Brighid's Dyers Member Profiles

Solar Dyer?

Yes and other types of dyeing as well but Solar is my current favorite.

Why solar dyeing for you?

I love color. I love the outdoors. I love plants. I have a degree in Environmental Science and enjoy conservation efforts, so solar dyeing was a natural fit.
Two summers before I started solar dyeing, I was solar cooking biscochitos (anise cookies) on the patio of a home built with Georgia O'Keefe's resources at the Ghost Ranch in New Mexico.
A very important reason for me to solar dye has to do with personal safety concerns on dyeing in the kitchen. (Note from spider: Kitchens are for cooking food for human consumption. Please consider dyeing elsewhere.)

Favorite solar dyeing technique?

Terry's Tub :)

Favorite dye(s)?

Natural dyes are my favorites: Jewelweed, Black Walnut, Dahlias, Marigolds, Goldenrod, ferns, Logwood, Brazilwood, Kamala, and the list goes on.... I'm not opposed to synthetic dyes and am happy to make much use of the excess dyes used on the River Spinners Dye Days...using the synthetic dyes until they are "spent".
I worked for several years as a Naturalist in the Vermont State Parks. Prior to becoming a fiber artist, I would dream about how color was extracted historically. I am very pleased that I now have first-hand experience in natural dyeing.

ESJ solar mosaic

1. Harmony's fleece all solar dyed, 2. llama fiber solar brewing in cochineal waste, 3. Solar sampling in Terry's Tub, 4. Rinsing solar dyed llama, 5. Sunflowers - solar, 6. Joe Pye Weed - solar, 7. Brewing ferns, 8. dahlia, 9. Dye plant - goldenrod, 10. Purple Basil, 11. Joe Pye Weed, 12. Solar dyed llama fibers then handspun, 13. Solar set up with gladware baking tray and 2 gallon ziploc, 14. Solar set up with Jar and cut out, 15. solar dyed lace weight yarn, 16. solar dyed worsted yarn, 17. solar dyed comercial bulky yarn black walnut, 18. 2007_0204_131331AA, 19. solar dyed llama bulky yarn, 20. Solar dyed llama bulky yarn, 21. Solar dyed Tunis and mohair with black walnut, 22. Solar dyed Bulky and lace weight yarns, 23. Solar dyed Llama yarn, 24. Milagra with natural colors derived from solar cooking plants