Amy Butler Giveaway

Look what I found!  This is a really lovely little sewing project kit from Amy Butler that includes all sorts of inspiration and supplies for creating something wonderful.  This little box had me at hello.   Reminiscent of a bento box, each compartment holds a little treasure:  15 project cards with lovely photos and instructions, illustrated instruction booklet, patterns, thread and two of Amy’s signature fabrics for creating one of the projects.  All very stylish and fresh.

And I have one of these lovelies to share with a reader.  Simply leave a comment on this post by 6 a.m. EDT on Monday, March 21^st to be eligible to win.  I will randomly draw a winner at that time.  Good luck!

More About Dyeing Fabrics and Winner

And the winner is Donna Gotlib.  I found Donna’s blog during One World, One Heart and left a comment for her.  In turn, she checked out my blog and left a comment for me.  That comment earned her my hand dyed fabric bundle (thanks to Random.org which picked #5).  Donna creates wonderful art designs; I fell in love with her wedding stationery called Neva and Howard.  Just look at those bridesmaid designs!  I love those.   She has lots of other lovely things at her webstore Got Donna.

I’ve been thinking a lot about dyeing fabric recently and am itching to do some more myself.  I’ve got a pretty good set up at present with all of my dyes and supplies in one spot and a handy bathroom sink nearby.  But I’ve also been thinking about those of you who have an interest in dyeing but just don’t know where to start.  So here’s my list of supplies you need to get started.  Many of these things you can buy at your local big box or dollar store, and all of the actual dyeing supplies you can get from Dharma Trading Company who is offering 50% off shipping until the end of February.  I’ve added a link to the supplies below that are available from Dharma.  Click on the word and it will take you to the item on their website.

These supplies are for dyeing 100% cotton fabric.  Dharma sells a number of different types, or you can pick some up at your local fabric store.  I like Country Classic Solids from JoAnn Fabrics.  It’s inexpensive and takes the dye well.  Any 100% cotton fabric will work.  Make sure you prewash it first.

• Fabric
• Mask/goggles (for mixing)
• Rubber gloves
• Misc. measuring devices -- buy a set of plastic measuring spoons and cups
• Plastic containers (cups, bowls, etc.)
• Zip lock plastic bags
• Plastic spoons
• Paper towels
• Newspaper or plastic dropcloth
• Sharpie marking pen for marking fabric and record keeping
• Synthrapol (or other soap)
• Soda Ash (1 or 5 lb); you will use 1 cup/gallon water
• Dharma brand fiber reactive dye in the following colors (2 oz. each):

o   PR1 : LEMON YELLOW (MX-8G)

o   PR13 : FUCHSIA RED (MX-8B)

o   PR26 : SKY BLUE (MX-R)

These dye colors will mix together to create the colors you see here.  I used the directions in Dyeing to Quilt by Joyce Mori and Cynthia Myerberg though I use less water than they call for to give a more mottled look to my fabric.  The book contains the “recipes” you need to create a color wheel of 12 fabrics.  I would recommend starting with fat quarters or half yard pieces for your first attempt.  Feel free to email me privately if you want more information on the process.  Good luck, and send me some pictures of your beautiful fabrics when you are through.

One World, One Heart Giveaway Results

The deadline has come and gone for my One World, One Heart giveaway.  This morning, using www.random.org, I selected five winners to receive one of my key fobs.  This event was so much fun, discovering and bookmarking lots of new blogs, and response to my post was so lovely that I decided to share the love a little further around and pick five winners (five to commemorate the number of years that OWOH has been going on).  Sadly, this is the last year for this event but I will enjoy connecting with all of the new blogging friends I've met through it.

Without further ado, here are the five winners, listed in the order their name was drawn.  Congratulations.  For the rest of you, don't forget I'm doing another giveaway this week for a bundle of my hand dyed fabrics.

julie mitchell   US

trisha too    US

jennifergrieco

emily r

jenn    US

While I was working on this post I received a lovely email from Tejae, notifying me that I had won HER OWOH giveway!  What a nice way to start my day.  Tejae makes lovely heart shaped keepsakes like the one I will be receiving but she is talented in lots of other artistic areas, too.  Head on over to her blog, Tejae's Art, and see what she is up to.  Thanks, Tejae, for being a part of OWOH and thanks for this beautiful love token.

photo by Tejae Floyde

Have a great weekend, everyone.

Fabric Dyeing and a Giveaway!

I spent the morning at my monthly ASG meeting, where I presented the program for the day on fabric dyeing.  I’ve been experimenting with this craft for a number of years now and always find it a rewarding, if not always predictable, art form.  Here are a few of the points I made at today’s meeting:

• What I have learned about dyeing fabric is that it is not an exact science – you can use a number of methods and the results are similar.  Do not get too hung up on getting everything precise.  Instead, experiment, develop your own methods and style and keep good records. 
• I buy all of my dyes (and other dyeing supplies) from Dharma Trading Company.  They have excellent prices, great service and will provide help when needed.  Their catalog and website are full of instructions.
• Koolaid is a fun and safe way to dye wool and silk.  knitty has a great tutorial with complete instructions for stovetop or microwave method along with a sample of the different colors of koolaid.    Another great chart of colors can be found here.  You will know when the dyeing process is finished because all of the color from the koolaid will be taken up by the fiber and the remaining water will be crystal clear.
• I-Dye by Jacquard is a relatively new dye that comes in premeasured, dissolvable packets which you toss into the washing machine.   There are two types available:  one for natural fibers (cotton, wool, silk, linen, rayon); other for synthetics (poly and nylon).  The main thing I learned from experimenting with this dye is not to open the washer while it is running.  I now have a shirt spontaneously dyed the same color as the dye I was using.
• When mixing dye powder into liquid form, always add the liquid to the powder and not the powder to the liquid.
• For those concerned with the toxicity of dyes, two new companies have come on the market with dyes produced without toxic mordents.  Greener Shades has come out with an acid dye, available in 9 colors, to dye silk, wool and nylon.  The colors are set by a soak in a vinegar bath followed by ironing with a hot iron.  The other product, ColorHue, is hard to track down.  After an extensive internet search (and lots of broken links) I finally found the product at Ginny Eckley’s site, Art Threads.  Information about the dyes are also not readily available but the literature claims that this is a highly concentrated cold water dye for use on silk, linen, wool and rayon.  They are no-rinse, instant-set dyes, available in ten colors.  Nothing else is required except water.
• Fiber reactive dyes are still my favorite.   I have had great luck dyeing cotton fabrics and recently have been experimenting with dyeing silks.  The silk results are rich and beautiful but can be unexpected and unpredictable; that is OK for the applications I am using them for.  Also, I can’t speak to the colorfastness on the silk as I am using them mostly for leaves and other floral bits in some of the handmade flowers I make (hence, no washing).

To celebrate hand dyed fabrics and share a bit of the love I am giving away a set of 12 pieces of hand dyed 100% cotton fabric, 4” x 6” in size (pictured above), just right for small crafting projects, like fabric postcards and artist trading cards or scrapbooking.  All 12 of these colors were dyed using only three primary colors.  Here is a fantastic site where you can find information on mixing dozens of colors from only a few basic dye powders.  Wow. 

Leave a comment on this post before Monday morning (February 21^st, 6 a.m. EST) and I will select one name as the winner.

Now go get your hands dirty.

Key Fob Winner

I am so behind :-)  The breakneck pace I have been keeping is really starting to catch up with me.  I was supposed to pick a winner of my key fob giveaway this morning but forgive me.  I'm sure a few of you out there can relate -- the closer we get to Christmas the faster time goes.

Anyway, for this giveaway I used a random number generator and matched the result to the comments left for me on my key fob post.  The lucky number was 14 and that means that Sarah J from Vintage Chic Home is the winner.  Sarah has a blog just full of creative ideas.  I particulary LOVE the advent calendar she created this year.  Please stop by her site and leave her a comment.  Sarah, once I hear back from you on your color choice I'll be sending you your key fob and hardware.  Congratulations!  And thanks to everyone who left a comment.  I hope everyone is inspired to make a few of these for themselves.