Roan Mountain Primitives

Located in the heart of the southern Appalachian Mountains.... Naturally Dyed Wool Yarns, Handwoven goods, Flint Knapping, and Primitive Skills. Using the techniques that were needed to survive in earlier times, our work is created with an appreciation of the natural world and the marvelous connections amongst living things.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Rhododendron Gardens at their peak!

Posted by Jennifer and Bob at 8:59 PM No comments:
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A Dyer's Sampler

A Dyer's Sampler
Some Appalachian mountain colors!

Visit us at these upcoming events.......

  • Getting ready to nestle in for the winter ..... Look for late spring events in 2012!

Wood-fired primitive pottery

Wood-fired primitive pottery

Bob Estep demonstrates the art of flint-knapping

Bob Estep demonstrates the art of flint-knapping

Natural Dyeing Demonstration

Natural Dyeing Demonstration

Want to find out more?

Jennifer and Bob
Roan Mountain, Tennessee
highlandlady53@embarqmail.com roanknapper@embarqmail.com
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      • Rhododendron Gardens at their peak!
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Sunny's Shawl

Sunny's Shawl
Thanks for the GREAT color challenge!

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Eastern Hemlock

Eastern Hemlock

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Notes on Oaks

The oak is in the genus Quercus, with approximately 400 species worldwide!

Its wood is renowned for its hardness, strength, and high tannin content. The ability of this genus to ward off insect and fungal attacks comes from the presence of tannin.

The bark of some oaks has been used in medicine, tanning, and for dyes. Acorns, the fruit of all oak species, have long been used as a source of hog feed, tannin, and oil. Even though many articles will recommend the use of acorns as feed, it has also been noted that livestock have died after eating large quantities of acorns.

When acorns were historically prepared to make flour or to roast, it was important to remove the tannins, which produces a very bitter flavor. One method used to leach out the tannins is to put the hulled nuts in a porous bag, put it in a flowing creek or river, and allow the moving water to wash the tannins away.

Tannins are desirable when dyeing wool, as they assist in helping the rich brown color to "stick" to the fiber and not wash out of the yarn.

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