Cochineal Dying Workshop
Just when I thought my devotion to craft had reached an all time high, I received and invitation to a dying workshop, led by Britt Browne and co-hosted by Beatrice Valenzuela at her home in Echo Park. The theme was Cochineal, a tiny insect that lives on cacti and, when ground, becomes a gorgeous powder that is used for dying. Depending on the insect’s region of origin, the color varies from deep magenta to the brightest red.
Once Britt gave us the rundown on the process, we spent hours dying pieces of linen, eggs, paper and more in four different dye baths. We experimented with painting stripes, overdying and lots of other techniques. The whole experience felt like an exciting adventure, like you never knew exactly what you were going to get.
Keeping with the theme of pinks and reds, Bea put together a gorgeous spread of oxtail and red beans, pickled tomatoes, beets and pink olives (all on my Pink God’s Eye Runner). The day ended with a cocktail as we kicked our feet up and admired the rows of pink and red sheets of linens, drying in the breeze. Such a beautiful afternoon.
