NCAP Blog

NCAP
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Academic Programs
    • Navajo Cultural Arts Certificate
    • Navajo Cultural Arts BFA
    • Navajo Cultural Arts Dual Credit
    • Indigenous Visionaries
    • Apprenticeship Program
  • Community Outreach
    • Exhibits
    • Workshop Series
    • Conversation Series
    • Language Series
    • Radio Series
  • Events
  • Newsletter
  • Online Resources
  • People
  • Contact

"What's On My Fire": Wool Dying with Navajo Tea

7/2/2020

0 Comments

 

Tamerra Martin

Navajo Weaving BFA Student: CA315 Wool Processing II

Picture
Navajo Tea ready to boil!
Yá'át'éeh, Greetings!  I hope that you and yours are well and healthy during these challenging times. I am very excited to share my very first “What’s On My Fire” update that will fill you in on my progress of learning how to dye wool with Sarah Nataanii. Learning to dye with natural plants that have been utilized by Weavers from past to present is one of my dreams. We will also be learning how to dye wool with commercial dyes as well. 
In preparation of dying wool, I found it interesting that it was encouraged to recycle or repurpose materials.  There’s really no need to go and purchase everything new.  You just have to look around and see what you could use.  A metal basket with bailing wire could be turned into a strainer or empty water/milk jugs could be used to make tags to label your skeins.
Our first lesson was to dye with Navajo Tea.  My helpers, and myself, harvested Navajo Tea that was growing near home.  We looked for the batch that was ready for harvest; the ones that already had blossoms on them.  We picked a big batch!  Half was used for the dye and the other half was rolled and tied for tea.
Picture
My harvesting helpers :)
Once the tea was ready; we added the unbleached white wool and the heather gray wool...the colors that came from the first dye bath were very subdued.  The second dye bath, when the alum mordant was added, the colors was very bright!  The first dye lesson was a success! 
Picture
Wool dyed with Navajo tea
When seeing the colors that developed from this lesson, I couldn’t help but think about the many other plants on the land that serve a purpose.  Whether it was a natural remedy for an ailment, or an essential item for a ceremonial reason or a utilitarian item; these plants served a purpose.  I am very honored to be learning these ways and that I can share this with my helpers.  We are already looking forward to the next plant dye session.

If you are interested in joining the Navajo Weaving BFA program in the fall, be sure to get in contact with Christine Ami (cmami@dinecollege.edu) or Crystal Littleben (cclittleben@dinecollege.edu). It's a one of a kind program - only offered here at Diné College!    ​​​
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    Apprenticeship Program
    Basket Making
    Certificate Program
    Dual Credit
    Emerging Artisan
    Ephraim Anderson
    Harry Walters
    Holistic Well Being
    Indigenous Visionaries
    Lyndon Tsosie
    Moccasin Making
    Navajo Cultural Arts Week
    Navajo Weaving BFA
    NCAP Intern
    NCAP Staff
    Peyote Fans
    Sewing
    Silversmithing
    Sue V. Begay
    TahNibaa Naataanii
    Tammy Martin
    Valene Hatathlie
    Weaving

    Archives

    October 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    February 2020
    October 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    August 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    October 2017
    September 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    June 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016

Socials

        ALL PHOTOS IMAGES ARE COPYRIGHT PROTECTED. PHOTO IMAGES USE IS SUBJECT TO PERMISSION BY THE NAVAJO CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAM. NO FORM OF REPRODUCTION IS PERMITTED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE NAVAJO CULTURAL ARTS PROGRAM. 

Featured Pages

Academic Programs
Community Outreach
Blog
Contact
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Academic Programs
    • Navajo Cultural Arts Certificate
    • Navajo Cultural Arts BFA
    • Navajo Cultural Arts Dual Credit
    • Indigenous Visionaries
    • Apprenticeship Program
  • Community Outreach
    • Exhibits
    • Workshop Series
    • Conversation Series
    • Language Series
    • Radio Series
  • Events
  • Newsletter
  • Online Resources
  • People
  • Contact