I'm really enjoying this thread. I live in far off northern Maine, above Caribou. We have a very healthy Grouse population up here. I don't know that I've ever really seen a 'red' phase Grouse. I always think they look much rustier in the summer and 'gray up' as the season progresses into the monoto...

Thanks for the additional instruction! Living where I do I have an over abundance of grouse (I limited out before noon yesterday) and I have a 48' greenhouse full of vegetables that I'd love to re-purpose; using natural ingredients to dye materials sounds like a wonderful fall/winter activity. Mike...

Thanks for the additional instruction! Living where I do I have an over abundance of grouse (I limited out before noon yesterday) and I have a 48' greenhouse full of vegetables that I'd love to re-purpose; using natural ingredients to dye materials sounds like a wonderful fall/winter activity.

Beautiful color. I, too, would like the details of the dye bath; I love the idea of dyeing with vegetable matter. How much turmeric was required and did you have to keep revisiting the bath to achieve the end color?

Has anyone ever dyed material using beets? ...or anything else out of the garden.

Lol, may you never get tired of hooks, Dana; my education continues exponentially with every post . Bird and bunny season opened Monday, if you'd like more hare's feet, holler and I'll try and accommodate you.

Mike

Hope it was helpful, Mike. I would suggest that careful attention to what is happening while the herl is in the bleach solution is as important as is the bleach concentration. You need to have your neutralizing materials (vinegar solution) all ready and in close proximity. I would also suggest that...

Thank you, you made that very understandable. I need to be more careful measuring out my bleach apparently.

Hopefully I've posted this in the right place. I'm looking to use bleached peacock herl as a body material but I need a little help in understanding the process of bleaching the herl without burning it off the quill. Thanks!

I buy mine from Alvin Theriault in Maine. He collects them from local hunters. THERIAULT FLIES 1135 STATION ROAD STACYVILLE, ME 04777 www.theriaultflies.com Phone: 1-207-365-4007 or 1-866-562-0242 Alvin Theriault has a fantastic shop. A most of the capes and other feathers he sells come from birds ...