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Finished Product!

Sateen

 Unbleached Muslin

Redyed Muslin

"Ice Cube" (Ironed)

I don't think I will use unbleached muslin again to dye when I want really bright colors.  The colors appear more dusky than bright.  Hopefully the unbleached will work in my rust experiment.  The sateen is wonderful though!  Really takes up the color well!  I am anxious to try the print cloth and see how that works.  

A Box of Chocolates!

Creative energy is here for me!  All I want to do is "create"---not housework (who likes to do that anyway); not cook (some people like that I know); read (I once did); knit (I once did that as well)!  I want to create fabric and so I am doing what people my age have earned the right to do----I am doing it! 

This morning I got up with every intention of going to church.  My husband and I once would spend hours talking and planning. Not so much anymore----baseball has nudged me out, but this morning he wanted to talk, and so I did!  Before I knew it it was way past time for me to leave and be on time, so after ending our conversation and when he went back to his I-pad and games, I decided to go "create".
 
Last night as I was surfing the web, I read an article about "ice dyeing" using ice cubes, so last night I went out into the garage and tried my hand at it.  I also redyed the unbleached muslin pieces since the colors weren't as intense as I would have liked.  This morning I washed the color out and saw what I had.  It is a bit like opening a present---or as Forrest Gump would say, "opening a box of chocolates, you never know what you might get".  I LOVED the ice dyed piece and then it struck me that I would NEVER again dye this exact piece.  Certainly this is a technique I will try again, but this piece cannot be reproduced.  When I look at it, I see water, and sun.  I think I am going to quilt it as a whole cloth wall hanging.  If I cut it up I would feel like I was destroying it.

I also read a article on rust dyeing.  I did it once before but really didn't follow through.  I ended up just throwing the fabric away.  I still had the rusty nails though, and I decided to try again....so out came the vinegar

I didn't take pictures as I was wrapping, but I am not going to unwrap it for at least 3 days.  I think my problem before was I didn't wrap  it in the plastic to keep it moist, nor put it in a sunny place.  I only used a yard of the unbleached muslin, since I don't have a lot of rusty stuff.  It it works, I will  purchase some steel wool and rust more.  I have an idea for this piece as well if it turns out well.

 And finally----

 

 

They are so pretty!  All the fabric is wet and so when it dries the color will be a little different, but hopefully they will still be intense.  I also washed out some reds and orange and a beautiful yellow.  As soon as they all dry and are folded I will post a "formal" picture.

 

Well, just wanted to share!  Thanks for stopping by--do come back!

 

My "AHA" Moment

I was sleeping quietly (I guess) when I suddenly woke up!  I had purchased about 7 years ago, a bolt of sateen.  When we first moved to this area from Florida, the Joanne's closes to the house was closing and having a giant fabric sale.  I purchased that fabric there for cheap -- like $2 per yard.   I don't know what I had in mind, but it was a good deal so (as most quilter do), I purchased it.  I got up this morning, looked for and found it, washed it and now my next dyeing project will be this fabric.  It has a really nice sheen and hopefully, will dye well (at least the dye references say it should).

I washed out the latest dye project this morning (forgot to take pictures but will when they dry).  This batch was unbleached muslin.  At his point it doesn't look like there is a big difference in color take-up.  What is different however is the "hand" of the fabric.  It appears much thicker and the weave is tighter.  I think it is because I wash in hot water and the fibers appeared to "puff" up or shrink.  The little dark specks that are present in unbleached muslin also adds a interesting addition, particularly in the lighter colors.  I will post pictures as soon as I finish washing and drying this batch.

I also investigated dyeing indigo and I think I might forgo that for a while.  It seems very complicated and  I am not quite ready for that this summer.  I do plan however to dye batiks, do some resist dyeing and make some special editions.  I have to give my hands and back a rest though.  They are both really sore, especially my hands from wringing out the one yard pieces.  They actually are hurting!

Now for pictures of my veggie "garden":

 



 Not a veggie, but isn't this fern pretty and healthy!  It was on the front porch, but I think it was getting too much sun!  I have another that is just as pretty! Excuse the basketballs---Grandson's store them there after "balling" on the goal in the driveway! 

 

 

Nothing going as well with my peppers, but I am gonna have some great tomatoes! 

 

Well,  "talk" to you later! Thanks for stopping by!

 

What Cha' Think?

All washed and dried!  I still need to starch and iron, but they look pretty good (the picture is in front of a window so the colors are a little washed out).  No wonder it took me a while, I actually dyed 15 one-yard pieces and 11  quarter-yards.  Whew!  They were having a 50% off muslin sale at Joanne's so I purchased 25 more yards.  I will wash tomorrow and tear into   pieces for dyeing later.  My back is a bit stiff, so I am gonna relax for a couple of weeks---LOL! 

Although I wanted solids, I actually got some variation which is fine with me.  One color (right under the turquoise piece) is a strange khaki color---but has some interesting variations.  It isn't my favorite but who knows, it might be perfect for something.

Just wanted to share my product.  It is just Coal and I at home---the hubby and GS are at a baseball game....so I am folding clothes and surfing the web when I get bored.  I was once a wonderful housekeeper, now not so wonderful!  I would rather be quilting!

"See" you later!

 

Let the Dyeing Begin!

Today was an absolutely perfect day for dyeing fabric!  Warm with low humidity!!  Last year I did very little dyeing for myself so I have just a few odds and ends.   I have found also that I really need to dye in 1/2 yard lengths at least to ensure I have enough fabric in the same dye lot for my quilts.  The larger the piece of fabric though, the more difficult to get consistency.  This time however, I decided I would dye one yard pieces.  I purchased a couple of those large plastic Glad bowls to use in conjunction with my gallon plastic bags and dyed 15 one-yard pieces.  This time I did bright solids but plan to do another batch of mottled fabrics. 

I have to tell you though, it is truly work/time intensive.  The more I dye fabric, the more I can appreciate the $25/yard costs of some you buy.  If it is "truly" hand dyed, it takes a little over an hour just to prep; then you have to mix each of the dyes wearing a very uncomfortable mask; then you have to measure in each "recipe", and if you are doing solids, you have to work it into each piece of fabric; then you have to box that piece; clean up to for the next color and start all over.  It took me all morning (about 3-4 hours) to dye the 15 pieces and the work isn't over yet.  This morning I have to go out and rinse EACH piece by hand, and then machine wash, dry and iron.  Whew!  Maybe I need to surf some hand dyes and push a couple of buttons (LOL).  If you get a chance to buy hand dyes just don't get your nose bend out of shape if they are not $5/yard.  Appreciate all the work that went into making that beautiful piece.

Indigo and batik are on my list to try this summer! Hope I find it as enjoyable!  I am on the look out for a inexpensive electric skillet to melt my wax.  They have wax pots, but they seem a bit pricey when a electric skillet would do just as well.  I will investigate more!
 

I am also busy quilting Yin-Yang.  It is closer to a king and so taking a little longer.  Actually, I could really have finished it, but had some problems with tension which made me just walk away.  After a deep breathe and a couple of blue labels (Pepsi's), I came back and all I needed to do was to move to a bigger needle.  How simple was that.  I am using a rather complex panto of feathers, so the going is a little slow.  I am not sure I really like the top thread I choose (a dark beige), but at this point, I am NOT going to change it.  The back thread matches perfectly with the muslin back, and I am sure once it is washed, the crinkles will mask any "issues".  At any rate, it is MY quilt and so I am less anal if it belonged to someone else (another reason for not quilting for others---I get so stressed).

Next week I will be at a conference where I can just sit and listen!  Looking forward to that!  My flowers and veggie "garden" are all doing well in spite of the frequent thunderstorms we have been having.  I will have to post some pictures.

All is well on the home front and for that I am eternally grateful!  Have a wonderful Saturday and I will "talk" to you later!