Ooooo- a rust dyers dream! These are collected bits and pieces that Robyn at Art Propelled http://artpropelled.blogspot.com/ is fossicking through. I'd be wrapping them up, tying rubber bands around those stones in the fabric- they won't dye but will leave a shape - and as for that rusty cog thing...mmm!! She's thinking of throwing things out...if only I lived closer!It just gets better...Robyn's tray of goodies...

Mine...empty ... I want what she's having... Many of you have asked about the when, why's and how's of botanical dyes. All credit for any of my dabblings in this must go to India Flint, an incredibly talented and creative woman who's professionality embraces working in design ,art, theatre and fashion. She is known nationally and internationally for the "development of the highly distinctive eco-print". India, as her books states "has been working with plant dyes for more than 20 years". India is a botanical alchemist. I am at kindergarten entry level, but I am having fun with the equivilent of botanical finger-painting. If you are seriously interested in persuing this method of fabric manipulation to a higher level, please consider purchasing India's book "Eco Colour-botanical dyes for beautiful textiles" published by Murdoch Books. ISBN 9781741960792 (hbk.) Murdoch Books website is http://www.murdochbooks.com.au./

India Flint helping a student at a workshop I attended .This is reconstructing a garment pre-dying. There were some great results that came out of this weekend many years ago.