Another score from PAFF...
This is Mbuti Pygmy bark cloth from the Congo, probably made in the Ituri forest, but the translator wasn't sure if they were made by a collective of people from the forest, or if they comprise of materials gathered in the forest but put together by other people elsewhere. (That kind of thing is important to me when dealing with textiles that come from regions where it is difficult for people to earn a sustainable income and/or control their work.)
All I know is that it was UNBELIEVEABLY cheap (which, I must admit, is not a good sign as far as the sustainable income thing goes). One of the pieces they gave to me for free to experiment upon, probably because both of them got tired of my endless questions of what it could take. I knew what it was when I saw it on the table, but having never touched this stuff in real life I needed to know what happens if it gets wet? What if it's in the sun for an extended period? Woolite, regular or baby shampoo? Does it fall apart if you cut it? What if I need to iron it? Stuff like that. They were like, WE DON'T KNOW! STOP ASKING THESE WEIRDO QUESTIONS!
I cut a chunk out of the free one and have been experimenting with water soaks, stretching, letting it air dry, ironing it, crinkling it when wet, letting the cat chew on it, and putting it in the dryer at the 24-hour drug dealer lalundry. Can say this so far - this is some tough stuff.
There's a poem I like very much that I've been thinking about turning into a fabric piece for myself. I tend to make these cloth things for others and never actually get around to doing one for myself, but when I saw this detail --
-- knew I had to use it for the one for Me. I have no idea what I'm going to do with the rest of this bark cloth, but down the road if an idea hits, I'm set. It has an interesting texture. I also like the way it smells.
Nope.. I'm still not actually "back" back. It just looks like I am.
