Dyeing With Greener Shades Dyes

Yay! I finally get to show you the dyeing that I did last week with my Greener Shades Dyes. I purchased the Greener Shades starter kit to try out.

Here is the corriedale that I ordered online. 3 whole pounds. I divided it up into 12 four ounce balls.

Then it was time to dye. This ball I kettle dyed on May 5th. But I wasn't too pleased with how it turned out so a few days later I decided to try some hand painting with my other roving.

Here is my dyeing station, after I have been going at it for quite awhile. I know, it looks pretty messy, but everything was strategically placed and there was a method to my (apparent) madness.

So here is what I did. First I wrapped the whole table in film wrap, mainly just to keep it from getting soaked or stained. Then I laid down a couple old towels and a sheet and my area was ready.

For each batch of hand painted roving that I did, I laid down a sizable piece of film wrap. I spritzed it well with vinegar and then laid on my roving. I then went to the kitchen and mixed, stirred and concocted until I found just the right colors.

At first I was basically winging it, having no clue really if I was doing this right or not. But in the end I was very pleased with the results. As I went along I felt more confident and was getting the feel for it. I can se why they call it "hand painting". It really felt like I was doing a painting. I loved it. I had done a little bit of hand painting before, with my cousin, using the Wilton food dyes. I never posted pics of the process, just the finished roving and yarn.

After being hand painted, the roving was well sprayed with vinegar, wrapped up, and then steamed for 10 minutes. After which I laid it out to cool and then rinsed it and hung it to dry.

Here are all 11 batches, together and then individually. I put the colorway names below the pictures.

Pineapple Mango

Lake Moods

Purple Cow

Red Agate

Ocean Splendor

Pink Sherbet

Lilac Breeze

Deep Blue

Violet Dawn

Ocean Splendor 2

I had a blast dyeing, and am looking forward to doing it again. I think I learned a lot in the process. Most of the roving pictured I will be selling, but I think I will keep the Ocean Splendor 2 and spin it up myself. :)

Time For Some Antiquing!

A couple weeks ago we went on a family outing to a HUGE antique mall. I could have spent the entire day in there taking pictures! But it's a good thing I didn't, this post already has a lot of photos.

Bible from the 1800's. It was signed and dated in the front.

Lovely quilt w/a bit of hand stitching.

This apothecary chest was amazing! But the price was a little(lot) too steep for me.

Check out those handles!

More hand quilting!

As you can see, multiple levels.

Silver tea spoons.

What a great basket for skeins of yarn!

A cute little outfit!

Isn't this bear so sweet? He looks worn and well loved. I wanted to buy him. But didn't.

Purses

Bobbins

I found one booth with all these great crates and boxes. Very neat for storage!

More of the same.

Fishing lures.

And all kinds of Fiestaware!

I bought one of these cups, they are vintage pink. And in another booth I found a pink saucer, not vintage, but close enough.

All in all it was a lovely day. :)

A Bit Of My Life Lately

I have rather a limited time to blog, but I didn't want to pass up the opportunity to update everyone on whats going on. Seeing as it has been awhile since I blogged some of these photos are a couple weeks old. But no matter. They are still Interesting.

This here is our strawberry patch. I know it doesn't look like much, just a bunch of dandelions. But quite the contrary, this little area is simply chock full of strawberries. They are just in need of some TLC to make them presentable. I am in the process of thinning them, drastically.

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Here is my first row of transplanted strawberries. I dumped lots of water on them and then it rained. So I believe they are well on their way to flourishing.

The rhubarb is huge. We already cut some of it. I think it needs to be thinned this year.

The flower beds are flourishing. These Hostas are twice as big now from when I took this picture. Aren't they such a healthy sort of green? Quite springy feeling.

When I was at my Aunt's place last week I was looking out the window when this little bird landed on the rail. I hurried away to get my camera and he was still there when I got back! He seemed to enjoy the attention and put on a bit of a show for me.

When I was checking on the tomato plants I noticed all the stems seemed to glisten. They were so pretty I had to get a photo. I didn't know if I could catch it on the camera but I think it turned out well.

And this I just found on May 6th! Aren't they so adorable!? I was walking down in the field and a Robin flew out of the apple tree. She hung around and seemed very upset so I knew there was a nest in the area. I went all around the tree and missed it, but than later found it coming back from a different angle. It was right on eye level and if I stood on my tiptoes I could see in. Today when I went back to check on them one egg was hatched! I didn't have my camera handy though, having gone down to the field for a different reason.

Here is a snippet of my latest shawlette. I am much further than this photo, I only have 16 edge rows to do.

These six batik fabrics I picked up at my LYS. The plan is to use them for lining some small felted clutches I have been knitting for an upcoming fiber fest. The festival is this weekend and I have way too much to do. I am trying not to think about it at the moment, it will stress me out.

I haven't done too much sewing since the wedding. This is a table runner I sewed up a couple months back. It still needs to be quilted but I haven't exactly had the time for it lately.

Amy Butler wall hanging that I sewed last week. The pieces were already cut out so it was just a matter of laying them out in a pleasing manner and then sewing them up.

Oh yes, these are two of the clutches before felting. Mainly made with wool scraps from around the house. I threw in a row of novelty yarn here and there for added interest. I think they turned out beautiful. I didn't take any pictures. Things have been a little crazy with everything I am doing for the festival.

And lastly, my spinning! My sister kindly gave me a ball of her merino roving to spin up.

I had some angora that I had combed last fall. I have been adding it here and there as I spin. It is going to end up being a thick n' thin yarn. Sometime the angora doesn't want to draft like it should. I plan on putting this yarn up for sale at my festival booth.

This week I am going to be doing dyeing. I have almost three pounds of bare Corriedale roving and I cannot wait to see how it all turns out!

I am using the Greener Shades dyes. I'll post pictures later (after the festival) and let you know how it all turned out.

Giveaway Winner Announced!

My giveaway is now over. I was so nervous picking a name out of the hat, I wanted each and every one of you to win! Thank you all who entered, it really encouraged me to have 15 entries. And your kind comments were a joy to read.

Without further ado, the winner is.... Ida!

Congratulations Ida!

Ladies Tea 2010

A week ago our church had a Ladies Tea. It actually was for ladies and gals of every age. I couldn't resist snapping some shots of all the lovely tea cups, and of course, I can't resist food photographs!

Three charming tea cups.

The basket of tea was so beautiful and colorful. I had Sleepy time tea because I like the spearmint in it, the tea never makes me sleepy. At least I don't think it does.....

Oh yes, food. One of the best parts of the day, right? Most of it was finger food, which is most fitting for a tea party.

Lots of fruit and veggies.

And some not-so-healthy, but equally scrumptious, cheesecake!

And yes, one of my Petite Dolls was there in person. This is the 2nd Petite Doll that I made, and she was named Daffodil by her new Mommy.

The Tea was altogether a lovely time of friends, fellowship, tea, food, testimony and craft.

It was a beautiful event. I love tea parties. It gave us all the opportunity to dress up (we wore the satin dresses that we made for my brother's wedding)

I hope you enjoyed a little glimpse of the TEA!!!