Back to Spring

After more than a week of summer weather ~ although nice after all the harshness of winter, it really is too soon~ it has returned to spring here in South Carolina!  We got the much needed rain to wash away some of the deep pollen on Thursday, then Friday followed with sunshine and cooler temps ~ about 50 now with expected highs of low 70s for the weekend.  Perfection!
Just found out, Edgar is having a Blogiversary give away over at his blog, Blacksheep's Bit of the Web.  Hop over for a chance to enter! 

I’ve done very little stitching since the retreat.  I did finish the Brooke’s Sewing Alphabet ‘D’ for Darning (with exception of beads) and the StitcherHood’s Scattering of Moments. 

Today I’m having a go at dying some linen and fabric.  It all started because I need some tie backs for the drapes in my LR.  I got these lined, deep red ones for blocking the icy winter winds we had, but now it’s time to let some sunshine in!  I had some faux toile in red and white left over from a pillow that I thought would be pretty, but it was just TOO white.  I’ve done a little dabbling with coffee/tea staining before, so that’s what I thought would work – and it’s drying now. 

SinceI had all that ‘dye’ I figured, Why not try the Twisted Stitcher, Vonna’s method?  So, I added a tea bag to the left-over coffee grounds and put in a couple of extra cups of water and let that drip into the remaining coffee.  Deep, dark, and rich.  Then I put two pieces of 18ct aida and three of 28ct evenweave in the bath.  I shifted them around, wadded them in different shapes, and left them for different amounts of time. 

Next they were piled onto the foil-lined cookie sheet.  I had preheated to about 225 since my gas oven gets a little hotter than some, and set it to 15 minutes.  Waiting for the first results now.  They were a bit dark in some places, so I sprinkled a bit more over each one, decreased the temp a little, and put it back in for 10 more minutes.  Next will be ironing to set the color, and then onto the clothesline for drying.

I'm very well pleased with how they turned out.

In today's mail I received a PIF from Audrone.  It's a very nice little covered notebook with a beautifully stitched fence with sunflowers growing over it.  I am so surprised to get this, and very appreciative!  Thank you, Audrone!   

   

Thank you so much for stopping by today!  I appreciate your visits and love to read your comments!  Hope you'll stop in again very soon!

 Peace~Love~Joy
and Happy Stitching!Charlene