From the field to the needle continued - dyeing

OK, are you ready for this, we’ve got 10 minutes before I need to go back downstairs and turn the hob off. This post is huge so take a deep breath right now and make sure you’re sitting comfortably – you might even have grown a beard by the time you get to the end!

First up… get the pan on the stove

Then, gather together the ingredients

Not forgetting the actual fleece

I’m going to dye 200g, so onto the scales it goes

Next the fleece needs to soak in water

probably for longer than I leave it in there.

and, of course, being wool, it doesn’t want to go into the water, so a bit of gentle encouragement is called for

(sexy hand, or what?)

Back to the ingredients. First read the destructions (and then ignore then, usually)

and weigh out the dye – 4g for 200g fleece

and 12g of fixing agent (ammonium sulphate – I think, I’ll have to check when I go back downstairs in a sec))

Pop the fixing agent in the water and then dilute the dye with hot water

Add fibre protection – 4ml for 200g fibre

And finally, chuck in the squeezed out, but still damp, fleece

make sure it all gets under the water

and cook for 30 minutes

I don’t know whether you can see in that last picture, but the fleece is already turning different shades of turquoise – the lens kept steaming up, though.

Right, my 30 minutes are up, so I’ll pop downstairs and turn the heat off.

Then, after CSI, I will rinse the fibre, so I’ll see you after 10pm.

Thanks for having the stamina to get this far.

Liz
x

Spotlight on Folksy

Continuing the theme of new-to-me names in the March Hares, I’d like to introduce you to you following people. All the pictures are live, so click the pic to be taken through to the relevant shop.

K & O Jewellery

Olga and Her husband, Kevin, are the brains behind K & O jewellery. Together, they make individually designed and handmade jewellery at their home in Greater Manchester, working hard to create pieces that stand out and will draw attention when worn. And, honestly, I think you’ll agree that this small sample is great. There’s plenty more over in the shop, so whizz over there and take a look.

                 

 

Cards with a Difference

The name says it all, really. If you are looking for a card with a difference you should try this fab shop on Folksy. Tanya can can personalise any card and add any verse you wish to the inside of a greeting card. Further more, your wish is, apparently, her command !

                 

Hopefully, we’ll get back to the fleece dyeing in the morning.

Thanks for reading.

Liz

x

March Hares Special Report

I’ve been listing with the Folksy listing club since 1st June 2010, though I have to admit that some months have gone a little bit astray.

However, so far this month, I think I’m keeping up. There are lots of new faces in the March Hares and I wanted to share with you some of the new-to-me names so that you could see what fantastic delights are in store for you when you pop over there to get a Mother’s Day pressie – or any pressie for that matter!

I’m going to start the ball rolling with Sketchstitch, a little shop of original paintings, drawings, cards and so much more. Here you will find quirky, cute, original work at very affordable prices. With a background in printed textiles, Yvonne likes to work in mixed media including gouache, fabric, papers, ink and pencil. She works from imagination creating a variety of characters and imagery and I LOVE everything in her shop.

So if you’ve never been to Folksy, now is a good time to start. Here are just a few of the delights awaiting you in Yvonne’s little shop. All the pictures are live, so I’ve made it even easier for you to pop over there and bag yourself an original piece of work without breaking the bank.

                     

                 

I’ll be back soon with more new names for you to try.

Liz

x

The nerve wracking spin drying stage

Next instalment coming right up…

So, I took a smaller piece off the fleece and here it is languishing in the sink

Then I put it in an old pillow case – I swear blind that this case contains fibre and not kittens – honest!

Then it was into the washing machine. Can you see what I have to contend with? What a mess and it’s not all mine. Anyway, I could just about reach. Set the washer to SPIN, not wash as per last time (doh) and waited.

And the moment of truth – are the kittens still alive? No, no, I mean is the fibre felted?

SUCCESS

Right, now we let it dry and then we’ll set about dying it in the morning.

Liz
x

The Aftermath…from field to needle continued

After removing the fleece (and washing the walls down) this is what remained in the bath

Don’t you dare laugh! I had to put my hands in this to keep the plughole clear

So the fleece is now in the sink – yes, that was SINK, not sick! Please try your best not to get too offended by the fashionable bathroom fittings

and this is what’s left in the bath

not too bad, I thought.

OK, next in with the clean water – this the proof

10 seconds later

But what’s that speck in the bottom right?, I hear you cry…are you ready for this?

Now, I suppose it’s time to repeat the process.

Back soon.

Liz
x

My Faves from the March Hares – Day 4

I haven’t blogged in a million years – and now you’re getting lots all in one day. Don’t get used to it, I’ll probably turn back into a cabbage tomorrow!!

I’ve included my favourite items from today's listings in the March Hares Listing Club. Click the pic for further info

Jewellery

                 

Textiles

                

            

Wood, Ceramics and Polymer Clay

                

       

Glass and Resin

               

Artwork and  ACEOs

             

Fab, aren’t they?

Liz

x