I Finally Gave In

...and did a bit of snow dyeing Friday.  We've had an inordinate amount of snow this year -- most of it powdery, perfect for dyeing -- but I've been so focused on shovelling it, clearing it from the roof vents, and driving in it (when absolutely necessary) that I've had little energy left for creating with it!

Friday the temps were a bit warmer, so shovelling wasn't such a chore.  In the midst of Shovelling, Phase I (stoop, side and front walks), I made up my mind.  I took a wee break and put together two tubs.

This time I used the PFD Kona cotton and PFD Pimatex cotton I'd ordered from Dharma Trading early in December.  I took 1/2 yard of each (leaving me 1/2 yard for future playing) -- and yes, being from the U.S., these are yards, not metres -- and placed one in one tub, one in the other.  Dry.  Just like that.  I piled pristine powdery snow on top, and sprinkled Procion MX Fibre-reactive dye powder over each tub, using a metal 1/2-teaspoon measure I reserve solely for dyeing.

In one tub, I began with a sprinkled layer of 'Sky Blue', followed by 'Lemon Yellow' and a touch of 'Golden Yellow', as I was going for green as the outcome.







In the second tub, I was going for a 'sunset sky' effect, with golden yellow (at the "horizon") merging to orange merging to red, then purple, then blue at the top of the sky.

I was hoping to leave the tubs in my laundry area -- door closed, for fear of Pookie-cat, who's taken a liking to eating snow this winter -- for 24 hours, a la Vicki Welsh -- but alas, after only 6-7 hours the snow was completely gone and the dye liquid was pooling in the centre of each tub. (This was due in part to the fact that these tubs have a circular depression in the centre of the bottom of each.)  So...I drained each tub, then using the tubs, soaked each batch of fabric in hot water and Synthrapol for 10 minutes, drained, rinsed till clear, then dried in the drier.

Alas, the results for the green pieces didn't photograph well; I'll try to remember to point out the fabric to you if and when I use it.  :-)  However, I am satisfied with the quasi-sunset.  Although the pooling of the dye meant that I didn't have a sky in gradients of colour, I do have some very nice red-orange-pink fabric to insert into a sky or two...

Yesterday and today I've spent in my sewdio...but that's for another post.  See ya later!

Treasure Trove I

You never know what you're going to find on a walk. There's a track not far from my house that has, for the second spring in a row, birthed wonderful Rusty Things from beneath its dark black dust -- things I can use to create rusty designs on fabric. What a great haul!

Treasure Trove II

In mid-March, I was the lucky winner of the Grand Draw Prize over at 3 Creative Studios, where I'd gone to play with the Technique of the Month -- painting scrunched fabric. I'd posted a photo on their forum, and lo and behold! My name was drawn for the top goodie basket. Whoo hoo!

The package from Sue, Vicki and Terri arrived in the mail yesterday: a hand-made journal, hand-dyed fabric, ribbons and trims, and a packet of assorted buttons in co-ordinating colours -- all accompanied by a handmade greeting card. What fun I'm going to have with this!

Thank you to the 3 Creative Studios gals for your generosity and inspiring projects!