The Making of Sophia (Wisdom)

I held up an eco-printed scarf yesterday after removing all the leaves from within the bundle and finally saw the clear imprint and veins in the leaves that I’d used.

‘Progress,” I told myself, closer to where I want my eco dyed scarves to look…but more lessons to learn along the way I am sure I can expect.

Sophia, the name I’d give to this rusty colored scarf, (because Sophia means wisdom) was done because of all the wisdom and knowledge I’d picked up about working with iron water such as, soaking the scarf in iron water before layering the leaves on it, then dipping the leaves in iron water and finally covering the whole works with an iron blanket (actually a white sheet from the thrift store, ripped to size and soaked in iron water and then laid on top of the scarf) and then rolling the whole thing up and tying with string and lowering it into the old turkey roaster and boiling it in iron water. 

I wondered – is there such as thing as too much iron water? The answer, as I held the scarf up in the kitchen sink was – NO! I had gotten the best definition of all by using this particular method. I will use more of this in my eco dyeing process!

That morning I’d returned from one of my “visits to the hedgerow,” where I’d collected a bag full of leaves, ferns and leaves with small berries that were beginning to turn red. This particular hedgerow stands behind my favorite thrift store and is easy to access. Also, no one seems to be around as I stand with clippers in hand gazing into the wood for what can be gleaned and used in my eco dyeing.

I’ve started to travel with the clippers either in my car or in my purse so as I drive along and see something interesting that I think I can use to turn into dyes or imprints – I often pull over and leap out of the seat to collect.

I count myself lucky to live in a climate (Florida) where we have green plants all year round. It makes looking for fall leaves a little challenging but I’m beginning to see both yellow and brown leaves lying about that I can work with. I also have been preserving them between sheets of newsprint so I will have a supply when they are no longer available.

Am I having fun yet – oh boy! The colors, the techniques, the surprise of it all is so much fun! The best part is showing the scarves to others and casually stating that they might have been made with leftover coffee and yellow onion skins and they look aghast and yet, can’t get over their unique beauty.

~ Lorrie