Deb G over at Beecreative has posted the ever so beautiful result of dyeing with Elderberry leaves…a
really rich amber apricot color. i wanted some of that so ran out and got some leaves from the Mexican Elderberry
here, plopped them in the little copper pot, boiled a few minutes and added a strip of muslin.
here is the surprise…finally…a really green Green!?!
fieldlady marti…yes. we wouldbuild a good fire tonight andit would be a good green day.
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Verde – the Spanish word for green. Verdant – lush color of grass, moss, vegetation. Verdad – Spanish word for truth. This is the truest color of nature for me, this color of Gaia, my favorite color. Verrrrrrrrry wonderful. Want to wrap myself up in this green cloth, feel my toes in your dirt and dance around your chairs, your clothes line, your toad spa and celebrate.
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Oohh I love that green! Lucky you having a copper pot. I just use an old aluminium pot. Does the pot make a difference to the colour being different metal do you think?Yummy colour.Jacky xox
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Hi Grace, your dyeing is really exciting me! I have got some glass cookware and assorted bits for very small scale dyeing but will wait until our weather warms up. Hard to do actually!I do love the pictures of your resident toad. Is she a grandmother toad, do you know?what will this piece become? i wait with interest.
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Wow! I dont have a copper pot yet…got to do this!
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nice color! have you tested for colorfastness? (ive had lots of fugitive greens, can you tell?) and wouldnt it be wonderful on velvet?
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grace, using an aluminium pot is similar to using a very weak solution of alum, one of the most common mordants. i use alum most of the time, but in a glass or enamel pot which are inert. Alum is one of the safest mordants to use. It tends to bring out the yellows, golds, cremes, fawns, etc. Many years ago i was a professional dyer, i dyed for a living. happy dyeing to you…k.
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Green… my favourite colour. I love what Marti said. Very difficult to get a good green with natural dyes – well done indeed.
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windthread 
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