into the commercial dryer they went. dozens of samples. dozens of fiber combinations, all sorts of colors and patterns, screen printed, direct dyed, tie dyed, photo emulsions, painted... in they went. the lady (there's always a lady) hobbled around as i sat down with my history text. and read, while the dryer thumped.
thumped.
and thumped. the lady hustled to the phone with alarm and called the volunteer fire department. making eye contact, i emerged from the study trance to see her fling open my dryer "HEY!" i protested. inside my somewhat smaller precious collection of samples nestled in the steel drum were in flames. over i ran and in scurried firemen and poured in some water as smoke poured out of the vents under the dryer. the firemen scooped up the fiber and flung it out the door onto the walk. one semester's work. burned. melted. unsalvagable.
a new version of "the dog ate my homework".
...and to explain, you must visit india's challenge and know that this story is NOT fiction, so it doesn't qualify, but oh my god, it's true and it just about killed me.
Great story! and valuable learning experience!
ReplyDeleteoh gosh......i'd be in tears. glad you shared this one. life and it's curveballs.
ReplyDeleteoh and all along i thought you made it up. now i am not laughing.
ReplyDeleteDo you think that I can survive in India if I am a clean freak? I want to go; but my kids say I'll never make it.
ReplyDeletei can laugh now. i was amazed by that intervention! fire in the landramat. i worked really really hard to get enough samples in just a short time. i think i got a decent grade, but to be honest i don't remember.
ReplyDeleteindia--though i can't speak from personal experience, i'd say go instead to a scandanavian country where cleanliness is the standard. or, shed the freakishness!
so moisture was needed after all, nasty little lesson for a 19yo...k.
ReplyDeletethe photo is priceless.
ReplyDeleteindia's photo, my learning. my experience with synthetic dye printing processes was, shall we say, negative.
ReplyDeletewonderful story. Was the burnt tangle just thrown away or did you use it in your work?
ReplyDeletedid you make peace w. synthetic dyes after, let's say, the accident? good story
ReplyDeletei may have salvaged one or two bits. i made peace with synthetic dyes, but NOT synthetic fabrics!
ReplyDelete