Raw Cotton Update

   Remember the raw cotton I was gifted from a friend in North Carolina that lives near cotton fields?  She knows I like to play with fibers so she had sent me some thinking I would like the seeds. She says one can find the cotton still on the stems on the streets and highways after harveting.

  I shared that after being washed this cotton would not absorb any dye. So I bought a mordant-a fixative-and rewashed the cotton used the  mordant and soaked in the coffee-water for 24 hours. Still not much color take up at all.

  Sooo remembering tthat the cotton farmers use tons of chemicals to grow cotton, I did a research on what they might add before harvesting. Sadly I found a whole paragraph of chemicals and also one included killng the seeds that they apply before harvesting Not good at all.

    Soooo I just rinsed well, dried it and then since it was a tangled mess, grabbed a flicker-a fiber tool for cleaning-and worked to untangle. The fibers are soooo short that I just teased it all out with my fingers instead. The cotton is no longer a bright white but a softer white that I like better Those of you that followed me for awhile know I do not like white in a fiber project.

My original thought was to use this cotton for another needle felted "picture" art piece. Several years ago I did a piece with bears, that is framed and I love. Always wanted to do another piece. 

  While working with the cotton this afternoon, most of this cotton is sooo short, I got to thinking that perhaps I might make paper with this. Would mix it with a paper pulp. That could be fun.

  Any thoughts?  

  I am still without my car, I did know they were backed up when I took it in, but it is over 2 weeks ago now. My neighbor friend will give me a ride to town this week for some errands I need to do, and I will have her stop at the auto shop too. They are not returning my call which is so unike them

  Have a good week everyone