Ice Dyeing!

I am in love with ice dyeing. Much thanks to Quilting Arts Magazine for publishing an article by Carol Ludington entitled 'Dye Your Own Ice Parfait' in the June/July 2012 issue. I suspect the issue was handed out at SAQA's Expanding Horizons Conference in April as it was in my stack of reading materials for a flight out to Spokane in May. As I read the article, I knew that Carol was describing a manageable process for me. I ordered the dyes and a few other things so they would be here when I returned from the Arctic.

It seems fitting that I should try ice dyeing right after a trip to the Arctic, doesn't it! :)

When we had the flooring replaced in our garage a year or so ago, we put in some new cabinetry and, looking ahead, I had a stainless steel countertop installed next to a sink. It was there that I collected my materials for my project.  One great feature of this approach is that it does not require a large working area. In addition to what you see in the photo, I used a 3'x6' portable table top covered in plastic that I had constructed for a dyeing class I took several years ago. I was able to lay that on a railing near to my counter top work area.

The actual dyeing process was simple - great for a beginner.

Carol suggested using fat quarters. I was a bit more flexible. What I was looking for were some greens and reds to use in my current art quilt. I knew I wouldn't require large pieces so I cut some PFD cotton and silk organza in convenient size pieces for use with some smaller glass containers I had found on sale.

After preparing the fabric, it was simple matter of stacking fabric, ice cubes, and dye in layers and letting them sit  for a day. I wound up short on glass containers so I threw a piece in a ziploc bag as well. This entire phase of the process probably took me about an hour or so. Clean up was easy.

glass containers filler with ice cubes, fabric and dye

This morning was time to rinse, wash, and iron my experiments. I am extremely happy with the results. Considering this is the first time I have dyed anything at home, I would say it is a great success.

Dyed Organza

The organza looks fairly light in the photo as it didn't photograph that well.  I will be using it in layers to build up areas of color so it is pretty much what I was hoping for.

Dyed Cottons

The cottons are more vibrant in color, as I might expect. I plan to use some of them as back drops on which I will layer the organza. The ziploc bag piece is in the upper right corner of the cottons photo. I am really pleased with how it turned out.

I expect that Carol has finally gotten me through the door and into the world of dyeing my own fabrics. I am sure I will still visit my fabric shops with an eye out for the perfect colors. It just in nice to know that I also have the option to create what I need.

P.S. I am linking this up to Nina Marie's "Off the Wall Friday" posts. Check out what others have been doing!

Ponderings

I am on a break from working on that jacket - it is going great - but I stitched a line that I shouldn't have. So, I am taking it out - the kind of task I like least.

There has been a lot of commenting on the Quilt Art email group this past week about the Quilting Arts magazine. It happens to be the one quilting magazine that I subscribe too. The thread of discussion has been long and has branched out in many directions not really related to the original post. That is the way most discussions evolve on the web it seems. The discussion of the magazine has sort of galvanized at this point into those that like the magazine as it is and those that wish it were different, perhaps more advanced, more relevant to their interests.

Since I am subscribing to it and intend to keep subscribing, I guess I fall into the group of those that appreciate the magazine. I see some interesting parallels between Quilting Arts another magazine that I receive - Runner's World - a magazine for distance runners. Some of you know that I am marathon runner. When my monthly copy of Runners' World arrives, I quickly scan through it. Some of the articles are always directed at new runners and how to run a 5k (3.2 miles and relatively short in the world of distance running). Sometimes there will be a feature on other length races like a 10K, a marathon or a really long distance run of 50 miles or more. Other articles deal with diet, supplemental training of interest to all runners like stretching, strength building exercises, equipment and usually there is a feature on an athlete.

Naturally, some of these articles are of more interest to me than others. I may pick up a few tips on diet or some stretches that I can use. I might just enjoy reading about another runner or some of the latest equipment or clothing that is available. I don't need to really know at this point about running a 5K or how to train for your first marathon (a popular topic) since I have already run quite a few. Still, it has never dawned on me to lament the fact that Runners' World has material in it that is way too basic or off topic for me. I just don't read those articles. I appreciate the fact that that material is helpful for others and quite honestly, I am not sure the magazine could survive financially if it focused only upon what interests a 63-year-old female marathoner.

Viewing Quilting Arts in the same vein, I am not surprised that not every article interests me. I do always enjoy the colors and design of the magazine. I often pick up tips and am intrigued by the many techniques that they share a glimpse of. I can't say that I am prone to actually doing a project that they offer but I usually read the directions to understand the process and see if there are any ideas that might be useful for me. I actually save the magazines as references on basic techniques for a quick review if I am going to use a process I haven't worked with in a while.  

I suspect the frustration with the content of Quilting Arts surfacing in the current Quiltarts discussion may come from those who want more support as 'advanced' quilt artists and wish Quilting Arts was a better source of that for them.  I wonder if a better discussion might have emerged if the emphasis had been on how to find better support for quilt artists who are not new to the field rather than debating a magazine which seems to be doing a good job at what it says is its mission.

Now I haven't said anything particularly profound or earth-shattering in this post. Just a thought that we all should keep in mind in discussing a topic online. In conflict resolution, there is a phrase, Hard on the issue, soft on the people. Discussions that focus more on what particular needs are and how they can be met, rather than focusing on why one particular vehicle is not meeting needs, create fewer hurt feelings and more solutions.

Just a thought. Now back to tearing out those seams!