A Matter of Absorption

A row of newly stained leather heels sat resting on the drying shelf just beyond the cobbler's cutting table. One thick welt had pooled an excess bead of dark edge dye that was threatening to drip across the clean grain of the timber. Leaving my camera slung safely behind my shoulder, I picked up a triangular scrap of natural wool felt from an open offcut tray. Bracing my boots against the pine rack, I carefully brought the dry corner of the felt to touch the edge of the puddle. Capillary action did the work in two silent seconds, drawing the dark liquid cleanly away. The edge line cured sharp and even.