Pixie Blossoms

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

DIY: coloring crocheted laces...

Colorful crocheted laces are not easy to find around here, where I live. I was thinking about put in practise some ideas and I decided to dye some yards of cotton crocheted laces. Easy process, but we must stay by the stove and keep stirring for about 15 minutes. Do not boil, just keep water hot, like simmering. A small pan, 3 or 4 cups of water and 2 teaspoons of Rit Dye (color of your choice). I dyed 2 yards of each color. I should do the math, based in the instructions on the package of the product, but...I wasn't feeling like doing it, I just guessed. Don't forget to add some salt, to fix the color.

I think the colors got really darker than what is shown on their color chart...not sure why...maybe because I should use the right amount of water + dye. In the end, I liked it.

* I call these crocheted laces because they look crocheted to me, but I have no idea if they were really crocheted...maybe not. Here is a link for some information on laces. There are some techniques that scared me out a bit. Have you ever seen the process of bobbin lace? If you have time to kill and like textiles, visit the Virtual Museum of Textile Arts.

Well, we are off to Califoria tomorrow and I am still packing to go! I will take a blogging brake for about 10 days. I think I will have lots of photos next time.

See you soon and enjoy the summer!

Labels: colorful crocheted laces, crafts, diy

Tuesday, October 23, 2007

The Bulletin Board for the Fridge...

Hello, after some days, I am back with this easy tutorial to make a bulletin board for your fridge. The idea probably not new, maybe you've seen something like that before. I take it as mine, because I did not copy from anyone, but I believe there are people with similar ideas. The first one I made I did not use fabric, ribbons and tacks. It was just cork and magnet. Today, I like to give it a nice touch adding upholstery fabric and the materials mentioned above. You can free your imagination and do it yourself a nice one. At Michael's craft store (if you live in USA), you will find the rolls of magnet sheet. They have adesive on the back, but it's not enough to hold on fabric and cork. Do not purchase those magnet sheets for printers. Those don't work. You will need hot glue, a lot! There are for sale at Michael's, Target, Wall Mart and other shops these squared pieces of cork, ready to use. I like the one below (I can't remember it's brand name - sorry!) because it's light weight and thick.

If you use tacks like the one below, you can glue two pieces of cork together, like I did...

On the photo below (not the best, but...) you see my 2 squared pieces of cork and the fabric. You will fold the fabric on the back and use hot glue. Don't forget to iron on fabric before to start this project and do not leave wrinkles on the front side. Pull it as much as you can. It has to be tight, be gentle with the cork!

You can do a nice hem for it, I did not. I was in a rush, I've been really busy with my children lately, they are full of energy, my home cleaning never ends and I don't have a maid. Ha!

Are you doing all right? Ok, now you take the magnet sheet and fix it the adesive side on the back side of the bulletin board. It must be smaller than the cork's size ( like half inch), because you don't wanna see the edges of the magnet showing around the edge of your bulletin board. I hope my English is not so bad!! Ugh! Do not glue the edges of the magnet, leave at least half inch free of glue, because you will need to stick the ribbons underneath the magnet sheet later.

Time for ribbons. Choose the sturdy ones. Satin ribbons are no good. They are suppose to hold your grocerie cupons, cards and whatever you stick on the fridge. To keep them on place, just use a pin while you attach them on the back with hot glue.

Attach ribbon underneath magnet sheet...

Finally the back of your bulletin board will look like this...

Last, tacks!

Voilà...

Labels: crafts, diy, handmade, tutorials