Friday 5 October 2018

2019 Calendar - Twelve Months of Plant Dyes - Now Sold Out

The 2019 Calendar Twelve Months of Plant Dyes is now Sold Out.

One thousand copies were printed.
Thanks very much to everyone who bought one.



'Each month, this calendar shows off a natural source of plant dye, together with a method for extracting and using its colour. From March onwards, the pages also include advice on growing your own dye plants, harvesting them and saving seeds for next year. 
The calendar starts with the easiest dyes and simplest processes, building up your skills with the idea of learning by doing. Follow the monthly projects and come the end of the year, you will have practiced many of the basic methods and tried a good few of the fancier techniques of plant dyeing.'
My companion, Elinor Gotland, sat at the table reading out loud the introductory page of my new plant dye calendar. I waited while she pushed her specs back up her nose and took a sip of tea.
'Well, at least you finished writing it in time for 2019, Beaut. To be honest, I'd given up hope.'
I leaned across to flip up a proper page.
'See how nice it looks, though. I wanted the 2019 calendar to be better than the one I made for 2017. Lovelier pictures, clearer instructions in a smoother learning structure, all put together to make twelve of the finest pages anyone could have hanging on their wall.'
Elinor sniffed.
'Handsome is as handsome does. I remember you howling with your head in the wastepaper basket when you realised some of the information in your first Calendar was wrong.' She sighed and sat back. 'Maybe it's a mercy you didn't rush this one, but taking two years, for twelve pages of work? It's hardly "War and Peace."'
'Wasn't just me working on this. I owe a debt of thanks to everyone who gave me feedback on the 2017 Calendar. It did take all of 2017 to do the original growing and dyeing projects again myself and I've improved some and cut out others entirely. This year, I needed to double check other dye plants and techniques to make some fresh pages.'
'Hope you've added a bit more zing to the 2019 Calendar. Logwood and safflower?'
'Not my bag, Elinor. All the plants are still ones you can forage or grow in the UK. I've broadened the colour range though, this new version includes growing madder roots for red dye and woad or Japanese Indigo plants for blues. Plus there's ivy, tree leaf and berry dyes.' 
I tapped the calendar. 'Go on, read some more, you'll see the 2019 Calendar is streets ahead of the old one.'
Elinor flicked through the pages to December.  
'Nice hat. And fair play, the printer has done a great job. Real quality finish, much better than your home printed original.'
I lifted the calendar out of her hooves and hugged it to my chest.

'The thrummed knitting pattern for the hat will be my first blog this December. It looks great on my daughter, in fact, I'm delighted with how the whole calendar has come out. Deciding to give the job to a printing company with FSC accreditation and environmental impact certification hasn't meant sacrificing a first rate end product. Even the envelopes I've bought are 100% recycled.'


'So, how many calendars did you have printed?'
'Three hundred.'
My companion looked at me.
'You've nailed your plant dyed colours to the mast this time, then, Beaut.' 
She poured a slug of sloe gin into my tea and raised her own cup. 
'Fair play. Best of luck selling them.'

46 comments:

  1. Dear Fran,
    Thank you so much, I'm thrilled with the calendar. It is beautifully done.
    Inspiring, informative and such a lovely way to encourage and offer ideas to experiment with dyes and colour. I do enjoy reading your blog posts by the way, so its great to have this calendar that ties together your dyeing expertise

    I look forward next year's dyeing with excitement when I have a go at some of your wonderful suggestions.


    Best Wishes,
    Sue Wright

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  2. I found you at Handspinning News. Congratulations on a beautiful calendar.

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    1. Thanks very much - you are the first entrant :)

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  3. Hi, I also found you on Handspinning news. I am going to order one of your calendars as soon as I get paid. Are you planning on producing some in other years, I noticed that you started in 2017. thank you

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    1. Welcome, entrant number two :) This is indeed my second calendar, I haven't planned any future versions, next job is to get back to work on the book - but I might get inspired to make another calendar.

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  4. Very excited, just treated myself by ordering a copy - really looking forward to it!

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  5. I love read your notes and think Elinor takes you for granted, always dashing off with your best scarves, but don't tell her I said so. I learn lots from your dyeing and ecoprinting experiments and in Hand Spinning News have seen this beautiful calendar.

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    1. Hi entrant number three - I won't say a word to Elinor, one thing I have to admit is that she makes my life much more fun :)

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  6. I saw you on Handspinning news. The calendar looks very good and the ideas are inspiring.

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    1. Thanks very much entrant number four. The draw will be this Friday, 2 November.

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  7. Hi I found you on Handspinning news. What a fabulous idea, it will make you try some dyeing every month. I start the year with good intentions and then it's December again !

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    1. Entrant number five, you are talking to a woman with decades of good intentions fallen by the wayside ...

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  8. I have often r4ead your blog and since learning about your calendar on Handspinning News, I am hoping to get a copy. I have some friends for whom this might be a good Christmas gift, too!

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  9. Still laughing !. Great blogging. I will be buying your calendar and signing up. I have a lot to learn and seems like this is the place for me.

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    1. Ooo, thanks very much :) Seven years in and I'm still learning too.

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  10. I've also seen your lovely calendar in Handspinning News. Dyeing is something that has fascinated me for quite a while but have yet to try (beyond Koolaid) so I'd love the guidance to help me experiment

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    1. It's a wonderful rabbit hole to fall down, entrant number seven :)

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  11. And I, too, am here from Hand Spinning News! I used to do some natural dyeing but have gotten out of the habit. This calendar is the inspiration I need!

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    1. Ah, entrant number eight - old habits dye hard ...

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    2. CONGRATULATIONS Number 8 is the winning number in the Hand Spinning News Calendar Competition. Please email your address to me at tribulation2013@gmail.com and I shall post your prize.

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  12. I saw you on Handspinning news. The calendar looks lovely and I would like to get in to plant dyeing.

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  13. I am fairly new to spinning and would love a chance to win one of your calendars.

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    1. If you haven't already seen it, google Hand Spinning News, an online monthly magazine for spinners. It's always enjoyable and inspirational and you will find a competition there ...

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  14. Fran, your new calendar is superb! A great follow on to Plant Dyes for All 2017 which I often refer back to and your Dye Plants book. I love the beautiful, inspirational photos, the instructions and your lovely sense of humour! I intend to follow your Dye ideas each month during 2019.Just Brilliant!

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    1. Thanks very much Susan - I blush with pride :) It is a real step up on the first calendar, I think.

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  15. I'm going to order another copy, it will be a great Secret Santa at my spinning guild xmas do!
    Sue X

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    1. ooo, hold up - I've just sent a promotion out to the Guilds - well, I've got as far as S on the list.

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    2. Bowland? And not a secret anymore I guess!

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    3. Yup, haven't heard back from Bowland, but I did send an email to the contact address on the ASWD list. Should be lurking in their inbox :)

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  16. Lovely blog! Thanks to Sheila's Handspinning News I know about you now and can learn and chortle...perfect;-)

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  17. Thanks very much to everyone who joined in with the Calendar Competition from Hand Spinning News. The winner was Sarah, entrant number eight.

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  18. This was mentioned at our Guild meeting - Kennet Valley and then I saw it in Handspinning News.
    Recently taken early retirement and aim to explore what my garden has to offer.

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    1. The HSN competition closed on 2 November. I'm grateful Kennet Valley gave the calendar a mention, I've had a great response from the Guilds - a new print run is due to arrive with me tomorrow :)

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  19. Hi Fran,

    What a treasury of inspiring information, all Fram. spinners are now having a look at your work. I emailed the Tribulations address a few days ago about your calendar, but wonder if I've done the wrong thing - not very experienced with the etiquette of responding to blogs! Here's the content of the email...

    On behalf of Framlingham Weavers, Spinners and Dyers I would like to buy 14 of your wonderful calendars (if you still have any left). Could you make out an invoice for me please. Our member Delia Cecil is an eco dyer and she told us of your work, blogspot and your calendar.

    I am also keen to know if your companion Elinor Gotland is the knitted sheep?

    I hope we are in time with this order,
    many thanks,

    Joy Porter

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    1. Hi Joy - your email hasn't reached my inbox, though I would have been very glad to hear from you. I have just had a new print run of the calendar delivered and would be delighted to send you 14. I don't know why your email didn't get through, it isn't even in my spam folder by accident. Without your email, I can't send an invoice - would you mind trying to email me again to tribulation2013@gmail.com

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    2. Also - Elinor is crocheted, darling, crocheted. The story of how we met can be found here
      https://wooltribulations.blogspot.com/2014/05/crocheting-amigrumi-sheep-with-handspun.html

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  20. Hello, This is Charlotte Palmberg, the president of the Puyallup guild Moonspinners. I think your calaedar ides is a great one and I'd love to have one. Better yet one for each member of Moonspinners. How many calendars can be mailed for $117 us dollars? That amount was mentioned in your e-mail.We would need about 30. Thanks Chalotte

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    1. Hi Charlotte - I've had an email from Georgean and at her request I have set aside 23 calendars for Puyallup - please could you get in touch with her or email me at tribulation2013@gmail.com if you need more. Right now, I still have another 30 copies left unspoken for, but will soon be sold out :)

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    2. Sorry Charlotte - Georgean has explained that the Moonspinners are a different Guild to hers - I do hope you see this reply soon and email me direct as I now have only 20 calendars left. Nine calendars can be posted as one parcel for $117.

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  21. Such a lovely way to use natural dyes. Loved the post , its quite informative and appealing. those calendars looks so beautiful and unreal specially the art work presented by the natural dyes. looking forward to learn more.

    cheers !!

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