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    T Tuesday: washi confession edition

    September 10, 2018 - By 

    Last week I learned that having a washi obsession isn’t exactly front page news…and that it might be fun to share our collections.  Ok Eileen…you ready to share too?! 

    Mini-me organized the tapes for me. I love how they look but have no patience to make it happen. Lucky for me she loves to both craft and organize. My paint drawer often gets a makeover as well. 🙂

    This set of blue tapes I love!! A couple of them look like sun prints and one like shibori.

    My black tapes get used a lot. They give that pop on a page or card that just helps me say “DONE”.

    I love this bin as well. Bright yellows, orange. pink and red.

    The polka dots in this bin have gotten a lot of use. I love polka dots! Did you notice the tape with the coffee cup and beans? I’m sure you’ll see that one again in a salute to T stands for Tuesday.

    This last bin is random. Ones that didn’t physically fit or were just too colorful to categorize.

    I guess it wasn’t quite as shameful as I thought. Mini-me likes to use washi in her smash book and also in her notes for school. I use it pretty much anywhere. If fact I’m putting together a new journal. More of a junk journal/smash book type idea. I plan to do more writing on a personal level. I’m not sure how much of it I will share here after I start using it to journal. 

    I’m using random papers from my stash but keeping them in a Fall color scheme. I’m all about Fall right now. It is my favorite season.

    I survived my first week of school. I had very tired feet a couple of days but have since toughened up. As expected I was able to accomplish way more while working than I ever thought I could.  Like starting the above journal. Learning at least 60 kids names and faces in 4 days. Paint and reupholster a vanity bench for Mini-me. Paint 2 shelves and candelabra….also Mini-me(I’ll have to share those projects later). Work 2.5 hours of concessions at a volleyball game after working all day.

    Oh yeah and pull up my gardens.

    after collecting my last harvest of the season.

    Welp…now I’m tired…after recalling all those things.

    T stands for Tuesday

    What are you doing today?

  • Around home - Blog - Crafts - Creativity - Outdoors

    T Tuesday: eco dye edition

    August 13, 2018 - By 

    Last week on T stands for Tuesday I had mentioned that I had attempted some eco dyed papers. Today I thought I’d share my results with you.

    Last we left off I had bundled my papers and my cooking pot was way too small….

    One trip to Goodwill later, I found the perfect size pot in which to cook my paper bundle. 

    The bundle wanted to float since it was pine boards that acted as the presser boards. A couple rocks worked well to hold the bundle down in the vinegar and alum spiked water. I boiled on the side burner of our grill for about and hour. Thank goodness I did this outside because it was not pleasant smelling. Also I learned that the pine boards had a lot of sap left in them…what a mess.

    After boiling I drained off the cooking water then added cool water which I salted quite heavily. Once everything was cool enough to handle I started the unbundling process.

    Then set the pages to dry on the hot concrete. I was surprised at what did and didn’t leave an impression. The marigolds and lemon grass had the greatest color from the experiment.  But that wasn’t my favorite.

    It was these….the baby maple trees I pulled from my lawn were lovely ghosted images.

    A few freshly turned leaves from our service berry tree gave a slightly rusty, vein like appearance as it’s only impression. Pretty as well but still not holding my interest like those baby maples.

    I think I’ll try this again…but perhaps with other sources for dyes. Purple cabbage and onion skins are the first to jump to my mind. I think perhaps I’d get some nice color out of those.

    Speaking of color….

    I enjoyed a colorful sort of beer this summer. Grain Belt came out with a limited edition Blueberry infused beer. I had to buy some…its local and we like to support our local business. That’s my excuse and I’m stickin’ to it. It was pretty in color and pretty tasty too. Not that you’d really want to drink more than one…too sweet for that.

    Anyway…this Tuesday I will be late in visiting…

    Next week I may miss all together unless I prepost. We are taking J to college!! Move in day is the 21st. Crazy!!

    T stands for Tuesday

    What are you doing today?

  • Around home - Blog - Creativity - Outdoors

    Inspired to Eco Dye

    August 5, 2018 - By 

    I’ll admit it…I went down the rabbit hole this morning watching eco dye videos on YouTube. although I got nothing physically accomplished during that time I was definitely inspired to give it a whirl myself.

    I picked up a pad of 100lb watercolor paper at a garage sale for 50¢. I figured this was good fodder for my experiment.  I walked around the yard picking various leaves, weeds and flowers to give variety since I really have no idea what will work the best. I also searched through the scrap lumber in the shed for wood to sandwich my pages between. 

    my bundle is all ready to go…just one problem…

    The cooking pot is too small. I fear we got rid of the large one that was in the shed at some point. A trip to Goodwill is in order before I can actually run my experiment.

    While in the yard I discovered that my dream catcher did its job and kept the pesky deer from eating my tiger lily blossoms.

    So pretty! Love the bright orange.