Caroline and I were in L.A. so she could attend an event sponsored by Griffin Dyeworks called A One-Day Fiber Frolic. Before she got busy dyeing fiber (and her hands) indigo blue, she met with the host of this event, Bjo Trimble. Who is Bjo, you ask? She’s the person, along with her husband John, who is credited with successfully petitioning the studio to make Star Trek back in the day by creating a third season. Not only that, they played an instrumental role in getting one of the space shuttles named Enterprise.
With that photo saved, I headed out on my own to attempt to take photos. I say “attempt to take photos” as opposed to “taking photos” because soon after snapping this image, I was locked in mad traffic of motoring hordes plowing the streets to shop, eat, and be entertained, making me a prisoner within the four doors of our car. Nowhere was I able to park for a mere few minutes to allow me to jump out to snap a quick photo. Signs offered an hour of parking for $5 or even the bargain price of $8 for all-day parking, but I only wanted twenty-five cents worth, and such a deal was not negotiable.
In the distance, a blue mountain is rising from the Pacific Ocean, that is Catalina Island off the Southern California coast. In the foreground is downtown Los Angeles, as seen from Briggs Terrace on the edge of the Angeles National Forest. Although hazy, the view was perfect as you are looking out nearly 70 miles (112km). If you click this photo and view the larger image, you might see Long Beach Harbor, where the edge of land meets the ocean. Near the cranes used to unload shipping containers sits the Vincent Thomas Bridge which spans 1,500 feet, crossing the Los Angeles Harbor and connecting San Pedro and Los Angeles with Terminal Island. The road on the bridge stands 185 feet (56 meters) over the channel. To the right of downtown, a blimp can be seen.
A parade in Chinatown created an hour-long detour, requiring a circumnavigation of the downtown area before dumping me into the City Terrace area in East Los Angeles, a neighborhood popular with gangs. Lucky for me, I had already eaten a giant pastrami chili burrito at Oki Dog, allowing me to feel as though I had at least a little bit of good fortune before grinding my teeth in frustration at moving across a city of 498 square miles (1290km2) loaded with 12.9 million people.
After I was done with my bit of frustrated exploring, it was time to return to where I’d dropped off Caroline. They weren’t quite done yet, so I had to opportunity to snap some photos for my wife’s memories, such as the outdoor natural dye lab with pots of indigo and cochineal.
Inkle looms, bringing amazement to Caroline as she’d never seen such a device.
I know you want to ask what this felt like as it appears textured, but it’s absolutely flat. This silk shawl has been dyed using salt crystals.
Caroline asked that I snap a photo of this contraption used for weaving in the Kumihimo style, whatever that is.
[That is a Marudai, John, although I did not know that at the time. – Caroline]
The results of Caroline’s day of natural dying.