All my crafting and thrifting has left me wanting to dye some clothes. But I really wanted to use something less toxic than the normal Rit Dye. So I've been reading about natural dyes and wow there are so many possiblility out there. I've always done the coffee and tea staining and I've heard of Kool Aid dyeing (which really makes me feel that Kool Aid should only be in Family Guy and not in anyone's tummy).
So I found a new (Nordstorm tag still attached) Seven For All Mankind tunic shirt at a local thrift shop. It is long enough to wear with leggings, but its white and kinda makes me think of a doctor's coat. Hence, the dye job. So to spice this shirt up I decided cumin would do the trick.Cumin is known to dye cloth (my shirt is 100% cotton) a bright yellow.
Here are the steps I took after reading a few websites:
First: I used a whole jar of ground store brand cumin and put it into boiling water. A two parts water to one part spices/ plant matter is the recommended percentage. Once it is boiling turn it down to simmer for 1 hour. While doing that I put my shirt in to a fixative bath. Fixative baths help the dye permeate the fabric. In a separate pot I put 4 parts water 1 part vinegar and added my shirt. This needs to heat and simmer for one hour. (once done it will need to cool some before you can wring out the excess water. I also added about a 1/4 cup salt in with my dye to help the dye hold. I've always added salt in with my Rit dyes to help the color hold.
To finish making the dye I strained it through a tea strainer to get out all the spice grains (or as much as I could). Just be aware if you do not want to strain the dye you might get patterns on your fabric from the bits.I saved the cumin to dry and reuse but I don't know it will work well a second time or not.
Fixative FYI:
I read that vinegar fixatives are better for plant dyes. Use 4 parts water to 1 part vinegar, I used cheap store brand white vinegar.
Salt fixatives are good for berry dyes 1/2 cup salt to 8 cups water.
After rinsing out the shirt in cool water and wringing out the excess water I put the shirt into the hot dye bath. Now I let the shirt simmer for a least an hour and then I let it sit in the dye overnight. I've done this with Rit dyes to make sure the color really soaks into the fabric.
The next step was simple rinse, wash off, dry and enjoy:)
Personally I found it easy to do this while making dinner and cleaning up in the kitchen. That way I could stir the dye bath the move the shirt around with some long handled tongs. (I use silicone covered tongs so the pot is safe from being scratched and the shirt will not get snagged.)
P.S. my camera battery needs charged so pictures will be up late:(
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Rambling
Crafting! I haven't done much painting lately. I have a tiger 8x8 acrylic in green started. I am finishing up a picture of ...surprisingly tea cups, tea pots...:) I am nearly done with that one its a watercolor with some inking. Other than that I Just finished a third little sculpie owl.These first few I am going to give away with paintings I sell on Etsy. I just got some more sculpie today so I can work on some more:) I have a few hair clip ideas I've been working with . Mainly due to how much I use the little wooden clips I made for my wedding and I just love how cute little pins look. But the prices in the stores are so high!! I was shocked to see how expensive little hair clips were and hair clips from anthropology..ha.. I'd hate myself if I spent that much on a hair pin. So I have a bunch of new pins and clips I'm making. I'm testing one of each design first to make sure it's a good design.
Also, my tea towels should be up for sale soon. I was conflicted about painting on them so I was looking up dyes and paints that are nontoxic. I found lots of cool dyes to try to make but they are all for a whole piece of fabric not a select area. Which is fine for now I'm going to use the gobs of ribbon scraps I have stored over the years. I really like the final designs I have, it's just taking me time to get the stitches nice and neat. Practice, practice, practice:)
So I found a tea shop today. I really like it. But...it's a chain not an independent:( Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. I had a delicious black tea with a toasted bagel. The staff was awesome, the atmosphere was chill with an easy to get to patio with lots lot tables. I, as usual, made like a wall flower, but in a coffee/ tea shop I'd really rather be able to read/ journal with out anyone deciding to pick a conversation with me. Yes, pick a conversation like a scab. I've been going to the laundry mat until we have a washer/ dryer and normally it's fine. But some lady came in the other day and was picking for a conversation or a fight. All up in my personal space, so old she could hardly stand up straight, I wondered how she got her laundry in normally I go get the door for people struggling but I don't remember her coming in. She was just there...,"So are you voting for Rick Perry..huh..huh?" I hate getting pulled into conversation traps when it's obvious they will go for a while. So I muttered something about being new to the state. Ugh, "Why don't you know who you are going to vote for! You should know..blah...blah...blah" It kept going and to make sure I was hostage, or so she thought she took the washer next to mine which I was getting ready to put the rest of my stuff into...talking the whole time. So evasive action was needed. I faked needing more quarters and stayed over by the change machine and TV until she had another talker engaged in conversation. Then I stealthed my way over wheeled my remaining laundry to a machine further away. After I starting the remaining load I stayed far way from the talker like a kicked puppy. Sigh...it's not that I'm shy, I mean I can be but not like when I was younger, it just how the talker acts or how aggressive they are....anyways I'm rambling.
So... all this story to say how critical a chill space is to me. Oh but one sad thing about the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf is the tea for sale is not what I really would prefer is a tea: loose, fair trade, organic, delicious and unique. It was all their brand tea which was good but Kalesia is better.
Oh in other random news snail mail maybe endangered:( The USPS is requesting to revamp their whole business structure reduce the amount of employees they have. Over all I hope it's not so. I love sending and receiving snail mail. It is a meditative act to write out a letter. Anyways. It's ridiculously late working nights for so many years I can stay up without even thinking about it, but I will feel it in the morning it I don't call it quits.
Also, my tea towels should be up for sale soon. I was conflicted about painting on them so I was looking up dyes and paints that are nontoxic. I found lots of cool dyes to try to make but they are all for a whole piece of fabric not a select area. Which is fine for now I'm going to use the gobs of ribbon scraps I have stored over the years. I really like the final designs I have, it's just taking me time to get the stitches nice and neat. Practice, practice, practice:)
So I found a tea shop today. I really like it. But...it's a chain not an independent:( Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf. I had a delicious black tea with a toasted bagel. The staff was awesome, the atmosphere was chill with an easy to get to patio with lots lot tables. I, as usual, made like a wall flower, but in a coffee/ tea shop I'd really rather be able to read/ journal with out anyone deciding to pick a conversation with me. Yes, pick a conversation like a scab. I've been going to the laundry mat until we have a washer/ dryer and normally it's fine. But some lady came in the other day and was picking for a conversation or a fight. All up in my personal space, so old she could hardly stand up straight, I wondered how she got her laundry in normally I go get the door for people struggling but I don't remember her coming in. She was just there...,"So are you voting for Rick Perry..huh..huh?" I hate getting pulled into conversation traps when it's obvious they will go for a while. So I muttered something about being new to the state. Ugh, "Why don't you know who you are going to vote for! You should know..blah...blah...blah" It kept going and to make sure I was hostage, or so she thought she took the washer next to mine which I was getting ready to put the rest of my stuff into...talking the whole time. So evasive action was needed. I faked needing more quarters and stayed over by the change machine and TV until she had another talker engaged in conversation. Then I stealthed my way over wheeled my remaining laundry to a machine further away. After I starting the remaining load I stayed far way from the talker like a kicked puppy. Sigh...it's not that I'm shy, I mean I can be but not like when I was younger, it just how the talker acts or how aggressive they are....anyways I'm rambling.
So... all this story to say how critical a chill space is to me. Oh but one sad thing about the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf is the tea for sale is not what I really would prefer is a tea: loose, fair trade, organic, delicious and unique. It was all their brand tea which was good but Kalesia is better.
Oh in other random news snail mail maybe endangered:( The USPS is requesting to revamp their whole business structure reduce the amount of employees they have. Over all I hope it's not so. I love sending and receiving snail mail. It is a meditative act to write out a letter. Anyways. It's ridiculously late working nights for so many years I can stay up without even thinking about it, but I will feel it in the morning it I don't call it quits.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Busy Crafting
So I'm creating little crafty bits and taking more photos or my art. Soon I'll have my Etsy store properly up and running. I'm really having fun although it's alot of work taking photos, editing them, waiting on my computer to load, taking more photos, making more crafty items,and painting. It's all really fun but it's frustrating at times.
Aside from that I'm still looking for an art job. I've found some art groups to join so maybe someone can point me in the right direction. Other that looking for a art job and posting art and crafts for sale on Etsy I'm looking into various coffee shops, galleries, art shows, ect. to display and sell at. Needless to say its hard to keep my focus on one thing at a time. I have found with my ADD it helps making lists and keeping my work space organized. There is a great sense of accomplishment when checking a "to do" off of my list. It becomes a DONE:) Like taking out the recycling and having a fresh clean bin or having the grocery shopping done and put away. It's a sigh or relief. As for the organization well other wise I spend hours on some side project completely useless to me or not useful until I do the 12 steps needed before the project that distracted me. So...that is a constant battle for me.
Other than that I am watching a variety of shows as I work. Oddly enough I can focus on a project if I have background noise. So... True Blood, Boardwalk Empire, The Big C, Weeds, Being Human, Dr. Who, and K Dramas. Sometimes it's too distracting so NPR to the rescue:) Love me some NPR<3
I've started creating cute little sculpie owls I don't know what's more fun creating them or taking them out for their photos<3
I have been wandered out and about. I found a cafe I really like Spider House Cafe. I went to Thunderbird Cafe it was okay. I like that I can take my laptop there to get some work done. The coffee was alright and they display art which is cool oh and they have booze so it's not all chill lounge atmosphere.
So back to work now:) Maybe I can get Ben to treat me to dinner first :P
Aside from that I'm still looking for an art job. I've found some art groups to join so maybe someone can point me in the right direction. Other that looking for a art job and posting art and crafts for sale on Etsy I'm looking into various coffee shops, galleries, art shows, ect. to display and sell at. Needless to say its hard to keep my focus on one thing at a time. I have found with my ADD it helps making lists and keeping my work space organized. There is a great sense of accomplishment when checking a "to do" off of my list. It becomes a DONE:) Like taking out the recycling and having a fresh clean bin or having the grocery shopping done and put away. It's a sigh or relief. As for the organization well other wise I spend hours on some side project completely useless to me or not useful until I do the 12 steps needed before the project that distracted me. So...that is a constant battle for me.
Other than that I am watching a variety of shows as I work. Oddly enough I can focus on a project if I have background noise. So... True Blood, Boardwalk Empire, The Big C, Weeds, Being Human, Dr. Who, and K Dramas. Sometimes it's too distracting so NPR to the rescue:) Love me some NPR<3
I've started creating cute little sculpie owls I don't know what's more fun creating them or taking them out for their photos<3
I have been wandered out and about. I found a cafe I really like Spider House Cafe. I went to Thunderbird Cafe it was okay. I like that I can take my laptop there to get some work done. The coffee was alright and they display art which is cool oh and they have booze so it's not all chill lounge atmosphere.
So back to work now:) Maybe I can get Ben to treat me to dinner first :P
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