Eco Colour: Botanical Dyes for Beautiful Textiles Hardcover – 1 Mar. 2008

Really inspirational book, just as I'd hoped it would be. Its packed with images and very useful practical information, as well as lots of lovely anecdotes and background information. Highly recommended for anyone interested in using plants for natural dyes and especially if you are looking for a deeper insight. This could never be a book with "quick fix how to do" activities that you just copy without doing some of your own creative experiments, natural dyes just don't work like that; this really is a highly captivating process which will require some time and experimentation on the part of anyone exploring it - but that time will be deeply rewarded. This book has all sorts of really great lists of dye plants, dye mordants, dye modifiers etc and there's some brilliant information about health and safety, toxic plants etc - things you need to know before embarking on using natural dyes. I've just started creating eco prints with plants and this book has given me a massive extra insight into all sorts of wonderful things connected to that. Plus its a really beautiful book, the illustrations are gorgeous.

This has to be the most aesthetically pleasing book i've seen for a while. Gorgeous layout, photographs and cover. It is thorough in its subject and if you want an in depth read then this will be great for you. But read you just to get the information you need as it is very unnecessarily wordy. If you want a book that you can use as a how to book then I think you'll be disappointed. It is not a book you can dip into for quick info or sit next to your work area and follow the instructions like a recipe. I loved looking at it but it was just too wordy for me to get anything out of it. It bogged me down with things that should have been in their own section away from any info on how to actually eco dye. I've given it 2 stars for aesthetics alone and thoroughness of subject. Very disappointed.

This is a beautiful book just to look at. I love the little beige paper 'shawl' which enwraps the hard cover - an apt metaphor and which doubles as a bookmark. The interior is as gorgeous as the cover as every page is illustrated and usually in more than one way. This is the first book I've bought on the subject of 'eco printing' (the dyeing of papers and textiles using natural found or cultivated organic matter.) The contents do not disappoint. The book begins with a prologue which outlines what the book is for; then follow eight parts, beginning with 'Before you Begin' and ending with 'References'. In between is an encyclopaedic range of information and technique, imparted in the author's engaging style. A complete beginner, I was yet able to produce some of my own eco prints within a week of my purchase of the book. (Some are posted on my website/blog). Tomorrow I am going to attempt another batch of prints using the author's (India Flint) 'Ice Flower' technique and I will be experimenting with two of the listed 'mordants': alum and vinegar. (I could have gone for fermented urine, or 'cow pats' but will save these for another time! This book is a must have for the would-be and the experienced 'eco printer'. I shall be forever delving into this lovely tome.

This book helped to revive my interest in natural dyes after i had lost heart! Many of the processes and chemicals i was using, especially for mordanting, seemed to be bad for the environment. This book is guiding me towards better practice so that i can continue my experiments safely.

This book is quite technical with lots of info about eco dying. It’s Australian based and has a lot of references to eucalyptus trees. Desperately looking for one in the U.K. Its become my constant companion as I am plowing my way through it and loving the information.

This book set me off on a journey of mud, buried fabrics and the perfect eucalyptus to dye with in Britain's temperate climate! I failed miserably with the eucalyptus and I now have three, gigantic specimens that unfortunately need really hot weather give up their true colour and have taken next to no time to grow {beware!} But…. I found joy in other, truly wonderful natural dyes/processes. This is just the best and most beautiful book I've had in a long while and ice dyes are fantastic for lessons with grumpy teenage students…the magic as they give up gorgeous dyes is worth every penny spent on violas! i especially like the eco friendly slant.

This is an inspirational book for those who love the look of natural colours, muted tones, and the serendipity of results. Not for the dyer who wants repeatable designs or bright gaudy colours.Excellent details on how to do it and what to use. Wonderful illustrations and text. Some pages were a little difficult to read because of the use of background detail behind the written word. Highly recommended.

Lovely addition to my collection, arrived quickly.