Day 2

Today I chose my yarns. I need yarns that are as thin as possible in order that the plant fibers can be burnt out, but they must also be strong enough to serve as warp threads in weaving. I will be using wool, cotton, silk, and linen to begin with. I calculate that it will cost about £75 for a 5 yard 24 inch warp. This is my chance to use silk, which may not happen again soon because it is so expensive.
I also spent some time in the library choosing books on marketing and shibori tie dyeing.
The project is beginningto take form in my mind. An old Donovan song was running through my head "First there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there is." and "Caterpillar sheds his skin to find a butterfly within." It's related to the project. What I want to accomplish is to share the magic of a plain white cloth being dyed and a pattern emerging because of the differend dyeing characteristics of the fibers and their different vulnerability to burn-out. I want to see changes in the texture of the woven pattern of the cloth. And I want to see the differences in the texture of the fibers "rise out" from a cloth that includes two different fibers.
I'm now thinking of a warp graduated across. Silk to cotton to wool to linen to silk. And then maybe copy that arrangement in the weft.
Just having the time devoted to art is improving matters as well. The time gave me the opportunity to see an article about an Anglian group of artists who are all 49 or over. This resonates with me because I see so many opportunities for young people that are at the same point in their UK art careers as I am, only I'm 54 and a new immigrant.