spring dyeing

 Last fall I harvested all of our marigold blossoms 

and put them in a mesh bag to dry over the winter in my sewing studio.

Yesterday, I pinched each bloom and tossed the green

part into the compost and put the petals into a pot.

With a ratio of approximately 1 part petals and 3 parts water,

I brought the pot to a boil and then 

simmered the petals for about an hour.

 My kitchen began to small like summer...

My friends Sepi brought avocado pits and skins and set 

a pot to simmer (front, right).

Pauline brought yellow onion skins and we put them on

the stove as well (over the left two burners).

When I took this photo, we had already strained the marigold petals 

out of the dye pot and had submerged some fabric and garments 

into the pot (right rear).

I accordion folded some fabric and clamped it with 

clothespins to create the "resist".

This piece had simmered in the pan of yellow onion skins.

I love the element of surprise as we pulled 

our different pieces from the vats and held them up for

inspection.

 Pale pink from the avocado.

Three pieces made with the onion skins.

Bright yellow on the right from the marigolds.

I soaked these two pieces overnight.

They are lighter in color than the pieces dyed yesterday

because the dye vat was "exhausting".

I just LOVE the way the fabrics are dancing side by side 

in the breeze up here today!

Pauline, who runs a farm/nursery with her

family asked me about indigo plants sometime last winter.

This spring, she started a bunch of seeds in their greenhouses

and I ordered eight plants from her.

Now they are nestled in our hoop house,

waiting for the warmth they require to thrive

in the raised beds.

The banter and fun with Pauline and Sepi in the kitchen 

was a reminder of the wonders of intergenerational friendship

 and the creative energy that can come from sharing skills. 

And one of these days I will have 

a rainbow of hand dyed fabrics. 

:-)