Grosjean grows plants to dye the wool she uses for the brightly-colored geometric patterns in her rugs, and she buys other raw materials. According to Grosjean, people usually think of Maine as green and blue. But there s also a lot of red in those inspiring blueberry fields, for instance. It was the reason for commerce. Indigo usually doesn t grow in northern climates but Grosjean has had success with a Japanese variety of indigo seeds given to her by a friend.
Maine has great natural resources.
It s neat to know you can grow in Maine all the colors of the ancient carpets. Grosjean also grows flax to weave into linen and to use in the rugs and masks. In the winter, the wool simmers for days in dye pots on top of a big wood-burning stove to get the dark colors. The dye is kept at about 160 degrees, a little cooler than that if flowers are used. Nobody is in it alone, Grosjean and Merrill said.