conservatory.
The shape, the salmon-pink shading and the beautiful scent of these beautiful roses are a delightful gift.
An indication that summer is near its end for this season.

Naturally Dyed Fabric and Lace

Blogger has been playing up!  The above photo was originally part of my posting below. 
One of three photos.  Blogger didn't want it and tossed it aside.  So here it is.

Colouring with Nature

Over recent days I have been working on this project and enjoying different processes.
I have incorporated some different dyeing methods from India Flints book that I posted about last week. I loved the ice-flower dyes.
This is may test your patience but I found it was worth trying and worth the wait of a few days.  The colours can be rather beautiful and it is very interesting to watch as the process develops on your windowsill or other sunny spot. Cold bundled eco-prints produced some lovely clear prints from my rose leaves.
Overdyeing the lace and fabric gave a variety of colourings which you can see in the photos.
I used agapanthus flowers, onion peelings and the green colouring is from the rose leaves

This is the book where I learned about the dyeing processes typed in italics.   Eco Colour: Botanical Dyes for Beautiful Textiles

Freshly Laid Egg

One of these lovely chooks laid an egg this morning.
The hen on the left is 'Red' and the one on the right is 'Orpie.'
We hope they will both be laying shortly.

Jack loves the look of this little egg. Freshly laid, it is about the right size for him to enjoy in one mouthfull.
Sorry Jack, we're having it for lunch!

Eco Colour - Botanical Dyes for Beautiful Textiles.

Eco Colour: Botanical Dyes for Beautiful Textiles

I pulled this book off the shelf at the local Library. It is written by an Australian women called India Flint.

If you google her name you will find she has a blog and other web sites which are also full of interest.
India loves to share her vast knowledge and experiences of Natural Dyeing.

It is beautifully illustrated and is a great resource for novices like myself or more experienced dyers.
If you want to have a closer look at the book click the Eco Colour link above.

Natures Colours - Onion and Geranium

Both pieces have been dyed with onion skins.  I love the strength of colour evident in both.
The bottom sample has been steamed with geranium leaves.  The grey-black outline of the leaves  gives a lovely contrast to the onion.     Working with nature is amazing.  What do you think?