No fireworks, but lots of positive results, after several tries. I discovered, or really just noticed, a tree in our shop parking lot that looks like some variety of sumac (not poison). Correct me with a comment if I’m wrong.
Pale color, hoping for red on steamed paper.
But instead, a beautiful orange sumac soup at the bottom of the steam pot.
Pale linen from the first steaming was turned into bundles and dyed again in the sumac juice, turning different shades of orange. Small strips of linen were added to soak up every drop of this discovery. Rust shapes were put on the flat cloth and the juice deepened further.
The small bundles were made from the linen test strips that got some color from the juice. Then, rose petals, leaves and pods were tightly wrapped into the strips.
Another try at pressing leaves and steaming. Rust added.
Extra rust pieces are used to weight projects during drying.
Patience…
Ideas in Cloth 