Raven and Sparrow

Second dip

The second time around in the same dye bath was a complete bust. All I did was muddy up the pomegranate from the first try and degrade the wax. Its very disappointing. I guess all of the dye molecules in the bath bound with the iron from the bars and was unavailable for the cloth. So...re-mordant, taking all the time I want, and then try again with fresh dye. I hope some wax is left by the time I get that far.

First dip

I sewed the rusty straps onto my winter cloth (luckily I found three more when we moved the scrap wood pile) and rolled in from both outside edges toward the center. Then I stood the double roll in the pomegranate/myrobalan bath and brought the heat up twice (once to 160F and once to 180F, holding for at least an hour and then cooling overnight each time.) I think I rolled too tightly because the dye barely penetrated the inside of the rolls. The wicking action of what dye did get through is disappointing. This is what I was afraid of when I did the previous tests on the wider cloth, but I thought it would be okay. The cloth is back in the alum acetate mordant while I figure out how I want to re-fold and re-dye. Although pom adheres without mordant, I thought it would be good to give it all the encouragement I could offer and for this first dye I let the alum acetate cure on the cloth for a week. The next round won't be so careful because I don't want the dye to mold before I get the cloth back in. I used a lot of dye that I don't want to waste. I'll let you know.

Ready to mordant

I have waxed the Becky's winter tablecloth and put it into mordant to prepare for the rusty metal/wicking process. The pattern looked okay at quarter size on paper, but I am less excited about it now that I see the real thing. Unfortunately, it is unchangeable, at least on this piece of cloth. We must march onward.

Walking to Sare's Head

Yesterday I just couldn't concentrate on anything so I dropped my chores and plans and started walking. Just to the north of us is a county park that includes a high viewpoint called Sare's Head. As the crow flies it is very close to our house, but the terrain is seriously rough and I was looking for mental health, not physical challenge, so I walked up the road and used the proper park entrance.

The first interesting feature looked like a field from the edge, but it was a shallow lake/pond/marsh full of reeds and birds. The trail skirted the pond, allowing glimpses of red-wing blackbirds, herons and ducks amid the cat-tails and emerging water lilies before turning into the woods. This island is granite with a thin layer of vegetation, but in the woods the plants rule. The trees are thick, but the new leaves of spring allowed sunshine to filter through and light up the ferns and moss. It was green and very quiet. Rock outcroppings reared up, with tree roots as big as trunks draping over them. The trail had been newly laid with gravel, which made the walk dry and easy compared to the muddy, rooty scramble it used to be, but it was still steep.  

Quite suddenly, the path opened out onto a wide, high rocky bald; Sare's Head. The view was a sweeping panorama of North Puget Sound on a perfect spring day. Sitting alone on this promontory soaking up the beauty of the world was a true tonic for my wandering spirit.