CarleneK Eco Designs at Gram Crafters
Eco Dyed Clothing, Table Linens, Paper Products
Eco Dyed Fabric
Eco-dyeing is the process of using natures gifts of flowers, leaves, bark, nuts, and other products the earth provides. Dyers all over Europe, Asia, Australia, and Central and Latin American have been dyeing fabric this way for centuries. The movement is growing in the United States and Canada because people are finding that the harsh chemicals used in mass manufactured clothing is not only harmful to the earth, but can be irritating to your skin.
I began my botanical dyeing on cotton fabric (a plant fiber), but it is popular for use on animal fibers, such as wool and silk. Knitters are sourcing for eco-dyed yarn; available in a myriad of earthy and floral colors. Nature dyed textiles appeal to weavers and other textile artisits.
Eco Dyed Paper
Paper as Art and Function
I use watercolor paper for my book marks, notecards, post card, and framed artwork. The weight of paper I use varies. Heavier paper absorbs more liquid, thereby producing deeper colors. The trade-off is that the folded crease in a notecard is a bit thicker, so the crease is not as flat as that of a folded piece of copier paper. Paper can also adopt the texture of a plant, such as stem of a leaf. This is one of the differences that make my paper dyed pieces unique; a card is more than a card - it's a piece of art!
All my notecards are printed front and back, so there is no definitive "front" of the card; it's the side you choose. The inside inscard of each card is also dyed with prints, with a plain card insert - for writing.
I hope you enjoy my paper products; I love creating them!
