I'm Dyeing!

Dyed balls of wool roving

Week two of school went much more smoothly than week one. It was a short week because of Labor Day and I actually got to enjoy a full weekend since the library was closed for the holiday. I think the time off did me some good and better prepared me for the semester ahead. I was able to calm down, get some rest, and stop freaking out. And I had a chance to work on a couple of experiments for possible projects, just to kind of get the creative juices flowing.


For my feltmaking class we're focusing on dyeing our wool roving that we'll be using for future projects. We learned two different dying techniques, both using acid dyes. The first was a relatively quick, low-water, rainbow dye technique that we used the microwave to heat our roving in to set the dye. The second was an immersion dye method, where we simmered the wool and dye in big pots on the stove. It takes much longer but it produces much more even, consistent results, if that's what you're going for.

Pots of dye and roving simmer on the stove top.

 In the coming week I hope to get going with some actual felting projects and I have a meeting planned with my advisor to talk about my plans for the semester and for the program in general. I have so many ideas that it feels difficult to choose just a few to work on at a time. No worries, though, I've already thrown myself head first into a piece that I think is going to spark a whole series of similar pieces.

Tubs of roving sit to rinse and cool.

 Anyhow, it feels good to put the self-doubt and fear aside and just work in the studio. I'm starting to feel excited about all the possibilities that lie ahead and I think things are going to work out just fine. I owe a debt to all my friends and family who offered me kind words when I needed them most. I couldn't do this without them and I truly feel lucky to have them in my life and to have this opportunity to kick ass in grad school and make them all proud.