Bleached & Dyed Skirt: Fin!

At least there's one project finished: I've bleached and dyed this skirt to my satisfaction!
(I'm so happy it didn't come out looking like camouflage)


To dye it, I combined Dylon dyes "Jungle Green" and "China Blue", figuring I'd get that sort of bright green with blue undertones that seems to be all over the place right now.

And, success! The skirt is 100% cotton, so I knew it would soak up a lot of the dye. I'm really happy with it, especially since it was a $3 thrifted skirt, it may now become one of my favorites!

Next up, I still have the safari dress, and I think I'm going to try Dylon's "Intense Violet" again, and double up on the dye.

I really like the color that the "China Blue" is supposed to come out as, and I want to find something to dye that color, but what?

Next week!
The end of the safari dress! - will it come out Violet? Or will it look like a hot mess?

Resist dyeing with glue!
I've bookmarked several tutorials, if you'd like to give it a go, I'd love to hear your feedback/advice:
Gel Glue Resist Tutorial
Glue Resist Batik
DIY Fabric Prints

I have some skirts that probably need octopuses on them!

Bleaching: No More Pattern Recognition

I have a hatred for patterns that are overwhelming and very contrast-oriented. I think they look terrible on me and I want them to DIE! Or... bleach! Then dye.


So, here's where I am with the dress - I'm really excited by what's going on here. Especially since I'm planning to dye it a warm color. ORANGE is what's happening here, for some reason.

Here's a closeup:

(Also, I removed those TERRIBLE rhinestones. Geez - that was one episode of Robin Hood, I believe, with a seam ripper and trying not to be too distracted by Richard Armitage.)

I'm going to be dyeing it either later today, or tomorrow. The reason is because this skirt is currently in the sink with a dye concoction I made of Dylon's China Blue and Tropical Green. That should be awesome! OR at least interesting:

Oh gosh, I just hope it doesn't look like camouflage when it comes out. Yuck.

The bleaching process I'm using is from Martha Stewart's Fabric and Craft Encyclopedia. I really like the guide and it seems to work and provide the thing that I really like in the finished product: a complete LACK of bleach-smell!

Here's my bleach process, just so you know what I'm doing to these poor pieces of clothing:
Mix 5 parts hot water to 1 part bleach (do *not* go over this ratio, according to Martha)
Soak clothing in hot water, wring
Put clothing in the bleach water
Soak in bleach for 15 sec - 15 min (watch for what you want)
Remove from bleach and put into cold water
Wring from cold water
Put clothing in chloring neutralizer
Soak for... I dunno, 10 minutes?
Wash in washing machine

So, you need:
- 3 places for soaking (I used both parts of our sink and a bucket for the chlorine neutralizer)
- bleach
- chlorine neutralizer itself (this is to make the bleach smell go away forever and stop the bleaching process - I ordered mine online)
- washing machine
- rubber gloves and plastic spoon

I better get back to stirring my skirt. I think after all this bleaching and dyeing this week, I'm gonna experiment some more with actually doing patterns with bleach, resists and dyes next week!

Hello! Throw Pillow!

HELLO WORLD!
I am returning to the internet for real this time! Okay, and by that, I mean that I'm going to update this blog nearly thrice weekly once again! There's been some personal drama over the last year or so, and now I'm just making things for fun and doing things that I want and seeing how it turns out.

I like trying lots of new things, and I can't wait to sew more stuff, and work on some apparel and jewelry. If I think it's fun or cool, I'm probably going to try it. Ooo, also, using cut paper - I have so much paper and material, it's sickening!

First up, I've been meaning to make this pillow every since I bought this fabric* at IKEA last year!


What says "classy" better than a squirrel holding a cheese slicer?
A squirrel holding a cheese slicer standing on a birdcage! That's what!

I know, you are jealous, but seriously, it was pretty easy to make. I followed this tutorial and everything came out pretty well.
Zippered Throw Pillow Tutorial at Design*Sponge.

Here's the problems I ran into while sewing:
- Rat nests: My machine needs cleaning, so there was some ratnests on the back (you can't see them, so yay!)
- Thread Tension: It was hard for me to figure out the correct tension for this fabric, because it's thick, almost canvas-like fabric. Eventually I think I got it, but it took awhile. Hopefully it won't fall apart.

Well, it's good to be back to crafting! Hopefully I'll be doing new and interesting, or at least interesting things in the near future!
* This is the Lotta Kuhlhorn 2008 IKEA fabric

A Plush A Day Chalenge! Day 33 - Mystery

Day 33 - Mystery
Is it a sort of large apple? An extremely large cherry? Or perhaps it's an internal organ? Or the larval phase of some larger plushy?

Whatever it is, it's pretty cute, and it's already hanging out with all the others, so I guess I'll have to name it eventually.

A Plush A Day Challenge! Day 31 - Hypno-Trow!

Day 31 - Hypno-Trow
Trows, in general, are inclined to be short of stature, ugly, and both shy and mischievous in nature. Small trolls of this type are rarely seen outside of Scotland.

This is a hypno-trow, distant relation to both the Money Eating Trow, and the Hypno Toad. Do not look him directly in the eyes because he will hypnotize you and steal... my goodness... such interesting eyes. Can't look away...

A Plush A Day Challenge! Day 28 - Apple the Kitty & Hibernation

Day 28 - Ball o'Kitty

It has been a dreary day here, and for all dreary days, there is an appropriate response: curling into a ball and taking a nap. Apple is always on top of this idea, but at other times exists only as a surprised blur flitting about the house. There's just no between.

Here we are in one of the still moments. Shhhh.

Oh yes! Winter hibernation!
The Plush A Day Challenge is going on Winter Hibernation until January 1, 2010! This will give me time to work on, finish up, start some presents, do a lot of travelling, all kinds of stuff for the holidays!

I'll probably still post occasionally, but I know you all read this at work, and you'll be off gallivanting as much as I will. So, me and plushies will be back in two weeks - see you then!

A Plush A Day Challenge! Days 27 - Jenkins the Dragon!

Day 27 - Jenkins the Dragon

Originally, I was going for dinosaur, but then things just got out of hand (especially the tail!) Then what hatched was Jenkins here. As a dragon, he enjoys fighting adventurers, milkshakes, and hanging out in dungeons.

What is it with me and out-of-control tails on these plushies? The squirrel, the red panda, and now the dragon! My tail obsession must stop!

A Plush A Day Challenge! Days 26 - Ninja!

Day 26 - Ninja!

The photo is a little blurry, because it is difficult to catch a ninja even when they let you take their picture.

I can not give you any further information about this ninja on pain of tiny pointy death from above.

A Plush A Day Challenge! Days 25 - Fatbird!

Day 25 - Fatbird!
I'm not entirely sure this is a bird - it's wingless, and it eats all of the cashews I throw into the yard. Do birds even eat cashews?

It's pretty cute hopping around, though. Even if it scares the squirrels.

In order to make myself use up this embarrassment of tshirt material, I am instituting a Plush a Day Challenge to myself. Essentially, I have to make some sort of plush creature every day.

A Plush a Day Challenge! Day 21 - Mender of Broken Hearts (Gerald)

Day 21 - Mender of Broken Hearts

People are always wondering how to mend a broken heart, and that's where Gerald here steps in. With his patented "HeartWelld" welding technique, he fixes the various fissures, cracks, and general wear and tear that most hearts endure.

On the weekends, Gerald says he enjoys playing the violin.

In order to make myself use up this embarrassment of tshirt material, I am instituting a Plush a Day Challenge to myself. Essentially, I have to make/post some sort of plush creature every day.

A Plush a Day Challenge! Day 20 - Zombear

Day 20 - Zombear

We all knew it was coming - nothing goes with cute brains better than a zombie! This guy is a zombie bear, hence his name Zombear. He would be sad that his ear is all bitten off, but he's just more interested in staring directly at your skull.

Where your delicious delicious brains are.

A Plush A Day Challenge! Day 19 - Brains!

Day 19 - Brains!

This is a brain on my windowsill. It's pretty happy about it. The temptation to name her "Sarah Bellum" is pretty high. But we're just gonna stick with "Brains."

In order to make myself use up this embarrassment of tshirt material, I am instituting a Plush a Day Challenge to myself. Essentially, I have to make/post some sort of plush creature every day.

A Plush A Day Challenge! Day 18 - CONbot!

Day 18 - ConBot

ConBot is made from some more of the Boston 2009 FUDCon tshirt that I had. This part includes the tag cloud, which I really like the visual imagery of.

Unfortunately, ConBot is a bit crazed - look at those eyes! Maybe there are too many words on his belly?

A Plush a Day Challenge! Day 17 - FUDbot!

Day 17 - FUDbot!

This robot is made from the FUDcon Boston 2009 shirt that I got - in fact, I plan to make 2-3 robots from the material! I was reminded about this shirt since FUDCon is going on right now up in Toronto!

His full name is Leonidas Stentz, but he prefers "FUDbot" so I'm fine with that. FUDbot likes to wear my chopsticks in his back pocket because they "make it look like I'm a sweet ninja!"

A Plush a Day Challenge! Day 16 - The Saddest Monster

Day 16 - The Saddest Monster
In order to make myself use up this embarrassment of tshirt material, I am instituting a Plush a Day Challenge to myself. Essentially, I have to make/post some sort of plush creature every day.

Even with such cheerful colors, the saddest monster is still pretty sad. It's okay monster, let's go to the movies.

A Plush a Day Challenge! Day 14 - Baby Oberon

Day 14 - Baby Oberon

In order to make myself use up this embarrassment of tshirt material, I am instituting a Plush a Day Challenge to myself. Essentially, I have to make some sort of plush creature every day.

One day, those cute nubs on Baby Oberon's head are going to sprout into giant branching antlers. For now, though, he's just so cute!

Sewing Supplies in my Travelling Sewing Box

Tomorrow, I'm taking this Plush A Day Challenge on the road! Here's my travel plush-creator box, packed and mostly ready to go!

I may not be able to post directly to the blog, but I'll catch up when I get back. If you want the daily plush updates (probably a few pictures of injured fingers as well), keep an eye on my flickr photostream!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

A Plush a Day Challenge! Day 12 & 13 - Timpa the Squirrel and the Sleeping Acorn

Day 12 - Sleeping Acorn
Day 13 - Timpa the Squirrel

In order to make myself use up this embarrassment of tshirt material, I am instituting a Plush a Day Challenge to myself. Essentially, I have to make some sort of plush creature every day.

I couldn't help it, I thought these two made such a nice picture together that I waited until today to post them!

We've been waiting for that acorn to wake up for six days! I don't think Timpa can even think of eating it now - she thinks of it more like a pet.

If you want to see them by themselves, here's Timpa and here's the Sleeping Acorn.

A Plush a Day Challenge! Day 11 - Chip the Cardinal

Day 11 - Chip, the Cardinal

In order to make myself use up this embarrassment of tshirt material, I am instituting a Plush a Day Challenge to myself. Essentially, I have to make some sort of plush creature every day.

While I was raking leaves today, Chip came by with a message:
"Chip-chip, chip-chip chip chip. Chip chip!"

A Plush a Day Challenge! Day 10 - Perren the Purple & Pink Penguin Plush

Day 10 - Perren the Purple & Pink Penguin Plush

In order to make myself use up this embarrassment of tshirt material, I am instituting a Plush a Day Challenge to myself. Essentially, I have to make some sort of plush creature every day.

John suggested a penguin, along with other alliterative suggestions! I tried to be as alliterative as I am able!

Also, Perren's a little embarrassed that he couldn't fit fetchingly on the windowsill like the other plushies, due to his roundness. I think he looks just fine hanging out in the curtains.

A Plush A Day Challenge! Day Nine - The Deadliest Mushroom

Day 9 - The Deadliest Mushroom

In nature, bright colors tend to indicate poisonous-ness. Also, human tend to want to protect and cuddle anything that is cute.

You see the problem, right? Don't cuddle deadly mushrooms, no matter how cute they are. That bright purple and pink is there as a warning!