It seems as if spring has arrived. I awoke on Sunday morning to a light rain. Looking out the grass was greening. A flock of seven robins flew in; the first I had seen this year. They pecked happily at the ground. Amazingly, one was white with a red breast.
The following days have been glorious sun and 60 degrees in the day. Today there are clouds, but the sun is coming through, highlighting hayfields and pastures to the west. The mountains are a bright blue.
I will be setting up an area outside today to iron the wax out of the batik that I have finished. Ironing the wax from the cloth is quite a long process.It can take from half an hour to one hour to remove the wax from a larger batik 24x 30 to 26×40.
The ironing is good to do outdoors when weather permits or in an open garage with cross ventilation, as inhaling the wax fumes is bad for the lungs. ( see earlier postings).
I use paper towels and plain sheets of newspaper next to the fabric and printed newspaper may be used over these to absorb the excess wax. Printed newspaper cannot be used next to the batik without having the print melt into the fabric.With the plain towels and newspaper next to the fabric the iron is slowly moved over the surface until they are saturated with melted wax. The paper towels and newspaper are changed many times until all the wax that will be removed has been absorbed.
The wax on a batik that has been through all its stages gives it a muted look, but after the ironing has been completed the image becomes clear, the colors brilliant and the fine veining in the waxing process is magically revealed.
The fabric has a parchment like feel to it. the batik is now ready to be mounted on a dowel or carved hanger or it may be stretched over canvas stretchers and framed.
Evening has come. Before the sun sets I walk up the hill behind our house and look off to the west. The view is expansive with layers treees and fields. As a cloud hits the setting sun the light filters down and gently accents layer after layer of mountains. Back home I head to the garage to finish ironing a couple more batik.
