Fiber, fiber everywhere

Historical origins of items we consume and use in our modern life of convenience are of real and abiding interest to me.  How in heaven's name, for instance, did someone decide that the bitter pill which is an olive could be brined and made into an absolutely divine treat?  Or that removing the pit and crushing the fruit would make such an incredible silky and delectable oil?  There are so many products, both Old World and New World that we eat, use, and take for granted.

On the surface, other products, such as wool and leather seem a little more obvious and logical.  May I introduce you to Badger, one of Connie Taylor's Navajo-Churro lambs from the spring of 2006?  The colors in his coat are amazing.

Photographing assorted wool products this month and attending the Taos Fiber Marketplace which was held this past weekend, made me think about felt.  It is another mystery product for me, made from animal fiber, but how did someone originally think that matting, pressing and condensing the fiber would make such functional and interesting products?  A huge variety of products from yurts to motor vehicles use felt.

Minna White has started her own line of functional felted products called Lana Dura.  One of the beverage holders, shown below, is perfect for keeping things at even temperatures and is big enough for the tallest bottles of wine or vodka.

The way fibers are felted is totally different from how they are used in a woven product.  Photographing it helps me see how differently the fiber behaves in felt than in a woven piece.   A "Stowe Away" bag from Lana Dura is shown below.  Next to it is a close up of the felt used.   Clicking on the shots produces bigger images for further investigation.

                                                        

                                               

Here is a detail of woven wool.

Fiber class is over for now.  The next fiber floating in the northern New Mexico air will be from the cottonwood trees, as they start their active season.  After all, it is spring and Earth Day!

until next Monday,

DB

a passion for the image