Doesn't look like much, does it? Pretty blah. And covered in mildew.
Looks can be deceiving.
Take an old thrift store napkin, soak it overnight in some soy milk,
stuff it's folded innards with some eucalyptus leaves, helenium blossoms, a couple nails
and a few rusty screws.
Roll the whole kit'nkboodle around a piece of driftwood,
binding it as tight as you can with any old ratty garden twine ...
plunk the whole thing into a cast iron pot packed full with more of those euc leaves
and simmer away for a good 45 minutes or so.
Leave to air dry for about three weeks.
In case you might want some,
poor air circulation and/or lack of (drying) heat will bring on the pesky microflora.
May not be a bad thing, but I admit to going to battle with this batch of bundles
who ended up spending considerable time basking in my warming oven
and then received an extra steam treatment and a very hot hour in the dryer ...
+++++ STOP ++++++
you little mildewy buggers!
Many thanks to Fabienne for her encouragement & special steps walking me through that one ...
I had a good chuckle when I read the back side of this tag:
"Machine wash cold
Do not bleach
Tumble dry low
Warm iron as needed
Dry clean recommended"
It seems eco-printing is a made-in-heaven enterprise for rule breakers.
: : :
I have to include this one particular close-up ...
this face is for Jude ...
who still teaches me to *see* in many unexpected ways ...
thank you.
:::
It'll be a night for blue moon dreaming ....
let's all just let it roll.
that face is the first thing i saw in the third image. fabulous results. when that happens i'm encouraged to keep going.
ReplyDeleteIt's odd...I didn't really like this cloth when I first unwrapped it but it's grown on me.
DeleteI'm encouraged ;>]
oh what a bundle of small delights (and no - I'm not talking about the microflora!)
ReplyDeleteEasier to accept the mildew when other marks are pleasing...keep on keepin' on, as they say.
DeleteThanks, ronnie.
That was definately worth the wait.
ReplyDelete"Waiting is the hardest part..." Isn't that how the song goes? So true here!
DeleteThanks, lizet.
Wonderful Christi! Looks can deceive. gorgeous results in these bundles. I like the tag on the piece of cloth.
ReplyDeleteGinny, do you know that I never saw that tag until I went to iron this piece?! I was so busy looking at the marks, I didn't even notice it ~ it was like a surprise, and a funny one at that!
DeleteAmazing results, and what a fantastic face, I love it when something like that happens, it's like a gift.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks, Sharon...I'm happy you came by for a visit.
DeleteWoWEE, that is cool!
ReplyDelete;>]]
DeleteThat is great Christi - and the face made me laugh out loud!
ReplyDeleteI bought a silk blouse at Goodwill last week, and the tag requested it be dry cleaned only - fat chance of that! LOL
xo
I think I might start *collecting* those tags...seeing as how we've all turned into a bunch of label rebels, HA!
DeleteOnce again you've worked magic!!
ReplyDeleteNot me, Penny, I'm just the facilitator. I could not have planned any of that! Like being a guidance counselor really.... ;>]]
DeleteWow, what a magical face!
ReplyDeleteyes, appeared like magic, sad eyes and all....
DeleteA fabulous Post! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind words, Elena.
DeleteThank you for showing the before and after.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! I like to do that (and I like others' blog posts that do the same)...gives me a sense of the cycle of things.
DeleteI'm happy you stopped by!
GOrgeous results! Love it all, and the face.... delightful!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Kim!
Deletelooking good
ReplyDeleteand
dry cleaning
should never be recommended
- the best rule to break
The mere thought of having those chemicals next to my skin, sets me to quivering...
Deleteplus the whole idea of keeping something pristine & looking new, well now, hogwash I say.
yummy results...
ReplyDeleteThanx, Nancy!
DeleteI'm having a funny mind trip about taking the napkin to my 90 year old grandma, and saying, "Look, Dede! I died one of your linen napkins. How do you like it?" I can just see her comprehensionless eyes seeking some glimmer of explanation in mine. She would promptly start thinking about how to make it white again... a little bleach... spread on the table in the bright sunlight for a day. And then she'd realize, it's a gonner. HA! Just goes to show you... something... I guess....
ReplyDeleteLOVE that story, Robin...HAHA, definitely a goner - at least, gone somewhere else! My grandma would have felt exactly that way. I probably would have been given one of those oh-let-the-child-have-her-fun kind of looks as well.
DeleteDear Christi, I just have to say that your blog is so filled with beauty I just have to look through it all! Your gardens, your dog, your watery view, and your art...Thank you for stopping by to read my "threads" stories and leading me hear. I see you are also here in the Pacific Northwest, but farther north than I... I will be back as well.
ReplyDeleteroxanne
Roxanne, oh my, that is soooo sweet of you to say...THANK YOU.
DeleteI thoroughly enjoy your blog, your artwork and I won't be a stranger there!
What a face! There is wisdom there...
ReplyDelete...a bit like turning the bend in the forest & coming upon the face in a gnarled tree?
DeleteI didn't realize so many would *him* appealing...
my eye was immidiatly drawn to the face...
ReplyDeletegreatgreat
ragmate
XOXO
DeleteI think the face is rather like the Lion KIng
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Clare!
DeleteEco dying intrigues me but I have not tried it yet... but I LOVE your results - and your determination to get rid of those pesky moldy whatevers!
ReplyDeleteDonna, if you go ******there****** be forewarned that bundle dyeing may sweep you out into very intriguing waters. Take a raft and a large supply of food....you may not return for awhile!!
DeleteThis is a beautiful cloth. I kind of like the fact that it went through some hardship during microflora eradication. Maybe the face appeared then? It's an amazing face. I can't wait to see how it transforms you.
ReplyDeleteThere will be beadwork added to this one, Susan, and I figure I'll just let those jewels take me where they want to go. They haven't led me astray yet! And I agree ~ it is better for the hardship, I think...
Deletegreat post with fab pictures and the full recipe - thank you! the face is just THERE isn't it?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Dee! yup. That face was kinda unavoidable ;>]]
Delete