Natural Dyeing With Botanicals
Faire (French verb):
To Do. To Make. To Become
The flower field, to me, isn’t just about a freshly cut 5-7 day muse sitting on my breakfast table. Although, a joy to behold, it is fleeting none the less. It’s the boundless possibilities that have taken root in the field where my mind roves. What can I do for this to become endless? Growing and experimenting with flowers has launched my creative expression into uncharted waters. The past few years I’ve gotten to do and grow and make things that are new to me, and I’ve found a lot of joy in the venture of it all. How lovely a creation is the flower. It smells delightful..sometimes. It is intricate and simple all in one, and how is it that one can be so dainty and delicate but another sturdy and dependable, always coming back. This is a wonder that should evoke praise.
“Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad, let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the Lord.”
I wondered how one could best savor the enjoyment, and so I tried my hand at natural dyeing. It seemed alluring enough. Indeed, it has effortlessly earned its title of “favorite way to preserve the beauty of a flower”, although, an old fashioned dried bouquet is a close runner up. There are so many ways to transfer pigment and tannins of botanical plants, food waste, and even insects onto fiber. And while I love emerging myself in the technique and science of it all, I just can not get over the outcome of how these things can produce such vivid and extraordinary colors! I am always left stunned and delighted at how each one is an unrivaled surprise after an extensive mordanting and dyeing process.
And for those of you wondering about how to try your own hand at this artist medium, I am happy to say that I have successfully hosted a trail run workshop for a co-op group of homeschooled students, and look forward to hosting more in 2023. My hope is to expand these workshops into our community here in Columbia, TN so that you can experience the reward of working with natural dyes and create one-of-piece works of wearable art. Whether you have been interested in getting into natural dyes but not yet wanting to invest fully, or maybe you might just want to have a fun evening making something with your gals, you can host a natural dye class in your own home! This would ideal for an intimate birthday party, a baby-shower, a girls night in, or something special for your employees etc.. Meanwhile, stay tuned for workshops being held at your fav small businesses in Columbia, TN.