"Is this coffee poison?" called Dash from the kitchen, sounding worried.
"No!" I assured, "It's safe."
"Okay," Dash said, "I just never know around you."
No, I don't usually brew pots of poison coffee, but I'd spent all morning dyeing stuff and Dash is used to warnings like, "Don't drink any stuff in a Mason jar, it's fabric dye!"
I spent lots of time today preparing for finishing. I have an exchange project I've been working on so I can't share photos of that but I can show you a few other things:
I dyed trims with tan Rit dye. Some rick rack, twill tape and chenille. These turned out nice and I am looking forward to using them. It took me forever to find chenille...bought it here. If you search for chenille, all you get is sweaters. Go figure. The rick rack and twill tape I got at Joann Fabrics.
Then I painted a small round box and waxed it. This was preparation for a project I started today. You can find these boxes at the crafts stores, they are just paper mache. The wood boxes work too! A coat of craft paint, sandpaper to antique then apply a bit of wax stain and buff it to a shine. Looks like a million bucks. Dash thinks this dark brown one looks like leather. I also did the box for the project below but didn't take a picture of it yet.
Any of the brands of craft paint will do, choose it for the color. The wax I use is Briwax, dark brown. I found this at a specialty wood finishing shop in Oklahoma City. Wear vinyl gloves when applying this!
While I had the tan dye out I tossed in my latest little finish to give it a spot of color. This is Blackbird Designs, Birds and Berries Pinbox. This will (hopefully) be a little pinpillow inside a box like the one above. If I can swing it. I never did one before but I'm feeling adventurous! Many thanks to Barb & Alma of Blackbird Designs for the exquisite instructions in their publications. You ladies rock!
What have you been working on? Have you tried anything new lately?
Thank you for visiting my blog today!
xox
that's too funny about the possible 'dye' vats. :)
ReplyDeleteNow I'm inspired. Wonder what I'll try now.... :)
ReplyDeleteI sorry, but I did laugh at the worry over the coffee being safe to drink. You never know what us crafty types have lurking around that is unsafe!
ReplyDeleteI love your box and the Blackbird Design that you stitched. It will make a spiffy pinpillow.
ReplyDeleteI am trying to finish up my first ornament using a tassel and beads. I did great with the beaded edges - just having problems with the tassel. It is fighting me, but eventually I will overcome. Can't wait to see your next finish.
Thanks for sharing your tricks of the trade. I've always wondered where to buy chenille. Happy Stitching!
ReplyDeleteThanks for telling how you do the box. I'm going to have to try that.
ReplyDeleteI like the Blackbird. Very cute.
I just used the Briwax this week for the Tulip House Stitching Companion. I love that stuff. I have a lot of plans for that stuff.
ReplyDeleteLook at how adventurous you're getting with the finishing!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for all those useful ideas! I love about the coffee! very funny!
ReplyDeleteWow! So many wonderful things you have done, and told us how to do! Thanks so much. I love the stitched piece, and I am in awe of you having the nerve to throw it into some dye. It really turned out fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI had a chuckle @ the poison coffee. I get cheap tea bags for dyeing and even though we drink brewed tea, I give Lee the same warning as you give Dash for the Mason jars. Thank you for sharing how you decorated the box. It looks good already and is going to be fabulous as part of your project. Your stitching is lovely as always! I'm looking forward to seeing it as a pinpillow.
ReplyDeleteLooking good.... can't wait to see all of your fabulous finishes!
ReplyDeletehappy stitching and finishing....
oh i always wondered what to do with those little paper mache boxes in the craft stores....must find a project for them now hehe.
ReplyDeleteA gorgeous finish. Look forward to seeing your finish on the box.
ReplyDeleteLove your BB design, and the great box.
ReplyDeleteI have never tried dyeing fabric maybe I will give it a go soon, hugs.
LOL at the poison coffee!
ReplyDeleteThe little box does indeed look like an expensive leather one.
Love the dyed trims and the antiqued effect it gave your little pin sampler
That's a gorgeous little finish, congrats! And great dying job too.
ReplyDeleteLooks great! I'm sure your finishing adventures will go well!
ReplyDelete(Also, I wish I could find Briwax up here in Canada. Surely someone has to sell it, right?)
All your projects look great. I've got some ricrac I want to darken (maybe tea dye), but I haven't worked up the nerve to tackle the project yet.
ReplyDeleteThat pin pillow is going to be adorable.
ooOoo! Such fun you are having. It looks great. Thanks for the tip on chenille. The coffee story is funny.
ReplyDeleteI got very excited at the mention of fabric dyeing and chenille ... but I was disheartened again to find my mistake. My mum has been dyeing (or attempting to start dyeing fabric for her course) and I have been roped into helping locate all the ingredients. Online and at a reasonable price. One elusive ingredient has been cochineal ... which sounds similar to chenille. The only place I found was selling it at £5.70 per 10g ... and mum needs twice that much at least. She already paid over £60 on all these dyes ... oh well I guess this module will be even more expensive that all the rest.
ReplyDeleteLike the stitching a lot!
Wow, never knew paper mache could be finished to look like wood/leather!! Looks lovely. The pattern would go perfectly with this
ReplyDeleteEager to see the final output :)
Lovely finish - love the story about the dye! Bless you x
ReplyDeleteThose tips and photos are all so helpful, Sharon--thank you for sharing your expertise and the link to the chenille :)
ReplyDeleteYour BBD finish is adorable and look wonderful with the brown box!
Have a great week--hope your heat has left for a while :)
Love the stitching finish - really cute. And what great ideas for some different completions. You did a lovely job on the little box. Love the coffee story!
ReplyDeleteWonderful job in the dye projects and I know they'll look awesome on whatever you attach them to! Darling finish, too!
ReplyDeleteLove the box and am intrigued to see what you finally do with it as I have one just like it.
ReplyDeleteThe trims you dyed look really nice - must have a go at something like that.
Margaret
I have some clear briwax I have to use on a box for the blackbird design. Did you just apply it with your gloves or did you try to paint it on?? Any help would be great. I have a lot of little spaces to put it into
ReplyDeleteLove it, The wax is a great idea too,I have been coffee dyeing some crochet flowers that I made. Isn't it fun!
ReplyDeleteThat is too funny!! Love your project!
ReplyDeleteGreat job on the little box, it looks very expensive with the bri-wax added.
ReplyDeleteLOL! I love how he has to ask if it's poison!! So cute!! Great tutorial on how to make a box look like an expensive leather box!! I'll have to try that sometime. Pretty little BBD finish too!! Stay cool in the heat!
ReplyDeleteOoh, haven't been by for a bit and glad I did! Thank you for the ideas!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chuckle! I suppose one can never be too careful around a crafter.
ReplyDeleteI love the trims that you've dyed!
That box is going to look wonderful with a stitched top.
I love all the things you've dyed.
ReplyDeleteBirds and Berries is lovely.
Too funny, glad the coffee wasn't poison. I have not tried anything new yet. Just getting the stitching finished is all I'm attempting.
ReplyDeleteGood to know that your dying adventures showed only positive results and that nobody in your household got poisoned, lol.
ReplyDeleteA nice little BBD finish, which will be gorgeous as a pinpillow on the bottom of a little box. Very nice idea.
Thanks for your tips on the boxes. They're amazing. I love this design and love how the finished piece turned out.
ReplyDeleteLOL!! The hubby is used to all kinds of weird instructions from me like that, too. =) The box looks great! I love your new blog background, too. LOVE. Maybe it's not so new anymore, but I am WAY behind on reading!!
ReplyDeleteOooo, your trims and briwaxed box looks great!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous stitching
ReplyDeleteThe sampler is beautiful. Also, thanks for the craft paper mache boxes method. I recently tried box decorating, and will now try your method :)
ReplyDelete