Eco Colour...I'm dying to read it!

new book to read, originally uploaded by calamity kim.

Have you ever bought a book that you want to read so badly that you just can't wait to dive into it? I don't have the time to do it justice but: In my imaginary reading room filled with comfy, cozy couches and big overstuffed chairs I can sit back and relax as I am transported into India Flints' world of dyeing with plants, flowers, vegetables, leaves, even manure to create fabulously rich and exotic textiles patterned with images of leaves and petals and other interesting dye surprises.
The book is gorgeous.
Each photograph can capture your attention and you can almost feel the dirt on your hands and smell the wood fire smoke as you read about her process and exploration into using plants to dye cloth, fiber or garments.
One photo immediately grabbed my imagination-the background underneath old photos of India as a child and her Grandmother there is wool felt that has been dyed using petals or leaves and I want to stop everything and just recreate that! I admire her organization of information and the mordants and plant charts are awesome. I will make the time to devour this book this summer and I will make time to save jars and dye fabric in them using vegetables and flowers. The whole chapter on sun dyeing appeals to me because I can do that and then leave it to the sun and easily come back in a month and see what magic has been created.
Dyeing appeals to the witch/chemist in me and I love the strange and unusual patterns she has colored her cloth with. I love to see the shirts stitched, quilted, collaged into something altogether different and artful.
I am so thankful this book was published and can only imagine the work involved in doing so by India and Interweave- but what a wonderful book- I do recommend it to those of you who love surface design and manipulation or want to know about dyeing without getting your own hands dirty- there are so many times that I have taught or taken a class and there is always someone who wants to know "what will happen if?" without bothering to try it for themselves- well this book tells you everything imaginable about dyeing with plants and possible outcomes in a well written, easy to read and comprehend, yet smart and factual way- I think even if you had no interest in dyeing but want to have a well rounded craft/textile library this book should have a place on your shelf.
The rich visual feast of images is enough to justify the purchase. And if you don't want to buy it then submit it as a suggested book to your local library- they have a place for it on their websites and they will order books that folks suggest! At least, that's my two cents worth.
Not that you asked, but I'm just sayin-
Gotta get goin-
Have a great day!
calamity kim