Bundles Galore; a short and sweet peak.

As a natural dyer, I have been crazy about exploring India Flint's concept of bundle dyeing. 

Her book Eco Color is a beautifully laid out example of how you can take almost anything and work it directly into cloth to create one of a kind, naturaly dyed fabrics.

The beauty of this technique is all in attitude of putting "whatever" into just a piece of cloth. 

Maybe you throw in a piece of metal you found in the road, or squeeze it with lemon or both.

My creative eye now sees all things natural as potential dye additives, mordants, pigment givers and more. 

I created about a 1/2 dozen bundles
while at our B&B in Mendoceno this past feburary.

I brought along 4 pieces of premordanted with alum silk fabric. 

I was most excited about the eucalyptus I'd find. 

I found some all right, but I didn't get the results I was expecting. 

After being home for a bit I contiuned to build and add to these pieces of cloth adding layers of pigments.

Here are some results below: (i went a bit crazy)

zinfendel oxalis with left over daffodils from a dye pot

started to bundle it here and un did some of it so I could add in the dried basil leaves neglected in their pot. 

I couldn't resist but to check on it every few days. 

I was really wanting to go the way of letting it dye slowly beacuse the idea of heating it up, I wasn't sure if any of the dye pigments would like the heat. So I experiemented with this first. 

Juicer bits like blood orange rind where so much fun to add! 

I thought I'd add some sea water to the mixture to see what would happen. 

finished and pressed

Eucalyptus from Mendocino

daffodils and iron nails

blood orange and red kale stems

LOVE these earthy colors with the pink and pops of forest green!

baby eucalyptus leaves..

fun dots!

layered over some purple flowers tree blossoms.

small ferns near the American River

Love the patterns it left

One of my favorite surprises. 

pattern created by rusty iron nails and vinegar.

looks like a man with a staff or walking stick. 

And mountains in the back ground.

More earthy pink pigments. 

Really fun experimenting with. 

Now that flowers are starting to bloom, I'll be keeping my eyes out for when the blossom is just about to pass on. Then I'll snip it off and wrap it in some cloth and wait. 

little grape hyacinths are next on my list. 

ox, rachel