Thursday, February 28, 2013

Dyeing - The Natural Way!

we attended the  Landscape Partnership launch event for Mourne Heritage Trust today. This was held in the beautiful surroundings of the Silent Valley , some 20 miles from us deep in the Mournes.

For the event we put on a demonstration: 

Elaine: some 'live felting' and 

John: 'dyeing wool with natural dyes'

It's not every day that begins with a traipse round the garden looking for Dandelion Root!

The Venue - Stunning!

The Tors on Slieve Binnian
raw materials - all from the garden or the kitchen!

No... not soup! Onion skin and wool 'liquor'

Beetroot and wool

Result: dandelion root

Result: beetroot

Result: nettle

Result: onion skin

the dyer's table
felt making area

the beginnings of a butterfly

felting in progress

a lovely lily-like flower made by Elaine during the demonstration

a serious hat, made yesterday

Examples of Elaine's work

Two different style pots

Snapshot of the architecture - almost equal to the grandeur of the setting