The first step is to scour the fabric, removing oils and impurities. When the fabric is dry, the amount of mordant is calculated. A mordant is a substance used to set or bind dyes on fabrics. Our mordant consists of Alum, Iron Sulfate and Pickling Lime, mixed with light vinegar. The fabric is soaked in the mordant and dried on the line. Then softened with wheat bran and washed with Synthrapol soap. The dampened fabric is laid flat in preparation for placing the plants and flowers onto the surface.

Each item in our offering is dyed using a plant printing method called Eco-dyeing.
The process is complex with lots of variables.

Plants:

Most of the large plants that printed onto the fabrics are from: red and peach Hibiscus perennials, Roger’s Flower, Marigolds and red and blue Cosmos plants from our gardens. The non-native plant we often use is eucalyptus.

Fabrication:

Designs were created by Sharon Grosh, Ruth Klabunde and Lisette Schlosser, a consortium of women called: Earth Art Galleries