experimenting with lichen dyes

since i have collected some lichens from our wood pile and other salvaged bit and pieces i thought i would give this a go - the local library kindly found KD Casselman's slim tome "Lichen Dyes - a new source book" (2001) on inter-library loan for me - so i've read it and made notes on the relevant bits 

the first hurdle is identifying the lichens so that i can use the right method for extracting colour ...... although some of the ones i have collected are distinctly different the rest of them look very similar - i have found some good on-line photos to help and decided to focus on becoming familiar with the ones known to yield dye but i think that in the end it will be a case of  'suck it and see' !!!!

i have started a very small trial in Ammonia Method extraction with what i think is some Xanthoria:

after 4 days there is already a difference in the colour of the liquor and lichens, both are going greener - and i am getting a persistent froth after shaking/aeration, although i shall be relieved when i don't need to remember to shake it so often

i've just realised that i'm going to have to take this brew with me when we go off in the caravan as it will take about 16 weeks and needs regular shaking! and, since i decided to use the more traditional and "green" stale urine, i will have to make sure the jar doesn't get broken

i also had a stab at the Boiled Water Method - this sounded simpler but the instructions give pretty specific temperatures for simmering and i don't have a thermometer - this method is mainly for producing green/orange/brown colours which i can easily get by other means - already i am wondering whether it will be worth the effort? i have a feeling that i could achieve the same colours without all this fiddling about! meanwhile i shall carry on with other experiments and won't be holding my breath!