Prickly Pear Cactus
These white blobs are the cochineal bugs' foam that dyes remain pink and purple.
That foam smeared right on cotton.
Use tongs!
Such gorgeous color! However - it faded as it dried.
Cochineal – the historic Red dye – and the dye from the cactus fruit. I have barely scratched the surface. The gorgeous pink dye from the cactus fruit did not set – it faded as it dried! My next research/exploration will be how to prepare the dye and the fabric to keep that pink.
So much to learn about cochineal – the bugs on the cactus leaves
So much to learn about the beautiful Prickly Pears themselves – besides their amazing fruits.