Saturday, May 29, 2010

Getting Started


Ahhhhh. I have been thinking about this all winter: how I could dye fabric without having a lot of hassle. Indoor dyeing just isn't going to work for me here. And we have no basement and the garage is just too dark, etc etc etc. My solution is the stoop outside my studio door. It faces east and usually all the weather comes at us from the west side of the house.
  This wire shelving unit was loaded with stuff, tucked away in the corner of the garage and was integral to my plan. Unloading it was the major deterrent to putting it into action. Gritting my teeth, I began and within 15 minutes it was empty. Note to self: Sometimes the hardest part of any action is the first step. OK. I have my work station set up, with the table on bedrisers from either Target or BBand Beyond and now I am about to cut down my 1" styrofoam sheets to fit the width of the shelving.
For those of you new to my dyeing methods, see this alternate blog: http://www.lazydyer.blogspot.com/

  However, now it is the weather that will delay my start. It is barely warm enough for the dyes to work, but the humidity will prevent the fabrics from drying overnight, so I will just get the rest of the fabric ripped into 1/2 yard lengths (matching the width of Wonder-Under) and when the rains pass, I will begin.
 In the meantime I am still swooning over the increasingly blue hydrangea (unretouched photo!)














But I'm fit to be tied at those dirty raccoon buggers that stole my perfectly ripe just about to be harvested tomatoes!

 The before and after shots. Grrrrr. I suppose this will be happening all summer. No wonder folks around here keep big dogs.


I am preparing to have more tomatoes than I can possibly eat. Yesterday I succumbed to this adorable plant. O, yes,  I am a sucker for short and stocky leafy things. This is a Husky Red Cherry tomato which is suited for containers and gets only about 4 feet tall and promises to bear lots of fruit until frost. We'll see.

The field beds are looking good and getting watered daily. I have three more tomatoes there, a Patio and two Brandywines. I hope to be able to share my produce with tomato lovers of the non-furry variety.
 Nice grass eh? Dave is saving the clippings for me and I am sprinkling them around the plants as mulch. This will save moisture and improve the soil, in time.

My newest babies, zucchini from seed. I presprouted them and in two days they were this big. Last year I planted lots of different squashes and got absolutely none. I hope I am inundated this year with zucchini, straightneck, acorn, and cucumbers. Ah the vagaries of the garden...

8 comments:

  1. I am so sorry. A fresh, home-grown tomato is a terrible thing to lose. I planted tomatoes, peppers and basil at the home we are renting here only to have the house sold out from under us! Yes, I will be moving in one month, leaving ripening tomatoes for the new owners. Oh well!

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  2. I am so sorry. A fresh, home-grown tomato is a terrible thing to lose. I planted tomatoes, peppers and basil at the home we are renting here only to have the house sold out from under us! Yes, I will be moving in one month, leaving ripening tomatoes for the new owners. Oh well!

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  3. Yeah, the word lazy is not a word tossed around your house....

    You want Stretch to come down and set up his raccoon traps? He's really good at that.

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  4. Looks like you're all set to dye!

    Ohhhhhh; you've got Brandywines! I am SO envious...

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  5. Anonymous10:28 AM

    Ooh! those racoons! grrr!

    It is crazy how we can spend more time worrying and fussing and planning about something rather than just doing it! Enjoy your dyeing when the weather allows - I'm so gonna go out and get some of those bed risers, exactly what I need! (I'd been thinking about pvc lengths but my tables don't have those cross pieces down low...)

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  6. I am assuming the styrofoam is taking the place of the plexiglass sheets?
    Too bad about the tomatoes. I haven't done much better as I have black spot on all of mine. I am so frustrated after taking such good care of my plants I still have no tomatoes. :(

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  7. You have ripe tomatoes already? And those @#*% coons found 'em first. I feel your pain :D
    If you really get itchy to start the dyeing process, come on over to my house. It's hot enough once you get down the mountain. And I've got all my supplies ready for my first attempt at dyeing. Could always use any extra couple of hands, as well as your brains & knowledge :) In any case, I've got your Lazy Dyer tutorial all printed out.

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  8. Blasted coon buggas, wanna borrow a border collie? Well... I can't imagine that would end well. Never mind. I've been thinking about drying racks for dyed fabric as well, I am eager to see how your fabrics turn out. When you get around to it, no rush.

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Hello,
So nice of you to drop by. I love your comments, and if you would really like a reply, please email me at fibermania at g mail dot com