Tuesday 1 December 2009

Calling all Artists!

Merino wool dyed in turmeric powder

Needle flt painting made entirely from naturally coloured wool or wool dyed with plants and vegetables

Needle felted tree using Naturally coloured wool or wool dyed with plants and berries

Blue Faced Leicester wool needle felted into beads (no dyes used)

This post is inspired by the the Blog 'Natural Dye Inks'. When I work with wool, the pieces that give me the greatest satisfaction are those that are the most environmentally friendly. I love to see felt that has been made from natural wool tones or coloured with eco-dyes. The blogs that I get most excited about seeing newposts from on my blog roll are the ones that teach me how to make environmentally friendly dyes myself such as Mama Ladka, Growing Tyffu, Riihivilla, Dying with Natural Dyes , India Flint and others.

Now that I have started painting too, I often wish that I knew where to buy or how to make environmentally friendly paints. I was delighted to see a new post on Natural Dye Inks today, and then saddened to see that there have only been two posts this year.

Eco Art is so uplifting and rewarding that I'd love to see projects like 'Natural Dye Inks' thrive.

If you have any tips such as where to purchase, how to make or which websites to visit and books to buy on paints, inks, coloured pencils, pastels or any other environmentally friendly art material please post a comment sharing your knowledge, or better still hop over to Natural Dye Inks and lend them your support.

Thank you x

27 comments:

Martine said...

Thanks for the link Jasmine. This is very interesting. I gues we can purchase these inks directly by Helen.
XXXm

ArtSparker said...

Will ask around, can't think of anything right off the top of my head.

Jasmine said...

Hi Martine. Yes I think Helen sells ink. I don't end to use ink, but that doesn't mean I won't in the future. I'm interested to see if there is a eco equivalent for every medium. That would be really nice wouldn't it? xx

Anonymous said...

i love the pieces you've made with natural dyes, the colour created with the turmeric powder is gorgeous, so sunny :) interesting post, will check out the links later.. thanks you x

ramblingwoods said...

Amazing what you can do with wool and the dyes. I came via the Festival of Trees but had to comment here. I follow India Flint's mother's blog daily....I am not an artist but my blog is all about nature.....Michelle

Crafty Green Poet said...

Useful link, thanks for sharing. I'll have a wee think about your question....

Forthvalley scribe said...

I'm always thrilled by the depth and richness of your colours - the yellow and that green especially

Caio Fern said...

works you posted here a so good . a real lovely experience to the eyes .

Art by Darla Kay said...

These are beautiful pieces Jasmine!
Thanks for stopping by and I'll check for Mystele's class!

Patti Edmon Artist said...

Wow, I have zero ideas about finding that kind of ink - I'll keep up and see if I can start using it too!
We (Geminis:) can do many things - why don't you take a dip into photoshop? It's really a blast!!

parisa mahmoudi said...

Sooooo BEAUTIFUL !!!
Sooooo BEAUTIFUL !!!
Sooooo BEAUTIFUL, I love the ewe's face! :D
Thanks about the link dear Jasmine.

CJ STITCHING AND BLOOMS said...

Hello Jasmine, All your wool felted pieces are truly beautiful. Hugs Judy

Gwen Buchanan said...

Your felted slippers are beautiful... They must be so soft and comfy...

Ladka said...

Hi Jasmine! Your sheep's face is awful - it seems alive! And the colour of your boots is lively indeed. It's a pity turmeric colour is said not to be fast :-( By the way, what is the tree/bush I see behind them?
I share your feelings on our nature friendly acting and also find greatest satisfaction in working with eco dyes and fibres. That's why I only (well, mostly if not exclusively) use wool from our native sheep breed Jezersko-solčavska ovca and dye with plants that I can pick myself on my walks in the forests, trips, hikes, mountain walks - so this is double joy.

Jasmine said...

Tee hee! Ladka, you made e smile. My sheeps face is awful... Typo? I'm chuckling. I know what you mean. I'm not lucky enough to know any farmers or I would buy local wool. I do try and pick my own plants to dye with. Nobody cares if you take nettles and blackberries. I'm planning on taking the winter time to research all the things I can use in the spring and beyond for my dye pots. I still have a book from my student days called food for free. There should be a dye pot equivalent.

Harnett-Hargrove said...

I do love your brand of inspiration! -Jayne

Tammie Lee said...

I love your passion for your art!
My mother use to make natural dyes for her yarns. we both learned to spin and she had a weaving studio. As teenagers we worked for her weaving large floor pillows to sit on, smaller pillows for couches, tapestries and what not. We never felted... wishing you perfect inspiration!

Acornmoon said...

Hi, thanks for visiting my blog.

You have a very interesting blog here with some great links.

Anne said...

lovely collection.
it is so inspiring seeing this work and each of them so different:))

Unknown said...

I love the idea of turmeric as dye. Maybe I'll try it. I've done tea dyeing and like that very much.
Your felt work is lovely.

Wildflowerhouse said...

These are wonderful Jasmine. I love the Ram. Thanks for the visit.Your work is exceptional. I only wish I lived close to you I would want lessons on felting. Some day, maybe! I have had trouble reaching many blogs, yours being one of them. I don't know if it is blogger or my computer. But I eventually connect. So know that I am out there wandering around. LOL Sharon

{S.T.U.F.F.} said...

can I just say that I'm in {luv}!

lettuce said...

the turmeric is a great colour.
I do love your work.

do you know if theres any dyeing use for myrtle berries, I have a bumper crop this year?

Jacky said...

I love those slippers dyed with the tumeric...what a gorgeous old gold colour. Have noted down that I love the colour created using tumeric for my next play with dyeing.
Those felted beads are an amazing colour too.
Lots of inspiration here, thank you!

Jacky xox

Lawendula said...

Very beautiful works.
And thanks for becoming a follower.

Jasmine said...

I found this link that has a lot of information on it.

http://ecologicalartist.wordpress.com/

Beverly Ash Gilbert said...

So soft and lovely! The pale yellow is dreamy and love your ram.