A beautifully photographed and written synopsis of historical and contemporary natural dye plants, methods and projects. Twelve essays by experts in their fields guide the reader into the past, the cultural traditions of Navajo, Japanese, European, Malian, Indian and ancient Peruvian people, along with contemporary projects to nurture creativity, engage the community, address environmental issues and the health and safety of ourselves and the planet. Teachers, artists, gardeners, and researchers captivate us with the art, history, alchemy and science that is the beauty of natural dyeing. To highlight just a few, three authors share their exciting discovery of the eighteenth-century Crutchley dyeing archive. The simple magic of fresh indigo and how to grow it is explained by John Marshall. Wendy Felberg's botanical printing is a contemporary fibre art practice which includes projects and a comprehensive list of dye plants. Catharine Ellis explains the facts and myths of mordants. Alissa Allen writes an easy and ethical approach to dyeing with lichens; all this and others besides have shared their expertise.
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