I've Dyed and Gone to Heaven

 

 

 

 

Well, today's my birthday...

...and what a fun week it's been with my friend Nancy, so far!

She has lots of ideas and expertise...

...plus the energy of a jackrabbit!

We made a thrilling trip to my local, strange and amazing fabric store, Jomar's...

It's like nothing else!

There are dollar shirts and pants and 'remaindered' items of all varieties...

...I snatched up a cheap pool noodle and two rattan beach mats for use in my felting.

And there's fabric...lots and lots of fabric...

...stacked on large, open, rustic wooden shelving...

...some of it for as little as $1.00 per yard!

I bought some soft chartreuse lace, red burlap, and netting for my felting...

...and we found some lovely pale grey and cream, soft-draping silk to dye.

Nancy showed me how to prepare the acid-dye solution...

...and we made our dye bath.

We were very careful, wearing a mask and eye protection...

...but I'm still a little afraid of the dye (and even the Synthrapol has a scary warning label on the bottle!)

We've dyed things orange, green, yellow and indigo so far...

...tying and clamping and overdyeing pieces as we went.

It's a lot like felting you know...

...since you don't really know what it'll look like 'till your done!

More photos of our work next time...

Good Things Come To Three

 

 

 

With only three comments on my give away post...

...I thought it would be fun to 'gift' each of my flat felt fans!

Of course, you already know about the original table topper...

...which will go to my #1 pick (on random.org) (Gina)

For #2 (Suzanne), I have a landscape that I intended to use as a pillow top...

...except that I was ashamed of my pitiful drawing skilz and put it away...

...(and before you ask, that's supposed to be a rock in the lower corner!):)

And last, but not least, for #3 (Peggy) I have...

...the first piece that I ever made with pre-felts...

...which could be folded in half and a zipper sewn in for use as a small bag...

...or used as a book cover...or as something else entirely!

I'll be anxious to see/hear how each is transformed by my crafty winners!

(Don't forget to send me your mailing addresses, ladies.)

Mitsy's Birthday Scarf

 

 

 

Maybe you, like me, are a fan of Mitsy's blog: ArtMind

http://artmind-etcetera.blogspot.com/

She has a lightness and whimsical essence to her persona, artwork and writing that always engages.

...and today is her birthday!

She's asked her fans and friends to send 'snail mail' cards for the big event (and who doesn't love getting a mailbox full of 'real' mail?)

...with ideas about how best to celebrate her birthday.

I decided that whatever she chose to do for fun that day, she would certainly have more of it while wearing one of my scarves! Grin.

So I made her one in a bright and cheerful color.

I used some amazing orange/yellow roving that I bought from Maggie's Farm at the Garden State S&W festival. (www.maggiesfarminc.com)

...and added some bits of red fabric ribbon, some mawata silk hankie layers...

...and some 'tufts' (I just love that word!) of red fiber.

...and off to Belgium it went!

Happy, healthy birthday, Mitsy...and many, many more.