Friday, September 2, 2011

NEW WOOL COLORS ~ ~ ~

In the mornings, I've been putting on a couple of dye pots each day in preparation for my upcoming show at Quailcrest Herb Farm in Wooster ~ check it out on Coming Events on the left sidebar. 

I'm trying ProChem colors here ~ lovely brights that will appeal to some more than others.  I love the depth of color that came out came out in these batches ~ kind of a jewel tone effect and very mottled!

These formulas lean more toward the primitive colors that I know so many like ~ me, too!  Deep rich color!  Dyed wool has an appeal and gives an effect in a rug that as-is wools just can't do! 

I have to tell you that I used citric acid crystals for the first time ever!  When I had the red pot on and the water was rolling, I put the crystals in ~ take it from me ~ don't do that!!  The water erupted like a freaking volcano all over my stove, counters, floor and whatever was within a couple of feet!!!!!!!  RED DYE everywhere!!!!!!!!  Of course, I was in a hurry ~ when am I not?  So, I cleaned up all the liquid with paper towels and then thew them in the garage trash can because if anyone had looked in the kitchen waste basket, they would have thought I'd slit my throat!!!  As I said, I was in a hurry ~ leaving to go  to an appointment and had to leave the stained counters and floors till I returned!  That was ~ of course ~ after Sonny got home from work!!  It's a good thing he's not given to rage because it looked pretty darned bad in there!!  But dishwasher soap saved my day ~ and my arse!!  I pour it straight onto the counters and whatever else it got on and use a green scrubbie and it takes all the color right off!!  Thank goodness!!  Sonny's been wanting to get new counters and I'm fine with what's there ~ but as I went on my errands, I thought this may be the day when new counters become an option!!! 

 These are little bunches of dyed fleece ~ great for adding another texture to your hooking!  I throw them in the top of the dye pot and I think the colors came out great!! They make great flowers or grass or even hair if you're into hooking people!

Last night we had a fiasco with a shower faucet ~ I went into it on Facebook ~ it will probably come back to haunt me ~ Sonny thinks I tell everything that goes on here!  Believe me, I don't ~ you wouldn't even believe it, if I did!!  It ended up with water shooting everywhere ~ me removing the contents of a guest room closet ~ Sonny cutting a hole in the wall to get to the guts of the plumbing ~ and then capping off the pipes until we can shop for a new faucet and call a plumber!!!  Now we're sharing Tad's shower!!  As I shared last night on Facebook ~ Sonny boy says "you don't have to drink to live here, but it sure does help"!! 

I hope you all have a great Labor Day weekend ~ we're going to ~ I'm counting on it! 

14 comments:

Kim said...

Oh Alice!!! Thank you for the early morning eye candy! Such glorious colors!! I love 'em!! I had to laugh at the dye pot episode! Sounds like a mess I would make! LOL Have a great weekend!

Cathy G. said...

Oh Alice,
It must be a riot living at your house! LOL! I suppose Sonny would beg to differ on that though!
I read your dye 'fun?' with great interest. I just bought some citric acid crystals and am about to use them for the first time too. Please tell me there is a way to prevent what you had happened...... or should I dye just use them when I dye light colors? Just kidding.
Hope you have a much more relaxing weekend.... oh and I LOVE all the colors you dyed.. so nice and rich!!
Hugs!
Cathy G

Julia said...

Alice, your wool looks spectacular. I had to laugh about the red dye erupting all over the place but you'd never know that this happened by looking at your lovely wool.

I hope that you have a great weekend. JB

oldecrow said...

Boy, those colors are sooooo beautiful! I love all the deep rich colors! Nothing I love more than wool!
Thanks for sharing,
Wanda
Olde Crow Mercantils

Joanne said...

Beautiful colors - Oh but the Citric Acid - i don't understand that - I've been using it for years and never ever had that happen! Wonder why????

Isn't it something how it when it rains it "pours" - At least you have humor about everything - I'm the same way - you just have to laugh!

Rugs and Pugs said...

Alice ~
Gorgeous wools. I'm looking forward to seeing them up close and personal!
I hope your weekend does not involve more erupting water.
Hugs :)
Lauren

Alice ~ Folk Art Primitives said...

Cathy. - the secret seems to be to put it in before you bring the water to a boil! It only happened when I added it to an already boiling pot!!!

weaverpat said...

Oh my gosh! What a mess!!! Who would have guessed that something so ordinary could create such a reaction?
And then a plumbing leak!
The dyed colors really are stunning, though. I've never used ProChem. Much more vibrant results than the usual Cushing.

The Barn Door said...

LOVE those colors!!

Linda said...

Oh, Alice........what entertainment!
You write your posts just like it comes out when you are talking!
I bet that looked like a scene from CSI with all of the red stains!
Great job on the wool though. I am going to make it to Quail Crest this year......see you soon.
Linda

Michelle said...

Love it! Would have been fun to see the kitchen mess...I am just at the beginning stages of wanting to dye some of my reclaimed wool so will try the products you used....where do you get your wool? I have not been able to find good neutral wool to try my own dying....thats why it thought of using some of my neutral reclaimed wool to see how it goes..I LOVE THE PRIMITIVE REDS!



thanks!

Michelle

Miccosukee said...

Alice,
Beautiful colors and what a story about the red dye. I'll remember that about the citric acid.

Tell Sonny you are leaving a wonderful legacy to future generations to read about your life and see the photos. Plus you brighten up my day!

mdgtjulie said...

Geez, what a mess that must have been. Both times, lol. I'm glad you have such a good attitude about it, and that it cleaned up so well!! Your wool is just gorgeous. I love those blues in the first piccy!!

The Eveningstitcher said...

Love the wool Alice! I might just have to come down next Saturday for the Quailfest. I think it will be about a three hour drive. I haven't heard anything about Malabar..They haven't updated the blog since June! Somebody asked me if it was still going on.