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SMITH & LEN | naturally dyed goods by brooke luallen

@smith.and.len

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〰️plant dyed in CA
〰️every purchase will help students in west africa access clean water

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How do I care for my new naturally dyed items?! 🌼

Natural dyes are not like synthetic dyes - which is obviously what makes them special! But it takes a little bit of extra care when washing and storing your new naturally dyed piece.

Each piece is properly scoured and mordanted (pre-treated) to last.

Once the item gets to you, it needs to be:
•washed ONLY with cold water - otherwise it might fade
•use only pH neutral soap (free and clear soaps)- otherwise the colors may shift/change or it will fade
•dry on medium or low, or air dry in the shade- silk must be air dried otherwise it could burn
•store out of direct sunlight - will cause the dye to fade slowly
•always be careful around acids (lemon juice) or anything that could alter the pH/color of the dye

If we remember that these are colors from nature, and to treat them accordingly the color will last a long time.

Think of that old tapestry that you love looking at in the museum in Paris - natural dyes!

📸 @devynbphoto taken in Fresno, California by @smith.and.len

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

RE:FRESH is LIVE! Head to our website (www.smithandlen.com) to snag one (or a few) of our 8 RE:FRESH spots that are available this fall!

Click on the link for REFRESH on our website and reserve a spot by checking out and paying the $10. By paying the $10 fee you will be reserving your spot and the $10 will go towards your final payment.

After you reserve your spot, I will contact you via email to send you a link to fill out a form. Then we will start the process of working together to RE:FRESH your wardrobe and create a more sustainable world!

This gorgeous bedspread was RE:FRESHed for the lovely @yslnc with her collaboration with @parachutehome ! I absolutely love how it turned out. And that green color came from onion skins!!!!

📸 @yvettita by @smith.and.len

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4 years ago

Market prep is happening!!! We have a handful of exciting events coming up in the next month. Stay tuned to see where you can find beautiful naturally dyed AND hand painted items like this one!

I’m painting with soy milk to create these amazing patterns on our hand towels. 🖌️ by @smith.and.len

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3 days ago

Are you headed to @sweetthistlefarms this weekend for all the amazing fall goodness or pumpkins, food, cheese, and vendors?! Well guess what you can pick up while you are there?! Some SMITH & LEN! 🍂🎃

They are stocked up with all your naturally dyed favs - socks, scrunchies, scarves, and more!!!

Who’s visiting @sweetthistlefarms in the month of October?!

Look at this amazing view!

Which item is catching your eye??! 👀 taken in Sweet Thistle Farms by @smith.and.len

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7 days ago

We are so thrilled to announce that our ever so popular Smith & Len silk scrunchies are now available to shop at the incredible @ladamasalon ✨ Multiple sizes and colors are available!

We are so grateful to have such amazing partnerships with incredible local businesses. Head over to shop now before they run out! taken in La Dama Salon by @smith.and.len

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9 days ago

This summer has been a slowing down period for Smith + Len. I have taken on a few custom projects and I’ve continued to dye for the Shades of the San Joaquin collection with @nicholsonhatco 🤠 which is always one of my favorites to work on.

But most of it has been spent with my kids and visiting friends and family, heading to wild water, going to sports camps, going on family trips, and just enjoying my two children as they get older.

The creativity has been at all-time low lately, and more on that later, but I’m excited to get started working on some new projects and get ready for @theoldtownfleamarket in November.

Thanks for continuing to follow and support Smith + Len! by @smith.and.len

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a month ago

🔔SCHEDULE UPDATE!🔔
Just wanted to let you all know that I will NOT be selling at The Old Town Flea Market this May (in two weeks). However I am planning to return this coming November! I will be headed to England this coming week to attend a dear friend’s wedding.

I will miss seeing you all during this year’s market and will miss all my vendor friends, but I know it will be one amazing flea! Don’t miss out!! There are some really amazing businesses working their tails off for you!

If you are in need of any naturally dyed goods, my website is always available for your shopping needs. Or you can head to @maarte.fresno or @sweetthistlefarms to shop in person! See you soon! by @smith.and.len

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6 months ago

How else do we reduce reuse & recycle at Smith & Len?! Read how we do this and what is coming to celebrate!

🌼 All of our dyes are made with nature, not chemicals like most of our clothing and products.

🌼 A lot of our plants, flowers, and food waste that we use to dye comes from my personal garden or from others food waste, like @rappitup ❤️ Janna supplies us with most of our avocados and onion skins!

🌼 We only use fibers that come from nature - cotton, linen, silk, and wool.

🌼 We strive to create items to help make your home and life more sustainable like our reusable market bags, fabric napkins, or hand towels (that can double up as wrapping for gifts or wine!).

🌼 All the water that is used to create our dyes are either reused or used to water the plants in my garden - yes the ones that I dye with! And our left over dye waste is composted into soil thanks to my @getlomi Talk about circle of life!

🌼 and last but not least, here at Smith & Len, we have an amazing program called RE:FRESH! Our RE:FRESH program begin four years ago today with the idea of creating a more sustainable wardrobe and environment by RE:FRESHing and redyeing items in your closet that are stained or old and giving them a new life instead of sending them to a landfill.

If you’ve got this far, our coveted RE:FRESH PROGRAM IS NOW OPEN for the year!!!! And I’ve only got 5 spots available for you to claim. Head to the link in our bio or stories 🤩

📸 @daniellekjones_ @yvettita by @smith.and.len

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6 months ago

Have you purchased your tickets yet for our workshop this Saturday @basilwood at noon?! Head to my bio or the link in my stories to secure your spot! We will be dyeing a beautiful silk scarf together with plants, flowers, and even vegetables.

Come join us for a beautiful day under the trees. Bring a friend, sister, mother, or even coworker that you love for a great time of creativity. Can’t wait to see you all!!! taken in Basilwood Farm by @smith.and.len

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6 months ago

My goal this year was to find multiple ways to make Easter eggs more sustainable. Not only does this make it the perfect decoration year after year, without spending more money or buying more plastic, but it also helps with the fact that real eggs are so expensive. 🤪🐣 This was such a fun project that can even be done with your kids! I took some @modpodgecrafts from my cabinet and some pressed flowers and carefully layered them on top of the wood eggs. It is a delicate process for some flowers as the petals are thin, but others were hardy and took a little more glue. Even if you don’t have modpodge, you can use some white glue and a little bit of water for the same results! I let them sit for about 4-6 hours and they were ready. They now sit with my naturally dyed eggs on the dining table and are ready for our Easter breakfast Sunday morning!

Will you try this project?! by @smith.and.len

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7 months ago

Have you ever wanted to learn how to naturally dye? How about bundle dye? Don’t know what either one of those things are?! JOIN Smith & Len Saturday, April 11th at 1:00 p.m. at Basilwood Farm for a BUNDLE DYE WORKSHOP where we will be dyeing your very own silk scarf with plants, flowers, and vegetables! We will get to learn about the basics of naturally dyeing so that you can do it at home.
It’s easy to sign up...click on the picture for the link. Don’t miss this amazing day under the trees and with the goats @basilwood farm.
› Here are the details...
Come discover the fundamentals of natural dyes and bundle dyeing with a two-hour course. You will learn the techniques of how to bundle dye with materials from your own backyard. We will be dyeing with many items such as: marigolds, hibiscus, cosmos, onion skins, black beans, and cochineal. You will get the opportunity to bundle dye your very own silk scarf to take home. Invite a friend or two to hang out with on the farm under the trees. Cost is $68 per person.
What’s included?
* Step by step instruction on the fundamentals of natural dyeing using the technique of bundle dyeing
* One 25” × 25” silk scarf
* Flowers & plants to dye with
* Memories with old or new friends
*Spots are limited. So sign up now!!
All of these pictures are of the wonderful ladies who have joined in past workshops. So grateful for every one of them. taken in Basilwood Farm by @smith.and.len

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7 months ago