Jenny:
@ecodyesjenny on Instagram
@kentishdyes (Jenny Oliver) on Facebook
As you will soon discover if you explore any of my social media links, I'm interested in a LOT of things! Essentially, I'm a retired research scientist from the University of Kent.
I've also written a sci-fi novel (as Val Buss, 'The Silver Spindle'), and I'm given the occasional lesson of English for speakers of foreign languages, specifically for a family of Syrian refugees.
The dyes are now heading for take-off. I've just been granted a Winston Churchill Fellowship [@wcmtuk] to study plant (and fungal) sources of dyes with a view to more sustainable manufacture.
I've lived in the southeast England all my life, but have done a fair amount of travel as part of my profession as an academic, and for the occasional vacation.
Photo: Egerton Famers' Market stall this February. I'm using some of my dyed roving (fleece) to make needlefelt pictures for a client. The wool is from New Romney sheep.
I've also written a sci-fi novel (as Val Buss, 'The Silver Spindle'), and I'm given the occasional lesson of English for speakers of foreign languages, specifically for a family of Syrian refugees.
The dyes are now heading for take-off. I've just been granted a Winston Churchill Fellowship [@wcmtuk] to study plant (and fungal) sources of dyes with a view to more sustainable manufacture.
I've lived in the southeast England all my life, but have done a fair amount of travel as part of my profession as an academic, and for the occasional vacation.
Photo: Egerton Famers' Market stall this February. I'm using some of my dyed roving (fleece) to make needlefelt pictures for a client. The wool is from New Romney sheep.
A few of my non-dye interests |
A fair amount of my time is taken up with my grandchildren these days. Until late 2015, all five were out of the country, so now I'm making up for lost time.
I'm a member of the local the trendy 'Café Church' at St Mary the Virgin's Church, Little Chart. Further afield, I'm looking to develop my involvement in using virtual worlds for teaching and public engagement. |
How it started |
Aged just 17, I had an elderly (and rather eccentric) friend who had her own spinning wheel and Hebridean loom. However, she did not enjoy using the natural dyes, and so I was graciously allowed to experiment with all her dye resources.
I learned a lot, by trial and error - often the latter - but did succeed in producing some great colours. It was the start of my love of Madder. If you are just starting out and reading this, start with Madder. You can buy it or grow it yourself, but it does take 3 -5 years to mature good roots which yield the dye. It gives a wonderful range of rusty reds, browns, pinks and even purple, all dependent upon your methods. It'll dye your rubber gloves, too. Make sure you wear some. |