Hey y'all!
My Etsy is finally up and running. After several months of chronicling my journey and learning more and more about natural dyeing, I am now finally starting to showcase my products on my easy account. Come check out my items for sale and please give me any feedback you may have. Happy browsing!
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Littleborganics?ref=l2-shopheader-name
Thursday, August 15, 2013
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Hi everyone! Welcome back. After my trip to Wisconsin for the India Flint workshop, I have been busy painting, dyeing and now eco-dyeing. My most recent work has focused on improving my technique in getting the print from plants onto the cotton fabric. Over the last two days I have been able to get a few good impressions, including that of several zinnia flowers. I love the anticipation of opening up a bundle to see what the results are.
Here's an interesting onesie that was folded and dyed with logwood. The band in the middle looked like it needed some embellishment, so I decided to try leaf pounding using redbud leaves. Some of the leaves were more purple, while another was green. I have washed this garment several times without the leaf impressions fading.Take a look at the results.
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| close-up of the leaves |
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| onesie dyed in logwood |
Sunday, July 14, 2013
MISA Workshop Continued.....
July 14th, 2013
It has been a busy and rewarding week. I have learned the basics about eco-printing and can't wait to get started back here. The recommended fabrics to bring were silk and wool, both of which were not available at the local JoAnn Fabrics, so I bought cotton and muslin. The reason silk and wool were suggested is that they take the color and print the best. My first attempt with the cotton yielded disappointing results. I learned that cotton does not take up the color unless it has been pre-mordanted.
The instructor suggested that I use a milk mordant to bring out some color. This was new to me, but I was told that a cellulose fabric needs a protein to set it. I went back and redid a couple of the squares along with some donated silks. One of the aspects of working with a small group like this is that everyone is willing to share. Lucky for me!
This second attempt yielded better results. The top two in the middle are silk.
Once all of the pieces were dyed, we stitched them together. You can see the piece in the middle does not have much color on it. I did not re-dye this piece, but chose to use it with other dyed pieces on top. We thought we were done at this point, but she surprised us by cutting up her sample into quarters and positioning it on another piece of fabric. In fact, we could make those pieces even smaller! I did not have the right piece of fabric to mount mine on, so I will complete it once I find something.
The next step was to fill the pages with plant material found outside. Above are a few pictures of my collections. Once all of the pages have been filled, the book is wrapped tightly in a cloth and placed in the dye bath.
This book can now be refolded and kept for notes and thoughts as I wander on my journey of eco-printing. All in all this has been a wonderful workshop. I enjoyed the company of my fellow dyers, the bike rides into town, the exploration at an Indian cemetery, the homemade soup by India Flint, the Apples to Apples game at night and of course, learning how to eco-dye!
It has been a busy and rewarding week. I have learned the basics about eco-printing and can't wait to get started back here. The recommended fabrics to bring were silk and wool, both of which were not available at the local JoAnn Fabrics, so I bought cotton and muslin. The reason silk and wool were suggested is that they take the color and print the best. My first attempt with the cotton yielded disappointing results. I learned that cotton does not take up the color unless it has been pre-mordanted.
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| First Attempt |
The instructor suggested that I use a milk mordant to bring out some color. This was new to me, but I was told that a cellulose fabric needs a protein to set it. I went back and redid a couple of the squares along with some donated silks. One of the aspects of working with a small group like this is that everyone is willing to share. Lucky for me!
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| Second Attempt |
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| Final Project |
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| Book Before Dyeing Another project we worked on was to make a book out of paper. We stitched pieces of fabric onto the paper, then cut it so that it could be folded. Here is mine before going into the dye bath. |
The next step was to fill the pages with plant material found outside. Above are a few pictures of my collections. Once all of the pages have been filled, the book is wrapped tightly in a cloth and placed in the dye bath.
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| Bundle |
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| Final Outcome |
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
July 9th, 2013
Hello from Wisconsin! I am excited to tell you that I am attending a 5 day workshop entitled Wayfarer's Wanderbook and Windfall Cloth on Madeline Island. This workshop is with India Flint, the author of Eco Colour.
She creates beautiful printed cloth or clothing using plants, bark and other items found in the outdoor environment. Day 1 consisted of making 3 bundles for the dye pot. The 1st bundle included items gathered from the ground and placed on a square of cloth. To this bundle we added a rock and wrapped it up tightly with a handmade cord!
For the 2nd bundle, we were allowed to pick items, wrap them up very tightly and add to the pot of water. The 3rd and last bundle was wrapped around a stick. Here are some pictures of the dye pot before water was added.
For myself, the results of my pieces were not as impressive due to my fabric choice of cotton. Silk and wool work best unless the cotton is mordanted.
More about this workshop later.......!
Hello from Wisconsin! I am excited to tell you that I am attending a 5 day workshop entitled Wayfarer's Wanderbook and Windfall Cloth on Madeline Island. This workshop is with India Flint, the author of Eco Colour.
She creates beautiful printed cloth or clothing using plants, bark and other items found in the outdoor environment. Day 1 consisted of making 3 bundles for the dye pot. The 1st bundle included items gathered from the ground and placed on a square of cloth. To this bundle we added a rock and wrapped it up tightly with a handmade cord!
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| handmade cord |
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| gatherings |
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| bundle |
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| a surprise visitor |
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| my samples |
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| silk and wool samples |
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| goodies on the line drying |
Monday, July 1, 2013
Learning As I Go......
July 1st, 2013
I have been busy, no I mean really busy! With the exception of a trip to Arizona for my grandson's baptism, I have been scouring, mordanting and dyeing onesies. Here I have my workstation set up outside.
I have been busy, no I mean really busy! With the exception of a trip to Arizona for my grandson's baptism, I have been scouring, mordanting and dyeing onesies. Here I have my workstation set up outside.
For those of you who live on the East coast, we haven't seen much sun recently, so I have had to move inside. In addition, the outlet to plug the cooktop in has stopped working, so some trouble shooting needs to happen before setting up there again.
Below are some of the most recent onesies I've dyed. The last one has some interesting markings from folding the garment before adding it to the dye pot. All of these onesies were dyed with natural powered dyes.
Below are some of the most recent onesies I've dyed. The last one has some interesting markings from folding the garment before adding it to the dye pot. All of these onesies were dyed with natural powered dyes.
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| logwood dye |
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| logwood flower |
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| weld |
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| weld flower |
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| madder |
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| madder dye |
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| madder dye |
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Synthetic Dyes Can Be Harmful!
Did you know that your skin is the largest absorption organ of your body? Especially as it heats up, your pores will begin to breathe more, meaning that everything you put on your skin could potentially be absorbed by your skin. Synthetic dyes are used in almost everything we wear, so why not explore whether or not they are entirely safe?
Synthetic dyes have enabled us to create beautiful colors at a low cost that are wash proof. However, they can pose serious problems for people. Synthetic dyes can introduce toxins to your body through your pores, into your blood stream and eventually to your organs. Skin irritation is much more common today than it has been in the past which could be linked to harmful synthetic dyes. Over 8,000 chemicals are used to produce the synthetic dyes that color our garments. These dyes can contribute to eczema, rashes, headaches and even nausea. For example, did you know that wrinkle free or easy care garments have formaldehyde in them? Formaldehyde is an embalming agent and in 2011, was deemed a carcinogenic agent (http://www.totalhealthmagazine.com/articles/allergies-asthma/consumers-beware-toxins-lurking-in-your-clothing.html). Many countries in the world forbid the use of formaldehyde in clothing because of how harmful it is believed to be. Two of the largest countries who do not ban it however are America and China. Dioxins and heavy metals (like copper) are also in synthetic dyes and are also considered carcinogens (http://greencotton.wordpress.com/2008/06/18/synthetic-dyes-a-look-at-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/).
Beware of the type of fabric you are wearing as well. Pesticides and strong herbicides and fungicides are all used in the production and treatment of cottons and wool. If you can find organic fabrics, it is best for you, especially if you have sensitive skin. An interesting fact about organic cotton is that only 1% of the world's cotton is grown organically.
It is hard to be 100% green and to find organic, naturally dyed clothing. However, when you do find a company that produces this standard of clothing, it could be worthwhile to consider trying a few pieces.
Some great resources on this are listed below:
http://greencotton.wordpress.com/2008/06/18/synthetic-dyes-a-look-at-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/
http://www.totalhealthmagazine.com/articles/allergies-asthma/consumers-beware-toxins-lurking-in-your-clothing.html
Synthetic dyes have enabled us to create beautiful colors at a low cost that are wash proof. However, they can pose serious problems for people. Synthetic dyes can introduce toxins to your body through your pores, into your blood stream and eventually to your organs. Skin irritation is much more common today than it has been in the past which could be linked to harmful synthetic dyes. Over 8,000 chemicals are used to produce the synthetic dyes that color our garments. These dyes can contribute to eczema, rashes, headaches and even nausea. For example, did you know that wrinkle free or easy care garments have formaldehyde in them? Formaldehyde is an embalming agent and in 2011, was deemed a carcinogenic agent (http://www.totalhealthmagazine.com/articles/allergies-asthma/consumers-beware-toxins-lurking-in-your-clothing.html). Many countries in the world forbid the use of formaldehyde in clothing because of how harmful it is believed to be. Two of the largest countries who do not ban it however are America and China. Dioxins and heavy metals (like copper) are also in synthetic dyes and are also considered carcinogens (http://greencotton.wordpress.com/2008/06/18/synthetic-dyes-a-look-at-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/).
Beware of the type of fabric you are wearing as well. Pesticides and strong herbicides and fungicides are all used in the production and treatment of cottons and wool. If you can find organic fabrics, it is best for you, especially if you have sensitive skin. An interesting fact about organic cotton is that only 1% of the world's cotton is grown organically.
It is hard to be 100% green and to find organic, naturally dyed clothing. However, when you do find a company that produces this standard of clothing, it could be worthwhile to consider trying a few pieces.
Some great resources on this are listed below:
http://greencotton.wordpress.com/2008/06/18/synthetic-dyes-a-look-at-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly/
http://www.totalhealthmagazine.com/articles/allergies-asthma/consumers-beware-toxins-lurking-in-your-clothing.html
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Is Alum a Safe Mordant for Baby Clothes?
Yes! I use alum in my mordant process. Mordanting is a means by which to help the fabric take the dye. Depending on whether or not your fabric is a plant based material versus an animal based material (wool), you will need to choose different types of mordants. Some dyes do not require mordants. Avocados and walnut hull dyes for example do not require mordants to adhere to the fabrics.
Aluminum Sulfate (alum) is a substance found in the earth and can be used to help brighten colors. It can also extend the color life on the fabric. It however can be an irritant if applied to the skin. For my dyeing, only a small quantity of alum is required. After I wash the garment, it is perfectly safe for an infant to wear.
To make sure alum was a safe mordant, I contacted the regional poison control center number listed on the Center for Disease Control website. The operator informed me that after the garment is properly washed, the alum should not be harmful to the child. He also informed me that large volumes of alum must be ingested in a child with kidney deficiencies, in order for it to have poisonous effects.
It is very important when dyeing, that you make sure that all of the elements you use are safe for you or your family and friends. I recommend contacting the free poison control number (1-800-222-1222) to verify that all of your substances are safe.
Happy and safe dyeing!
Aluminum Sulfate (alum) is a substance found in the earth and can be used to help brighten colors. It can also extend the color life on the fabric. It however can be an irritant if applied to the skin. For my dyeing, only a small quantity of alum is required. After I wash the garment, it is perfectly safe for an infant to wear.
To make sure alum was a safe mordant, I contacted the regional poison control center number listed on the Center for Disease Control website. The operator informed me that after the garment is properly washed, the alum should not be harmful to the child. He also informed me that large volumes of alum must be ingested in a child with kidney deficiencies, in order for it to have poisonous effects.
It is very important when dyeing, that you make sure that all of the elements you use are safe for you or your family and friends. I recommend contacting the free poison control number (1-800-222-1222) to verify that all of your substances are safe.
Happy and safe dyeing!
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