Plants, Flowers, Colour

Recently we've planted a bunch of new things in the garden, some herbs, vegetables, and flowers.  One that I was looking at last season was false indigo (Baptisia).  I just added a small one to the garden last week.  It can, apparently, be used as a dye plant, like 'true' indigo, though does not produce as good a blue colour.  I will have to wait until the plant is a bunch bigger, at least 2-3 growing seasons I think, before it's big enough to try it. It's got buds on it so once the flowers come out I'll share a picture.  I've also got rhubarb, beets (not a dye plant, but maybe a good stain?), red onions, and possibly other things that might make good dyes or stains.

Also, I'm going to be changing the layout of the blog shortly, so if you notice anything that isn't working properly, let me know?  Thanks!

Drop Spinning

A little while ago I bought myself a drop spindle, to try out spinning yarn.  Lately I've tried out a few pieces, some undyed/natural and others various colours --

L to R: hemp (?), flax (?), wool with metallic thread, wool with silk thread, 3 similar shades of wool, alternating yellow and peach wools

drop spindle, yarns

white wool, brown wool, grey wool with white silk fibres, hemp (?), flax (?)

Royal Ontario Museum - more!

murex snails

I learned a bit about natural dyes in college, so when I discovered these murex snails in a display drawer at the museum, I thought was pretty neat! 

Source: traditionsmexico.phanfare.com via Stevanie on Pinterest

mineral pigments

mineral pigments

 Mineral pigments like these have been used on ceramics, in paints, cosmetics, etc.