out of two dye-pots: bindweed

Many bindweed vines, Convulvulus arvensis, were gathered to make a big batch of dye-bath (the same way as last summer, except I used a stainless-steel pot instead of aluminum for the first step of simmering). The strained dye-bath was then divided between two other pots -- one rusty iron, one stainless steel. I immersed identical fibers -- silks, wool, cotton (pre-mordanted in soy milk) and linen -- put the lids on the pots and waited two months. 

Dark and light. The dark reminds me of a thunderstorm. The cotton dinner napkin in the top left portends a whole set, so as to make use of all our stained white napkins. I'm thinking -- would white dinner napkin qualify as an oxymoron?

Next summer is looking very hopeful for the bindweed deva around here, I may even water her.

Thanks for visiting and happy weekending.  xo

color alert: Well, things changed. The iron pot cloths were that amazing color of blueish slate for approximately a day and a half, even after drying. And now have faded to the point that there is barely a trace of a thunderstorm left. So sad. But still quite lovely -- the markings, the rusting, and some color remains -- the dinner napkin project goes on. I'll post a photo soon. I'm wondering if I should have done something differently? The golds from the stainless steel pot are strong, maybe even stronger.