Special Show and Tell

I love show and tell! Isn't this bear great? Back in March I had my first Dye Candy giveaway. Pat was the lucky winner. She and her daughter picked out the purple fabric below as their prize. Pat told me her daughter loved the fabric so much she slept with it. A month ago Pat mentioned me she had asked her friend Linda made this adorable "Teddy" bear for DD's birthday. Let me tell you it has been hard to keep this secret. It is such a wonderful idea!!!

Thanks so much for sharing this Pat!

P.S. Check out the great bags Pat & DD made as party favors here

Dye Journal

When I started dyeing quilt fabric I put together a journal to hold swatches of dyed fabric.

I record the colors of dyes used in the mix as well as the type of fabric used (unbleached muslin, mercerized cotton, organic cotton, etc) and thread count when applicable. The photo above shown two six step gradations on each side as well as a sample of each solid color in the center.

My dye journal and jewelry journal are valuable references.

I used baseball trading card pocket for my jewelry journal. In each pocket I keep a photo of the assembled jewelry and samples of the fabrics I used for each piece. I refer to this journal all the time to make sure I am matching existing colorways.

Recently I was asked to dye a shirt to match a specific one of a kind dye lot. Here are the results. The inspiration fabric is featured on the bottom of the photo and the finished dyed shirt is on the top. These are dyed on two different weights of cotton fabric. I had to double the amount of dye and water I typically use because of the shirt fabric was quite a bit thicker. I was very pleased with the results. There is an art to dyeing fabric, but the results are sometimes unpredictable. I think that is the aspect I enjoy the most.

Have a wonderful weekend! Chris

P.S. I am holding on to a show and tell photo of a very creative use of Dye Candy fabric. I can't show you yet. It is a secret.

Dye Candy Show and Tell

Whoo Hoo!  My first show and tell picture!  

Yesterday Regina sent me a photo of this gorgeous miniature quilt top she created using a handful of fabrics from a box of Dye Candy.  I LOVE IT! Some of my favorite colors too!  Regina, thanks so much for sharing your creation.  I can't wait to see what you come up with next.

Shibori for the Beans

More homework from Marjie's class. This lesson has us working with the "Nui" dyeing technique which uses string and thread to gather and bind fabric. Beans or small stones are bound in place to create flower like shapes when the dye is added.




I experimented with some hot pink dye applied on the "bean". I cut small slits in plastic wrap and poked the beans through the wrap so I could protect the fabric between the beans from accidental drips.



I let the hot pink dye dry and then overdyed the fabric with a deep saturated sky blue.

Here is the resulting fabric. I spent 4 hours of labor time to produce one fat quarter. Lots of work!

Note: the pinto beans reacted with the dye and water staining the fabric brown in some places. Glass beads or rocks might be a better option for this technique.

A Little More Homework

     

These are my results from Shibori Dyeing Class Lesson #2, Suji Dyeing techniques.  These techniques were the result of folding, bunching and sometimes binding different types of fabrics

The first sample is dyed on 8 mm Silk Habotai.  Sample #2 is a silk chiffon scarf dyed with sky blue purple and orange.  This is my personal favorite so far.  The scarf was twisted around a pole, secured and then dye was applied.   I'm looking forward to experimenting with this technique again.

Sample # 3 Unbleached cotton muslin gathered from the center of the fabric and then bound with string about 7 or 8 times in equal intervals.  

Soon I will be spending my weekends on the lawn mower..... I spent last weekend up to my elbows in dye.  I'm working hard to restock my Dye Candy shop before mowing starts in earnest.  I should have more items for sale this weekend.  Wishing you all many warm sunny days ahead! 

Kreativ Blogger Award - Thanks Kim!

I received a blogging award from Kim's Crafty Apple. What a wonderful surprise. Kim, you do so many creative things yourself, have many great ideas and help to support so many others that create so I would like to pass this award back to you. Thank you!

Here are the RULES of this Award:
Thank the person who nominated you for this award.
Copy the logo and place it on your blog.
Link to the person who nominated you for this award.
Name 7 things about yourself that people might find interesting.
Nominate 7 Kreativ Bloggers.
Post links to the 7 blogs you nominate.
Leave a comment on each of the blogs, letting them know they have been nominated.

7 things you "might" find interesting about me:

1. When I get in a creative mode I find it very hard to sleep. I can only dye fabric on the weekends because of this. The lack of sleep gets in the way of my day job.

2. When boxes come in the mail I always want to open them right away. If you want to tease me leave an un opened box sitting in my view. It won't take long for me to ask what is in the box and would you please open it.

3. This is one of my favorite times of year. It is often foggy in the morning and the fireflies in the field at night make me feel as though I am in an enchanted land.

4. I was raised in a small town that became a big city. We have lived on our farm for 7 years and I now find it very hard to spend more than a few days in a city setting. I wish everyone had a chance to live like this at least once in their lifetime.

5. I keep a journal with me at all times to write or draw ideas as they come to me. Well almost all the time...

6. My best inspirations come to me in the shower.

7. I love bold, bright colors - I would wear tie dyes everyday If I could get away with it.

There are so many bloggers that inspire and teach me. I tried to choose some that I may not have mentioned in the past. Each one of these bloggers continues to teach me new things.

Kim of Kim's Crafty Apple - fellow dyer and jack of all trades

Robin of Simply Robin - thanks for finding me and introducing me to your blog and connecting me to your world.

Joyce of J's Quilting Blog - I love her art quilts and explorations in fabric dyeing

Tiedye Judy's Weblog and her Hippiewear blog - Color color and more color!

Candy of Candied Fabrics - Great products, fabrics and craft/art show advice

Textile Traveler - Great book reviews and art quilt advice

New to me is Vicki Welsh and Field Trips on Fiber - Vicki also sells fabrics on Etsy and has a great blog.