I first wrote this Journal entry in 2016. I have a new website and have migrated all of my journal entries. I am excited to announce since writing the original post our inspiration for this natural dye project, Rebecca Burgess, has started a climate beneficial movement. Read more on Fibershed.
It was a beautiful Northern California day in July. A few families gathered in Bolinas, CA to experiment with several natural dyeing methods. I was part of a parent-led team, crafting weekly with my son's third grade class. Our first project was to dye napkins and table cloths for a harvest dinner. This July day, we set about learning about natural dye.
The day was full of beautiful flowers, pots of natural dye and gleaming faces as we pounded, dipped, wrapped and soaked. There is something satisfying about watching a plain cloth being transformed by impressions of flowers or wrapped rubber-bands and popsicle sticks; and after spending time in a rich pot of dye, watching a new creation emerge.
Resources:
Harvest Color; How to Find Plants and Make Natural Dyes, by Rebecca Burgess
Napkins and natural dyes from Dharma Trading Company, www.dharmatrading.com
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