Plant Dye Intensive Summary

The plant dye workshop that was originally scheduled for March 1st took place this past Sunday, on March 8th. Lucky for the teacher and attendees it was a fabulously sunny and beautiful day here in the Santa Monica Mountains which added a deeper shade of magic to the whole experience.

Mona, Greg and I arrived at the perfumery early to get things set up. The night before I prepared two things for the day, both based on lavender. The first was a whipped cream cheese and the second was a hand and body balm. For the whipped cream cheese I took one standard block of cream cheese and put it in the food processor with 1 tablespoon Hedcote lavender blossoms (from Ojai), a teaspoon dried Rosemary from our back lot and a few other random herbs that I can't remember...probably sage. I whipped all of together and then put into a glass container for the following morning.

The hand and body butter is something I've been making for a couple years. At some point soon, when I am convinced that it is a fabulous product, it will become available. If any of you fine readers would like a sample tossed into your next order please send me a note.

Back to the workshop...we set up two boiling pots and a large selection of plant material down the hallway next to the perfumery. Meanwhile, inside we set up the other items we would be using and snacks at the lavender colored table within the teaching area.

For our first project we had the option of choosing to dye fabric for a travel bag for our wool wrap or dye a silk scarf. I choose a rectangular silk scarf. The second project was a long wool shawl. Before the dying process Mona took us outside and explained the different colors that the plants might impart to our fabric. There are generalities with plants and colors, but as nature contains wild magick which cannot be tamed, sometimes the color varies. She had fun names for each of the different Eucalyptus leaves, like "Lost Hills" etc. which relates to an exact tree in an area.

We each selected a spot, spread out our fabric and began our compositions, in complete awareness of letting go to the intention of the plant divas. I choose to go for a water color type look for the scarf with colors from my palette, to achieve my desire I used plant materials that printed more in darker brown, umber and mauve hues. This included onion skins and an iron fleur de lis that would add some black.

Once we had all the plant material placed we rolled it all up and tied them with string. Greg's looked like a sushi hand roll, while mine was a super odd shape due to the fleur de lis iron. Once they were rolled and ready we through them into the pot. By the way, a nice benefit of using eucalyptus leaves and other botanicals is that it fills the space with the aromatic molecules, in this case Eucalyptus which made the day feel like we were at a spa.

While our first pieces cooked we each worked on the pocket for our wool shawl and or the travel bag. The pocket for my shawl was made of a few different fabrics including one little piece meant to hang to give it a boho type quality.

Next came the removal and unveiling of first eco printed items. When we pulled them out of the pot they were really hot and steaming, which was tricky when unrolling. Here is a photo of Teresa with hers and one of Monica, leaves and matter included. You will notice how one is more graphic and one more washes of color.

After lunch down at Blue Table we began pulling out our secondary bundles out of the pots. The unveiling of each persons piece was always exciting, producing lots of ou's and  awes.

Above is my wool shawl, freshly unrolled and below folded with pocket exposed.

I'm so grateful to have had Mona come and share her vast knowledge with each of us. It was such a wonder filled day that I wish for every one. Doing these types of activities connects us more deeply to nature and in doing so eases anxiety and increases our relationship with Gaia and other sentient beings on this planet that we share.

Next workshop with Mona will be "Color from the Kitchen" planned for April, details coming soon!

Plant Dye Workshop This Sunday!

The Plant Dye Workshop with Mona Lewis has been rescheduled for this Sunday, March 8th.  Mona has been putting a kit together for each attendee. If you would like to be included in the circle of students please contact one of us soon so that we can prepare for you.

The photos included in this post were taken here in the woodland of a dress and vest made by Mona as a fundraiser for Highland Hall Waldorf School. The fabrics were dyed using the technique we will learn on Sunday.

The models in these photos are Highland Hall alumnae Isabelle Howell and Kellee Bryant.

Plant Dye Demo ReCap

The plant dye demo on Saturday was great fun. Despite the rain we had a terrific gathering of ladies ranging from devotees of gardening, native plants, the fiber community, Waldorf and artists.

We arrived at the perfumery early to begin organizing elements for the day. Mona began warming the color, I hung the pre-dyed square kerchiefs to make selection more fluid. Although the heating of the dye bath took place in the interior of the space the dye process took place just outside to take advantage of the natural light and avoid clutter of bodies.

During the week I received a message from Mona telling me that in preparation for the class she was going to make herself a special shirt for the day with some of the rose petal printed leaf silks with some of the pink color added.

The lecture was presented within Mitchells Bookshop where there was ample space for all the attendees. Mona explained how natural dyes have a beautiful, long history where each color and plant has a story of its own. She shared how in the modern world, where synthetic dyes dominate, there are rivers in different areas of the planet that will run in different colors depending on what the big, multi-national factory might be dyeing that dye. The result of these types of practices is cities, communities and cultures are then poisoned by the toxic runoff.

With natural dyes we go back to our routes and the vital connection to plants. The process requires much time and patience but has the value supporting agriculture, our environment and handwork. I couldn't help but see the perfect connection to the fine art of botanical perfume.

Mona shared with us her yarn basket which showcases all the different colors obtained from the natural world, except one. We were all asked to guess which one within her basket did not come from nature, do you know which? None of us in attendance guessed correctly.

Besides some biology and psychology of color we also learned a bit of chemistry that not all the dyes are fugitive and thus must be treated with a "mordant" so that the color can adhere to the fabric for washing. This has to do with positive and negative charges between fabric and dye.

After the lecture we walked down the hall, picked up our squares and formed a line. Mona gave suggestions on how to go about dipping our fabric and what might take place depending how various procedures such as moistening in water first or not, dipping only the edges, folding or tying, etc.

Each piece was then hung on a line to dry. The final pieces were as varied as each of the attendees. Here is a photo of Pia (below) as she got ready to leave the byproduct of the day: pink fingers.

The next class in this series will be the day long course where Mona will get into the nitty gritty of the process, share her personal formulas as we dye our very own wool shawl.

Pre-Plant Dye Prep

In preparation for tomorrows plant dye experience Mona has been pre-dying some of the little square kerchiefs which will be dyed a second time to add some magenta hues over the existing color.

I must admit that the pre-dyed silks are pretty cool on their own. I've already fallen in love with a few that I'm not sure if I will be adding magenta to or not, the one with the elemental bee face is currently hanging in the lab space of the perfumery. 

Today I became smitten with this one below in the center that has California lobata oak leaves with another elemental bee/insect type shadow being in the center. Don't worry if you don't see the elementals I see, or see something different. I tend to see, and smell, things that others don't and vice versa.

The ones with just rose leaves are stunning too....and, as stated above, Mona is making more this evening. So many possibilities!

Botanical Valentine

Romantic Reds from Ancient Days

Lac is a natural dye that has been prized since antiquity for its' luminous reds and sweet pink hues. The dye itself comes from sweet exudates of the Lac insect. As early as 1200 BC, Lac was collected and used for decoration. The word lac is the English version of Persian and Hindi words that mean “hundred thousand,” indicating the large number of the minute insects required to produce lac dye. It is gathered by spreading cloths on the ground under infested trees, during the season of “red rain”. It is considered a very romantic time, because the natural smell of the Lac is very pheromonal, promoting vibrant health and libido.

Roxana Illuminated Perfume and Sunsprite Handwork come together on Saturday, February 7th to offer you a chance to experience this most interesting color!  At 1:30 Mona will share a bit of history, lore and wisdom about the process followed by the opportunity to dye your very own square silk using a rare and beautiful material! 

From 2:00 to 4:00 we will be brewing a little pot of Lac dye brewing with silk hankies, pre-printed with leaves of Rose and Eucalyptus, for you to dye. You may choose one and dip dye it in the Lac to lay a veil of red color over the print. The finished silk may be used tucked in a pocket, tied into a potpourri pouch, displayed on a table to enjoy under a favorite vase or gifted to a beloved.

The cost is just $5 per person to cover materials.

1:30 Lecture

2:00 - 4:00 Dye Process

Please contact Roxana to reserve your spot, spaces are limited.

Plant Dye Workshop at the Perfumery!

“You are an alchemist; make gold of that.” 

~ William Shakespeare 

Plant Dye Workshop: Botanical Alchemy

Sunday, March 1st from 10am - 4pm

in Agoura Hills, CA

Mona Lewis, Sunsprite Handwork and Roxana of Illuminated Perfume have aligned their passion and skills to bring a day of intense play and alchemy as we dye soft wool travel wraps using delightfully simple Ecoprint bundle dyeing' techniques.

We will begin by stitching a selection of natural fabric patches into our wraps, then use the simplest of ingredients - leaves and water - to add exquisite natural color to our work. After lunch, while the wraps are in the dye-pot, we will stitch a beautiful travel bag in which to keep the wraps safe when they're not draped around our shoulders'.

Our hands-on day begins at 10am at the Roxana Illuminated Perfume Workshop with morning tea on arrival, followed by a short introduction to the plant dye process. Mona will then guide us through the process of stitching and dyeing before we sit down to enjoy a seasonal lunch prepared by Blue Table Restaurant (while the dye-pot bubbles away in the background). An unfurling of the wraps, along with some more simple stitching will complete the afternoon, which we expect will end around 4pm.

Ms. Lewis, the conductor of this special day, uses ecologically sustainable contact print processes from plants as a means of exploring the amazing colors of nature and finding relevant, artistic applications. She works as a handwork teacher in the Waldorf Education movement sharing her love of natural color throughout the curriculum. Her students are children of all ages. She heads up the soft handwork section of Waldorf Initiative for Teacher Training and holds continuing educational workshops for adults. Learn more about Mona's on her Facebook Pages: Mona Lewis and Sunsprite Handwork and on Instagram.

Please wear suitable clothing and bring a notebook to write in. The fee for the entire day, including materials is $360 per person. A deposit of $180 will reserve your seat, with the balance due by February 28th. The deposit is refundable if the cancellation is made by February 15th.

Due to the nature of the class, participation is limited to ten lucky students, we encourage reserving your seat now. Please contact Roxana to reserve your seat: text/e-mail: roxana@illuminatedperfume.com or by phone (818) 992-0490.

This is a unique and special experience in our local community using plants from our area in the gorgeous, peaceful setting of Agoura Hills.

Location:
Roxana Illuminated Perfume
Whizin Market Square, Atrium Building, second floor
28914 Roadside Dr, unit #219
Agoura Hills, CA 91301

Other upcoming workshops will include:
Color from the Kitchen
Rock Stars of the Plant Dye world (Brazilwood and Logwood)
Bugs are the Best
The Mystery of Indigo

A special free introductory Valentines workshop will be announced shortly, stay tuned.