These are some of the experiments with natural dyes that i did this summer. At spoonfest this year a lot of the focus was on painted spoons however i decided to look towards what the trees themselves have to offer, such as walnut husks and elderberry amongst some others of which were less successful i found using mordants (alum and iron) could improve the depth of colour or would brighten the colour.
I leave the handles in a warm dye bath over night and that seems to give a good strong colour which lasts after many washes. i prefer the results to a lot of the painted handles it seems to be a more natural finish. im still very much in the experimentation phase of these and only have one spoon of which ive been using regularly to observe how the colour fades over time which is natural for both painted and dyed spoons.
2carvedspoons 
Nice. I like the stain look better too. Let’s more of the grain show through. That elderberry blue is particularly gorgeous.
thanks, yeah i know what you mean, strong natural colours and they really work with the wood to highlight it not hide it.