Dyeing in Kalamazoo

I am HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just returned from 2 days of dyeing with Melody Johnson and class at the Fabrications Retreat in Kalamazoo. There were many supplies that we had to bring. Bonnie and I left Lansing late Sunday afternoon and were able to put our supplies in the room where we would be working. The hotel had plastic on the floor and tables. We had access to a sink in "the back" for water - which we needed buckets of!!!

The Radisson Plaza Hotel and Suites is the BEST!!!!!!! Everyone we worked with was helpful, friendly and made our stay very enjoyable. The food was delicious - lunch was included in the retreat fee. They tried a new menu on us at lunch time on Tuesday - I want the recipe for that salmon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Dye made and ready to work!!!!!!!!

First some directions from Melody. There were only 6 in the class. Melody is a great teacher - and uses her "Lazy Dyer" method. Very free and easy!!!!!!! Most enjoyable!!!!!!

B J has done some dyeing before and she is deciding what to do next!!!!!!!!

Bonnie is ready, too......

Sharon is working away. We first did some pieces where we added dyes and water and made fantastic colors. These pieces were then stored in food containers. They will need to be washed and dried later - for some of us, a couple days later. That is ok - the dye does not take all that time to set - and it will not hurt it to be in the containers that long. 4 hours is enuf!!!

Some people were able to wash out their little containers on Tuesday in the sink or tub. They are staying for the week and fabric will dry by then. Mine will get washed soon.

Then we did some "Special Effects" dyeing - on boards. You put the dye where you want it and the colors move together with special effects!!!!!!!!!


Melody also pleated some fabric and squirted the dye on - another special!!!!!!

Here are some of my little containers of dyed fabric.

Tuesday morning some of the special effects pieces were not dry so we took them outside to dry. How beautiful!!!!!!!!!! The fence worked great!!!!!!!

Downtown K'zoo didnt' know how handy that fence would be!!!!!!!!!!

I had to get a picture of everyone. Melody is third from the left...........She is a wonderful person and teacher. I'm so glad she came out of retirement to do this. She has 3 more days of fusing and I wish I could be with her to do that too...........but life is calling to me.

I have 26 little tubs of fabric to get wrung out and washed. There are some special effects fabrics that are dry - but need to be washed.

I had a great time - learned so much - and will be doing some more special effects as soon as John gets me some foam board to work on!!!!!!!! Bonnie and I are looking forward to that!! We also need some more yellow dye - that one goes fast.

I also will be using this fabric in little art quilts...........maybe for sale!!!

It was a great 2 days.............

I walked 5 miles this morning - 1/2 marathon is a little more than 3 weeks away.........gotta keep training...........