Eco printing on fabric and paper

I recently took an Eco-printing on paper course from the The Lansdowne House.  Eco Printing is a technique that uses heat and humidity to create prints from natural objects (leaves, bark, flowers, etc).  The heat and humidity is created by simmering or steaming the paper while in contact with the natural objects.  Mordents, tannins, and dyes are used to enhance the prints, either in dye baths or blankets.

I printed on 100% cotton cold pressed watercolor paper and scoured fabric (cotton and muslin).  The paper and fabric were briefly dipped in Iron water mordent just before being used.  The Southern Sugar Maple and Ginkgo leaves were collected from my yard the same day as they were used.  My dye bath was made from Purple cabbage the day before.

Print method using ceramic tiles:

• place bottom tile ceramic side up
• place paper square on top 
• place leaf vein side down
• continue alternating paper squares and leaves 
• place top tile ceramic side down
• secure the bundle with rubber bands
• place in dye bath and simmer for 1 hour
• remove from bath and let cool for 30 min before unbundling
• rinse paper and fabric 
• hang to dry

Ginkgo paper squares:	Maple paper squares:

Print method using dowels:

• place paper strip down
• place leaves vein side down
• carefully roll around a large dowel  
• secure the bundle with rubber bands
• place in dye bath and simmer for 1 hour
• remove from bath and let cool for 30 min before unrolling
• rinse paper and fabric 
• hang to dry

Paper strip interior:	Paper strip exterior:

Cloth strip interior:	Cloth strip exterior:

What I learned:

1. The Purple cabbage dye wasn't as dark as I expected.  
2. Maple leaves make dark prints that can bled through fabric.  I will try using a barrier (plastic wrap) to eliminate this next time.
3. Ginkgo leaves can provide light yellow prints, but can also block the dye leaving shadows.