Friday, January 4, 2013

dyeing with purple carrots on silk










Plant purple carrots and stock up on silk cloth because they are amazing together! I'd seen the magic happen over at Nat's and Jacky's but until you're actually the one unrolling this goodness....

None of the purple carrot photos are retouched, only sharpened. This is how it really looks. There was no pre- or post-treatment other than ironing with dry heat -- just purple carrots and a strip of silk cloth rolled with one bit of copper pipe and one rusty bolt, then steamed. I don't know how colorfast it is yet because I won't rinse it for a few months.

Bayberry candles lit for our New Year's Day dinner, said to bring good fortune if allowed to burn down completely at first lighting (which we didn't do because I couldn't stay up that late, the house burning down wouldn't have been good fortune). New and old books and the softest gray hexipuff on needles waiting for me.

Happy weekending. xx

12 comments:

  1. very intriguing--but since I only have a public garden and am not on my own aesthetic there entirely, come summer I'll purchase from the farmers market and give it a go...Thanks for this and may fortune shine goodness on your good self.

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  2. Oh, I just wanted to let you know that I'm so sorry that I haven't been visiting like I should ... your blog is magical and positive and beautiful and for some reason I stopped by and enjoyed this post so much. It's been way too warm here yet again in Central Florida and although you may think that's wonderful it not really...we used to have a bit of a winter but not these past few years.

    Happiness and Goddess Blessings,
    Jan

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  3. i planted 2 varieties of purple carrots last spring but they didn't do well. your cloth turned out beautiful. i've kind of slowed down on dyeing. i think the only dyeing i'll be doing will be with oak leaves and my tin cans. just love the results with the cans and their lids.

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  4. Hi Peggy....those purple carrots are wonderful for dyeing arent they? and so rewarding you undo your bundles.
    I had some great success recently with sliced beetroot in red cabbage bath and also in an onion skin bath...silk was quite saturated with colour. I havent rinsed yet, like you will leave for a couple of months.
    Love seeing your dyeing experiments.
    Reading Deanna's comment above, you should try the tin cans, I love how they work in the dye pot.
    Love and happy dyeing to you.

    Jacky xox

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  5. Like Deanna, my carrots didn't do well. Our spring was too wet (I never thought I would write that living in the desert!) and then it got too hot. I have not given up! I will try again this year. When I was in Seattle, I visited the thrift stores gathering up silk. :)
    Wishing you a beautiful weekend.

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  6. Happy weekending Peggy.... I love your silk and purple carrots. That turned out great didn't it!x

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  7. beautiful...just beautiful colors with the dyed cloth!
    I love having yummy candles around.
    On the days I am home I almost always light candles.
    Your hexipuffs are so much fun!
    xo <3

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  8. Just beautiful! I wonder how that would work on wool? Your blog is so warm and the photography is gorgeous!

    dulcy

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  9. I like the sound of the Knitting way to spiritual self discovery very much!
    May the new year bring you health and much joy : )
    Lyn

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  10. Oooh LaLa...love that carrot cloth!!! Sooo pretty :)

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  11. such beautiful silk and dye work! everytime i see what you are doing i start to wish i had more time for dyeing!

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  12. Thank you, everyone, for your kind words and taking time to write little bits about your lives, too -- and also sharing your experiences with the elusive purple carrot. Mine didn't do so well either -- and then I almost forgot to harvest the few I had! Geez. Happy week to us all. ;)

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