Indigo Day

 Artistic Artifacts in Alexandria offers indigo dyeing classes during the summer months. All methods of dyeing require a warm temperature to help colors develop and set. Indigo is unique. Oxygen is a critical component. Fabric goes into the deep blue vats. Dyers carefully lift it out---and the fabric is a confusingly bright shade of chartreuse. Air meets indigo and the fabric changes from green to green-blue and finally to the color of a pair of new jeans. Dip and lift. Dip and lift. We open our carefully stitched, folded or  wrapped bundles, each one a surprise package. They rest on the bushes and bloomed-out daylilies where we all admire them and marvel at the magic that is a pot of indigo.