Saturday, September 26, 2009

Pokeberry Ink

I wanted to make some pokeberry ink and had gathered some berries. But then I read online that the juice color turn brown on paper after awhile. One person even said it smelled bad after awhile. So I was wondering if it still loses its color if you heat set it. So I smooshed some berries and smeared it on paper. While I was at it, I dyed a bit of lace with the berry juice. I heat set the ink/dye - some by ironing and some by microwaving. Laid them and a control sample (unheated) by a window where they get indirect light.



Now I just wait. (That's the part I hate.)

5 comments:

J said...

I suspect the brown is an oxidation process like blood that turns brown when it dries.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Ok...this is an ignorant Canadian here...what are pokeberries? Are they edible? As for the browning, could you seal the colour with something (I'm thinking gel medium or waterbased varnish?)

Dolores said...

Better you than me. I hate the waiting.

Gail V said...

Pokeweed is a weed (at least it's considered a weed in the US) that grows quite large and gets dark purple berries. I always let some grow so the birds can have the berries. The seeds are poisonous, but the birds just poop the seeds out.

Yvonne said...

Interesting experiment, hope it retains that beautiful color.