Mug Rug Exchange - Do it yourself style!

[wendy w.]

I don't even know where to start! Lois, what beautiful flowers for LImbania and hexie rug for Rita.

Rosemary's mug rug from Rita--perfect pinks and so lovely... doesn't Rosemary adore pink? I seem to remember... Rosemary, your box is so great. It reminds me of when I lived in Japan and covered boxes like yours in washi. It's fun, easy and quick and you get so much enjoyment out of looking at a pretty box!

Rita, so that's how you made the hummingbird... I kept staring at it and could not figure out how it was done. Great job!

Pink is a colour that I can wear although I prefer the stronger ones & reds; Izzy is the real pink girl - except on one memorable occasion, we went out on a girly shopping spree with her godmother and she declared that she didn't like pink :roll: You try finding finding 4-5 yr old girls clothes that are not pink :twisted:

[Renata L.]

Rosemary, didn't you do a series of pink hand dyed fabric for the Laura Nownes sampler? They were sooooo beautiful!

[Renata L.]

They were red shading through to yellow and various (peachy) oranges in between - spare dye from a 'Hestia, goddess of the hearth' costume but nice clean, clear colours (except on hands when you discover that your rubber gloves for dying have perished :roll: :lol: )

[Renata L.]

My computer screen read them as pinks but lovely nevertheless--wish I could bring myself to hand dye fabric as you do...

[wendy w.]

Go on Renata have a go and you can send me the results no matter how messy. I love messy

[Renata L.]

Go on Renata have a go and you can send me the results no matter how messy. I love messy

No, Wendy... not yet! But I am ready to go to the post office and send your mug rug. Is that okay?

[wendy w.]

Is it ok? I should say so! Now I have something to look forward to

[Susan B.]

wish I could bring myself to hand dye fabric as you do...

I'm on my way to AC Moore this afternoon to find some more Transparent Setacolor dye (or paint, or whatever it is).
This has got to be the easiest stuff to use in the whole wide world. I work straight on my kitchen counter, which granted is granite so can't be "dyed". Set-up to finished is about 5 minutes.

You could do it Renata!

[Rita C.]

It looks great Susan. You have some queer looking butterflies in your part of the world! :lol:

[Renata L.]

That is so pretty, Susan. I suppose I could give that a shot on my quartz countertop...

[wendy w.]

Nooooo put a bit of plastic down :lol: I'm not that brave.

I've got the starter set of those paints and some nice white fabric must have a go. Do you have to soak in soda ash like you do when dyeing or just go for it on dry cloth? I think I spritzed when I tried before.

Like your fancy butterflies

[Renata L.]

Don't worry, Wendy... I don't have any paints in the house to get curious with and have a few other projects I HAVE TO GET TO first. I do have food coloring, though... just joking! :lol: And even though quartz in nonporous, I could not even imagine doing it in the kitchen... that would give DH license to bring stuff up from his woodshop to clean in the kitchen sink. NO WAY!!! :lol:

[Susan B.]

Those "butt ugly" butterflies were a first attempt with felting. I kind of like them, but they'll live their lives in my sewing room.

My granite is very dark and mottled so othing could hurt it.
I didn't use soda ash, just pfd fabric washed again in a bit of Synthropol. With the wet fabric, I just spread it flat and painted away with diluted Setacolor and throwaway sponge brushes. Don't hang the wet fabric over towel bars though. The dye will pool and give strange stripes, better to dry flat. We have to heat set, so I ironed it, haven't washed yet to see if I succeeded.

Don't wait long with the starter kits, the stuff dries up, once it's opened.

[wendy w.]

Cheers Susan

[wendy w.]

Whereas I used Dylon & salt and did my dying in plastic bags with a clippet to hold it shut. I think the american equivalent is ritalin (sp?) I was just careful counting how many spoons of each colour went into each bag for my shading.