A Class with India

I have returned from my journey to Tennessee.  In a small rural town 90 miles outside of Nashville I attended a 5 day long class with India Flint. (My piece is featured on her mosaic of the class...upper left).  We learned to felt her way and dye with local plants.  She speaks so softly this tall woman with browned tattooed hands.  But she freely gives of her extensive knowledge that includes Latin names and chemical reactions.  Mostly she encourages you to find your own way while stepping softly on the earth. 

We made a simple scarf from a tube that was felted after sewing bits and bobs of silk and some cotton. 

They were dried but not dyed. 

We then made a sample piece of botanical dyed silk. She has us lay them out on the floor....they were wonderful. 

We went on a walk with a naturalist and India to discuss local flora and how to identify plants and those most likely to give colors.  Oak leaves were the primary source for the silk strips above.

The class then embroidered and sewed pieces that were dyed then felted together.  

Our dye pots were always full with everyone waiting excitedly to open their bundles.  

Many of us worked until the wee hours of the night.....arranging and piecing our landskin quilt. 

India cobbled a piece together for us to follow her process.  I think overall we did well.  

Thank you India.  It truly was an amazing experience.