dyeing fabric and outdoor challenge
My day of dyeing 600 yards of cloth yesterday; it was a long day and A LOT of work but it was neat to be part of the process. My artist friend Kendra, Veda, Maili, and Porter’s mommy, uses the cloth to make gorgeous bags, scarves, dishtowels, and hopefully a 3 tiered skirt for me (hint, hint). 
The yard was a rainbow of color while the cloth was drying in the sun.
Araina modeling a skirt, made by Kendras’ 8yo daughter Veda, using this beautiful hand-dyed cloth.
Outdoor challenge pics from today- the little ladies were outside all day. I caught Fauna and Maili reading in a white pine tree.
I asked the ittle ladies to pick violets (and dandelions) for the jelly we are making tomorrow.
Araina was very proud of herself for becoming a better tree climber today; so happy to reach her goal!
Outdoor Challenge Participant of the day- In the Purple House where Lise believes, “if you’re going to be wet anyway, might as well go to water,” and spends the afternoon at the creek on a rainy day.
Visit the other Great Outdoor Challenge players- 126 so far! It’s never too late to join!
lisa, sanders, angelina, phyllis, sarah, christie, jennifer, debbie, dong dong, denise,luisa, joy, stephanie, cori, alex, dawn, kristen, catherine, tricia,becky, christy, ruth, kari, courtney,branflakes,jessica, renee, haiku,brynn, amy, clemencia, sherry, leslie, lise, renee, anet, jenn, marina, amy, ella, marcia, karen, beth,julie,kyndale,kelly,lizzie, eileen,ag, mari-ann, cindy, robin, nicole, debbie, julia, renee, anita,lisa, jenn, montessori, marita,jeannie, hallie, mandy, kangaroo, andrea, joey, carmen, teena, stephinie, gidget, elizabeth, emma, rosina, saminda, melissa, katie, becca, atouria, barbara, ariella,missy, elizabeth, sarah, eileen, lisa, stacy, jennifer, tulsileaf, lisa C, morticia, angela, rana,jamie,lisa c, luz, charley, heather, valerie, kirsten, rachel, annie, kendra, beth s, lindsey, michelle, megan, jen, jenni, gabby, renee,korina, linda, kerrs, laura, melissa, eva, jenny, amber, deb, wendy, courtney, shanti, msrev, kellyi, tammy, julia , maureen, indigomum
If you leave a link on the days you participate, I will know I have permission to share for Outdoor Challenge Participant of the Day.
“The purpose of Children & Nature Awareness Month is to celebrate the benefits of experiences in the natural world to children, and to all of us, and to offer alternatives to nature-deficit disorder,” said Dr. Cheryl Charles, President and CEO of C&NN.
I just wanted to pop in and thank you for this challenge… its has really given us the motivation to get outside even on the very rainy days
~
I am so enjoying looking back over your recent blog posts!
Beautiful pictures! It looks like a dream! :0)
And Veda’s skirt is wonderful! I wonder if it is easy to make? I want to learn how to sew so I can finally use my sewing machine, and would love to find such a pattern!
The dye my friend uses are Dharma Fiber Reactive Procion Dyes which you can order from http://www.dharmatrading.com/html/eng/3796-AA.shtml?lnav=dyes.html. You have to use plant fibered material (cotton and silk) with this dye and you have to soak the fabric in soda ash for a few hours prior to the dyeing process. Also, due to some of the chemicals in the dye powder, my friend Kendra always wears a mask when mixing the powders. It’s kind of nasty stuff. Gloves are a must too because the soda ash is very drying. The steps:
1. soak cloth in soda ash
2. mix dyes with water; wear mask
3. soak cloth in buckets of dye for at least 20 minutes; of course with tie-dyeing different colors you may not be able to soak as long.
4. rinse well and ring out the excess water
5. lay out to dry
6. wash and dry in washing machine
Can you tell more about the process used to dye the fabric? I want some! Was it just your run of the mill RIT dye or something else?
Oh that cloth is gorgeous. I can just picture driving by your yard and seeing that. Did many people stop to stare? I probably would have stopped to take pictures of my own it’s so pretty.
I think 600 yards of fabric deserves an award. ….or at the very least a coronation. You are the now the fabric dyeing queen. I can hardly wait to see all of the goodies these are made into. Love your outdoor fun.
I so badly want to roll through your grass and all those gorgeous pieces of fabric. And I am intrigued by your upcoming jelly…
posted my most recent challenge pic today
Wow you were busy! I love the skirt on Araina, we Rainy Day’s gotta stick together. My kiddos picked some violets for me today too.
http://freetolearnanlovinit.blogspot.com/2010/04/outdoor-hour-challenge-decorating.html
Your yard was such a riot of color – I loved it.
We had a much less ambitious time with color today – but was fun, nevertheless. http://geminiriver.blogspot.com/2010/04/great-outdoor-challenge-april-12th.html
Love the photos! The fabric is beautiful and so are the children. Looks like they’re having a great time. We’re going to play along too and I’ve posted our first entry!
http://www.sunshinecottage.blogspot.com
Tammy
what a great day for you all! are those violets wild? what a beautiful patch!
i am also curious about the dyes you used. I do silks but have not been able to get a deep red to set.
we spent the day at the beach
I love your blog! Will become an avid follower I’m sure.
I’ve just heard about the outdoor challenge, so have started from today, I hope that’s ok.
It can been here: http://classroomfree.blogspot.com/2010/04/children-and-nature-awareness-our-day-1.html
Thank you for looking
Jules x
(Unschooling mum of 4, living in Devon, UK)
How incredible! What a fun project! I am curious about what kind of dyes you used and the type of fabric, too. The hand dyed fabrics are so beautiful!
Looks like quite a process! Love the photos!
Inspiration ALL OVER the place here. The dyed fabric is stunning. And the reading in the tree shot? Perfection!
This is SUCH great inspiration to not only get outside, but also to drag the camera along. I posted yesterday’s moments on my personal blog.
wonderful wonderful colours, cloths and children.Great post.
Here’s my next getting out doors post, treasures in the garden
http://abigsmile4.blogspot.com/2010/04/garden-treasures-inc-30-days-of-beauty.html
thanks again
x
Ah! Eeps! Magic!
I also dyed silks yesterday! Such beautiful cloths you did. And I can’t wait to learn more about your jelly.
Warm wishes, Tonya
WOW So much pretty cloth!!! WOW on Veda’s skirt!!!! And WOW on Araina climbing a tree!
Found your blog thanks to Widge!!
hey I’ve featured you on my blog. Hope that’s cool- if not let me know and I’ll remove it no probs
http://nugg.typepad.com/blog/ We’re gonna have to cart the beds and cooker outside, it’s where we live nowdays
WOW! Such a mission! 600 yards! HUGE. Love the colours and love the skirt. Thank you so much for the inspiration of Nature Awareness Month. Here are some images from our morning adventure, today. http://www.wherewildstrawberriesgrow.com/uncategorized/nature-awareness-month-the-fairy-forest/
Okay, the picture of the baby…SO CUTE. And the cloth is beautiful! I’m jealous you have a yard big enough to lay out 600 yards of fabric!! And it totally makes me want to dye cloth, even though I don’t know how. The girls in the tree reading…so sweet. I think I’m going to be hooked on your blog now!
Love Araina’s attitude!!
Fabulous colors!!
I love the cloth dying pictures. I’m sure it was something to see. I also can’t wait to hear more about the jelly.
http://jackandsasa.typepad.com/dragonflydays/2010/04/april-11-2010.html
I want to know more about the jelly, too! Love the colors of the fabrics <3
I think it is soooo funny that we both have a husky and a GSD!! They are such different breeds but so much the same. I love them!!
So proud of your little tree climber
I just posted our second Great Outdoors Challenge, this one is about Gardening with Young Children
http://kidsstuffworld.com/2010/04/gardening-at-any-age/
Hope you like it
I love the beautiful fabrics! I hope you get that 3-tiered skirt
What fun it is to read in a tree. I may give it a try myself!
We enjoyed a beautiful day outside today too – http://urbancottagehomeschool.blogspot.com/2010/04/great-outdoor-challenge-sunday.html
That fabric is gorgeous and the violets are lovely… as are your little ladies… as usual…
thank you dianne!
Love the photos!
600 yards! wow! that wouldn’t even fit in our yard to dry. i bet that was an amazing sight.
I should have taken a pic from afar! They are even up on a hill and the yard of cloth was seen a mile away.
Great pics! I am inspired by the fabric drying on the lawn…and what a sweet tree climber.
And sounds like real yummy jelly!
~marcia
http://www.childinharmony.com/2010/04/outside-of-course.html
Looks like a great day outside! We were outside all afternoon at a local park, but I forgot my camera! oops! Pictures tomorrow, I guess.
we are playing. not posting every day, but out there everyday. even through the chicken pox. yikes.
awesome post! i love the cloth dying pics: would love to hear more..does she use old sheets or muslin and then cut & sew? reading in a tree!
Jelly made of violets and dandelions? Really!!? I can’t wait to learn more! love, Beth