Dye Dye Dye!

I have been wishing I could dye all my clothes black lately. I know this is a bad idea, because I do really like green and purple, but the urge it still there. The good thing is that it reminded me of the journey I took with natural dying some silk scraps last year. I forgot to post anything about it, and now my memory is fuzzy. I won't wait for my memories to get any hazier, so without further mumbles:  

This was my first attempt. I don't think I used any mordant. Maybe salt or vinegar? Anyway, the one on the left is strawberries. It faded within a couple of months to a yellow-y color. The one on the right is some sort of weed - wait! I found my notes. It's lady's thumb. Not a very nice color, but it was pretty stable.

Okay. Let's do this starting top left is walnut leaves, plus iron, I think. Center top is plain walnut leaves, and next to it I think I have ground ivy.

The three in the center row are red cabbage: with vinegar, by itself, and with baking soda. I was really hoping the baking soda would turn out green, but it obviously didn't. 

I think the next row is: blackberry leaves with copper, moss, and who knows? Maybe turmeric or mullein - I think probably plain blackberry leaves.

I used alum is a mordant with all of these.

This one is just plain copper.

And this one is Boston Ivy berries.

This is Boston Ivy with a pH change (I don't remember which way).

I have in my notes that rosemary didn't work. 

Now looking at all the pretty colors I want to experiment more! 

Blue Roses

I have a thing for blue roses. I don't know what it is. Maybe it is because it is so unnatural. I looked it up once when I was bored and I came across this crazy blog about the Morrissey - Blue Roses connection. It turns out there's some sort of conspiracy. If you want a good dose of WTF, you should totally google it. Maybe I just don't understand, not being a Morrissey fan myself.

I found the pendent above in a little shop in China Town. It was only like $2. It's the only blue rose thing I own at the moment, but I think I may have to rectify that soon,

This is a Blue Rose Necklace I found on Amazon that is comparable to mine but is $20! I guess it does have the little extra leaves that are pretty cool.

This Blue Rose Dress is pretty neat. I totally need a blue rose dress to go with my necklace. I really like this one, but it is pretty expensive and from the UK. 

I'm thinking about making my own blue rose dress. I really like the Blue Rose Chiffon on the black background. But I mean, who can say no to Blue Cabbage Cotton? Not me! I may have a cabbage rose dress soon... just need to decide if I can really pull off a cabbage dress... hmmm. I think the cabbages go better with my necklace, too.