What The Latest Colors Look Like

I unwound the skeins today and saw just what I created. I love the variegated colors and the bits of white. This wasn't quite what I was aiming at, but I like the results. Dyeing is not for the anal retentive. 

Trying For Pastel Colors

I tried for pastel colors today. Obviously, I didn't get what I was aiming at. The first dye batch used 1/2 teaspoon of dye per quart jar. This batch used 1/4 teaspoon per quart jar. Next time, I'll use 1/8 teaspoon. 


Last time, I didn't scrub the skein of crochet cotton and it dyed just fine. I'm using the same crochet cotton this time. I had bought the extra giant size ball of white. This time, there are parts of the skeins that didn't dye so well. I'm going to get much more variation in the color which I think will work well when I crochet something. 


No, I didn't make two batches of orange. One is orange and one is red. 

Dyeing

I've been wanting to take some white crochet thread and dye it. So  I did. It's not dry yet. I wrapped the thread around a quilt ruler, slid the thread off, and tied it in four places. This should make white spots here and there. Can't wait to use it to crochet something. 

I did my dyeing in quart jars using about 1/2 tsp. of dye in each jar. That might be a tad too much dye. I'd like the yellow and the deep green to be less concentrated. Next batch of crochet will go into jars with 1/4 tsp of dye. 


I've got an idea floating in my brain about how to use all these odds and end pieces in a quilt. 

Some Experiments Work Better Than Others

I made soap yesterday using the melt and pour method. This is goat's milk soap. I bought some stamps to make designs in the soap. Just a couple gentle taps said the ad. I hammered on these suckers and I'm not all that impressed. However, I really like the stamps and I know they will do fun things with clay.


The ridges in the back of the soap come from the bottom of the silicone meat loaf pan. I'm not big on meat loaf and Jim bought me the pan at the ReStore for very little money. 

I'm Dyeing

White crochet can be so boring. So... I did some math, converted 3 gallons of dye to about a pint of dye, and stuck a crochet piece in each jar. One jar has plain crochet thread in it. I'm seeing what the dye will and won't do and how the tread works up after it's dyed. 


I put the pan full of jars out in the sun to keep the dye water hot. Or at least very warm. I'm thinking the dye will work better if the liquid is kept warm. 


I'll take the pieces out of the dye in about 5 hours and see what I made. Then I'll post photos. 

Another Crochet Sample

I've got another sample to finish, then I hunt for the quart jars and start playing with dye. 

BLING!!!!!!!!!

16 guage Bling. I've no idea where one would wear it.... 

The pink and black bling was inspired by the flamingos in the Houston Zoo. When I was there in 1988, they had a huge flock of flamingoes - pink, black and white. It was a gorgeous sight. 

Latest Crochet Samples

Another of my crochet samples. It will eventually get dyed and be a dye experiment. Finally, it will go under a ceramic jar on my counter to protect the counter from any sharp bits that I can't feel but will mar the corian. 

Belly Button Bling

One day, I woke up with an urge to make belly button bling. And so I did. Here are the first three. On the second two, the clear bead in the middle is a swarovski crystal. The first bling is made from beads given to me by a beading friend. 


When I get a few more of these, I'll put some in the etsy store. 

Playing With Crochet

I had ordered some "hurt" books from Interweave Press including 101 Crochet Stitches. Out of the 101 stitches, about 97 are new to me, including the one above. I started playing with crochet and started thinking. What if I took some of the cotton crochet thread and dyed it? What if I made something of crochet ad dyed it? I can see me doing lots of playing with crochet and crochet thread in the coming weeks. 

Mezuzah Covers

If you like the ceramic mezuzah covers listed below (keep scrolling, they are down a bit of a ways), please click on the title for this post and you'll be magically taken to my etsy store where you'll find mezuzah covers for sale. 


If clicking on the title of this post doesn't work, paste the following into your browser: 


http://www.etsy.com/shop/DebThuman?ref=top_trail

The 9th Star Appliqued on Background Fabric

I was going to use the same fancy stitch to applique all the stars onto the background fabric. Now, I think I'm going to use a different stitch each time. 

Can't The Mail Come Any Faster?

I ordered some "hurt" books from Interweave - crocheting and beading. The books haven't arrived yet. 

I ordered some soap stamps that were on sale. I want to use them both on soap and on clay. They haven't arrived yet. 

My earring display racks, which should clear up the earring mess on my dresser, are shipped, but they haven't arrived yet. 

I ordered Crocs on sale, but they haven't arrived yet. 

A set of sewing machine needs from Nancy's Notions has been shipped, but it hasn't arrived yet. 

All these wonderful things coming to me in the mail, and nothing has arrived. 

Sigh. It's so hard to be patient. 

My Latest Bead Work In Progress

Spiny Oyster and they will be earrings when they are finished. 

Denim Lapiz. I used blue delicas to make the transition between the iridescent beads and the very small white beads. 

Ocean Jasper ready to be strung. 

Ocean Jasper, but I can't figure out if I want the bead to be oriented this way, or to have it the way the one above is.