Tossing in the whole shirt

After the workshop with India finished, my feet did not touch the ground

for about two weeks.

The first dye pot to hit the little hot plate on the porch 

became a native "soup" ... still riding high on inspiration,

I took a gamble with a weedy willow by the back pond

and after a vigorous haircut ~ leaves, branches, twigs, bark and all ~

simmered up some [surprising] tannin-rich color.

Then I decided to dye an entire shirt ...

yes, me ~ the one who only dyes small scraps of things.

- spent innards from the dye bundle & the wrapping stone -

During a jaunt to the village earlier in the week there had been a gentle query:

had I ever used  those leaves  [pointing to a purple-leaved maple] for dyeing? 

to which I replied, no.

When it was heartily suggested that I give them a go,

I knew that not heeding this very wise voice of experience

would be foolish.

A carpet of windfall was conveniently at hand on my next visit.

- saving string -

It was a challenge wrapping an entire piece of clothing.  I hadn't done it before

and found myself imagining where the stronger marks would appear; 

should leaves be face-up or down; would I

wrap around a piece of wood so as to float half submerged, or a stone,

to sink to the bottom.

This wrapping string

Red Silver Maiden Grass ~ Miscanthus sinensis 'Rotsilber'

had quite a lot in common with the plumes of the maiden grass

next to the house, I thought ...

which relates to the outcome in a way, too.

Everything is so connected in this arena

of the natural world.

Echoes everywhere.

I am so comfortable here.

Now, if I only had a tad bit of tailoring ability I'd be able to

deconstruct this silky number and turn it into something that fits.

[must keep that in mind the next time I decide to save a whole shirt from the scrapper.]

:::

When next I post, it will be my  200th  ... how is that possible?

Perhaps we should celebrate, mark the event with a small *giveaway* ...

a name-in-the-hat thing for those of you who visit.

I'm so grateful.

Oh yes, this could be fun ... I'll see what I can come up with.  

Maybe dawg will have a paw handy 

to pick the name.