As I travel through my natural dye journey I get and read ALOT of suggestions on plant dyes. Yesterday I took another artist's advice and used Eucalyptus to dye handspun wool for the first time... Sad to say I'm simply not a fan.

Technique-

To start, I researched Eucalyptus before I used it. It's a relatively stable plant with a low toxic rate but it's still strong so I only used 2 oz of fresh leaves in my dye bath. Eucalyptus has natural tannins much like acorns so no mordants are necessary but I still used an alum mordant pot and a teaspoon of cream of tartar to mordant my wool. I filled the stainless steel pot almost halfway and placed my mordant wool in the steeping dye bath.

Pungent Smell-

At first, Eucalyptus smells wonderful... AT FIRST!
With just a little over a handful of leaves, it managed to overwhelm 1,000 sq feet of space. I felt yucky and dizzy and needed to open all the windows. Please also note that I am sensitive to strong lung affecting odors. It felt like I swallowed an entire bag of peppermints. Eucalyptus is relatively non-toxic once diluted with water unless you swallow a large quantity of the pure oils so I knew there would be no harm done but the odor is strong and like Yarrow, I would suggest dyeing with it outdoors using a solar dyeing method.

Color Results-


The dye results were completely underwhelming considering I almost choked from the smell. I got the results I wanted but I also added a few avocados pits to speed the process because I had to get rid of the dye bath. I just couldn't tolerate the smell anymore.

In closing, based on the fact that I could get this color variation WITHOUT the use of Eucalyptus I can't see myself using it again. I know I sound like another Eucalyptus internet hater but the end results didn't measure up to the pain of using the plant. For those of you who love it, that's great but I'm not into it and if you have small pets and children I would definitely stay clear of using an Eucalyptus dye bath indoors. 

It's a new year and a new decade! Time for new beginnings and new projects. It's been in the works for a few months now but I can finally debut the first episode of the Behind The Seams Podcast.

I had so much fun making the first episode. I'm sure everyone is wondering... why a podcast? Well, it's simple. I needed a better way of communicating my thoughts beyond social media which I will no longer be posting on a regular basis. I'm focusing more on my company blog, Patreon, and other long-form content channels.

2019 was an eye-opener. I took the entire year to refocus on what really mattered in my company. Taking a hard look (and yes I actually used spreadsheets to document this process) at my time management and goals I realize I spend a butt load of time doing things I don't want or need to do.

There are goals I want to accomplish and to do that I need to focus. I also want to connect to my customers in a more meaningful manner, this is what led to the podcast. I get to be honest and show people I am a real person. On the podcast, I get to celebrate the good and bad parts of my job. I also realized I wanted this podcast to be for people who are really interested in my journey. That is why clips of the podcast will be on Youtube but the full podcast will be on my Patreon channel.

If you want to hear a ten-minute clip of the podcast just click the video below:

To listen to the full episode simply go to: patreon.com/sajatae

The holidays are here and it's time to shop til we drop. Unfortunately, our shopping is hurting our planet and the environment. Here at the SAJATA-E haunting ground, we believe in MICRO vs MACRO. If we all make small choices collectively we can all make a big difference.

Here are my top five-holiday shopping tips that can benefit all of our lives:

1. SHOP LOCAL and HANDMADE. Instead of buying that mass-produced "I LOVE YOU GRAMPA" mug from Amazon, hire a maker to custom make a product for your family. I have had customers over the years hire me to make all of their family and friends holiday gifts. Most people think this might be too expensive but it's actually really affordable. Just give the artist enough time to make the product in question. You are supporting local businesses, having a voice in how your products are made, and lowering your global footprint.
2.  NO MASS PRODUCED CLOTHING! This is a no-no holiday shopper. Buy your fashionables from local designers. Also, encourage your friends and family to wear their clothing for a longer period of time before they discard them. If you're in need of a new outfit for an event, party, or photo opportunity consider renting your wears.
3. BUY A WORKSHOP or LUNCH FOR YOUR FRIENDS or FAMILY. In most cases when shopping for someone older it might be best to buy them an experience gift. Lots of artists have workshops available online for rental or purchase. You can also simply just buy your friends lunch or a movie. Its the gesture people, THE GESTURE.
4. USE BROWN BAGS FOR YOUR GIFT WRAP. If you can't find reusable gift wrap just use a brown paper bag or a silk scarf if the gift is small enough. Brown paper bags can be composted and the scarf can be reused and included as part of the gift.
5. SELL or RECYCLE all E-WASTE BEFORE BUYING NEW TECH. This one is super important. Tech is the top-selling Black Friday buy. Before you reach into your pocket and buy that new iPhone sell or recycle your old one. Stores like BOOKOFF in Manhatten are more than willing to buy your unwanted technology. You can even buy second-hand tech from their locations after you trade-in your unwanted gear.