If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram you may have seen some of my recent posts of indigo dyed fingernails etc…here’s why. I was recently re-introduced to a wonderful woman named Donna Hardy through a mutual fiber friend, who moved to Charleston about a year ago. The funny thing is we had met each other years ago when we were both living in Georgia and a part of the Chattahoochee Handweavers Guild. Since then, Donna has spent years researching and tracking down regional species of Indigo that were once grown as production crop and exported to England from the LowCountry as well as learning from other Master Dyers the art of natural dyeing. This year she is working with Clemson extension to grow field trials in hopes of reviving this beautiful source of natural blue dye. Donna graciously invited me to play with her using a recently set up vat. It was then that I realized that probably all of my previous experiences with Indigo vat dyeing were synthetic vats:(
I am honored to begin to learn about natural dye from someone who is truly a master dyer. If you want to learn more about setting up and using a natural indigo vat, Donna will be leading a 3 day low country indigo workshop this fall. Check out Botanical Interest website for more information and registration HERE. Indigo certainly seems to be quite trendy and popular these days but if you really want to learn how to master the art of using this beautiful natural dye, come join us!