The Memoirs of a Neurotic Natural Dyer
After looking out at my garden this morning, I realized my glorious marigolds were bursting with color.... brilliant gold, rust, reds along with the brightest oranges one could imagine. After feeling apprehensive about going outside (it was raining cats & dogs) I decided to prune them back so the new buds could burst forth in all their floral glory!
Having spent a good part of the summer and fall exploring the world of natural dyes and Eco-printing, I figured I would try my hand at making a natural dye from fresh garden marigolds. These incredible little rays of sunshine have brightened my garden all summer long and now have overtaken their neighbors, the dahlias and zinnias. So out I went, shears in hand and courage in my heart...I HAD to cut them out of the garden, right? They were invading their innocent neighbors and taking all the praise from my little cottage garden.... they had no right!!
Chop, chop, CHOP! Out, out sweet marigold!! Snip, snip, SNIP went my clippers and before I knew it my hands were an orangey-yellow shade that I knew would take days to remove. My basket was full of little ruffled faces all staring up at me and saying "help us! We have been decapitated and are doomed for the dye pot!” Oh no! What had I done to my Zen-like garden?? Aaahhhh....the circle of life begins once again.
So, quaking in my mud-covered wellys, I escaped with my luscious orange and yellow stash of goodness and off to the dye pot I went. As I plucked each bud from its little shell of a stem I wondered what beautiful shade of yellow, I would soon achieve. Would it be a bright and cheery orange/yellow combination or would it be a yucky brown mess that would haunt me forever? Would the newly massacred marigolds be laughing at me or would I win the battle?
Plop, plop, plop! I dropped the buds into the simmering water .... I could hear the screams of terror from their little yellow heads. But this floral sacrifice would end in a gorgeous saffron yellow fabric....it would all be worth it in the end dear ones.
A half hour later, after the tiny screams subsided, my dye pot began to turn a lovely shade of summer sunshine! Yes! I had achieved the goal.... Yes, I would create a beautiful shade of golden bliss to then dye my awaiting fabric!! Would it be a color never seen by the naked eye? Would it remind me of the October day of garden sacrifice or instill a brave new heart inside me, bringing me closer to my goal? Would I now become one of the chosen few to achieve glorious natural color just as our forefathers (or mothers) had done? "YES!" I cried! "I will conquer the dye pot and win the battle of the marigolds!"
The battle of the Marigolds is over, the dye pot is simmering, and a cheery shade of sunshine yellow is appearing. On to my next adventure in natural dyeing.....
The End....or is it?
