Friday, November 14, 2008

Diva-rrefic Wine Glasses


Check out these Diva-rrefic wine glasses I have been making! These are just for my own use, I needed a way to tie my collection of yard-sale and thrift shop wine glasses togeather. So I have painted up a dozen or so. Here is the latest batch. I used delta perm enamel paints. They are designed for use on Glass and ceramic, you paint them on just like acrylics the brushes rinse clean with water. once the paint dries you cure the glasses in the oven to make the paint adhere permanently. Then it's ok to wash the glasses. I put mine on the top rack in the dish washer. As you can see you don't have to have any real talent to paint these, I chose random wild brush strokes. I do recommend allowing the glass to dry between colors though. Paint the orange, let dry, the pink let cry ext. This keeps you from smearing the paint colors togeather. Wine goblets can be found at the local dollar store they have nice big ones at mine! These make great holiday gifts too. I might decide to teach these as a workshop. Fun stuff!

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Upcoming Excitement

Do you see the Loveliness?
These two fabulous dresses were snapped up by my friend Diane in California.
She loves the browns. And the one on top I call my pond dress, I was thinking of pond colors when I dyed it. I have been busy getting ready for the National Shrimp Festival in Gulf Shores Alabama the Second weekend in October. It's going to be HUGE. People come from all over to attend this event. Lots of arts and crafts people. See
www.nationalshrimpfestival.com
Hubbie Dave is getting into the act, Creating old school 70's style Tie Dyes. Its been a learning process for him but we have some nice David Dyes to show for it. He will be accompanying me to Gulf Shores and the kids are staying with Grandma. Yea Grandma!
I have been enjoying my work with Brookdale Senior Living, and on my days off It's all about the DYE.
I pretty much am doing some sort of dye activity every day now, either folding, soaking, mixing or dying or rinsing. I'll try to get some pictures of the David Dyes up soon.
Till then back to the porch.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Progress

Well I am proud to say I have made some progress for the first time in a long time dye wise. The kids started back to school today and I was blessed with half a day off. Thanks to Hurricane Fay I had to go to work for an emergency hurricane preparedness meeting. Productive? yes but not the type of productive I hoped for.
This morning I did manage to get a bunch of tie dyes folded soaked and dehydrating for dyeing later.
And I got the tie dye porch somewhat cleaned off. We have been having to shower out there due to plumbing fiascos inside that have lead my husband to jackhammer up the floor of the only working bathroom in our home.
Good Times....
I did decide this week to go get my tonails done at Wal mart. You all know it don't deny it, the regal nail salon at wal mart. A working class girl's guilty pleasure. I even had the pretty little flower painted on my big toe.
Boy those girls know what they're doing.
I really do feel like a princess when I have a pedicure.
A perhaps underated side of me that many people don't know about............the girlie girl in me.
Well I cant wait to see what treasures the tie dye porch yields this fall after I get all motivated and organized out there.
Hopefully more new pictures for the web site soon.
Oh Yeah, Hubbie Dave will be accompanying me to Gulf Shores this year. Just the two of us all weekend long.
YUM!
TDK

Thursday, July 10, 2008

I've gone to the Dark Side

It's sad but true. I have gone over to the dark side. That terrible place where artists fear to tread....the working world.
alas, the price of food and gas has risen so high that I have had to take a (gasp) full time job! Yes I get the perks, like insureance and retirement savings, but the down side is the sheer amount of time between full time, overtime, and commuting. I wondered would I be able to return to work as a NURSE, and still make time for my art? I see my stack of unfolded white t-shirts staring at me..."when are you going to Dye us?" and my bag of beadwork and quilts that need finishing "when are you going to finish me?" I tell myself little white lies, I will find time I will strike a balance, Just as soon as I get used to doing more with less time and energy. Just as soon as my body gets used to less sleep and more time on my feet. I am hoping that it all falls into place soon.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Why Tie Dye makes good CENTS!

I have been reading my Friend Angela's Blog...Penny Pinscher see the link to your left. It is packed full of great money saving ideas and just general humor about the times we are in. It got me thinking about What a value Tie Dye is. I do our local Earth Day Festival every year. One of the things i bring up to people is that tie dye done with modern fiber reactive dyes is a long lasting product. This makes sense from an economic standpoint as well. Start with a quality garment and then apply quality dyes, and you have a piece of clothing that your child will wear till he outgrows it, and can then pass down to younger brother or sister. As an adult wouldn't you rather get 100 wearings out of a t-shirt than 50? Secondly Tie Dye can be used to refurbish clothing that you may be tempted to throw out or donate. That favorite Blouse with a spaghetti stain? can be dyed orange or brown for a snappy new look. Don't throw out those faded khaki's Even colored items will dye nicely if turned into a darker color than they were origionally. The only stipulation is that items have to be a natural fiber to use fiber reactive dyes. If you have an item you'd like refurbished contact me I will be happy to dye for you. Or locate a tie dye artist in your area. Go to www.dharmatrading.com for do it yourself info and supplies.

Saturday, May 17, 2008

BOLEGS BOUND

Ok it's been awhile since I blogged here. I know. It has been a busy spring. Things hoppin' out at Gulf Place, we had the Sea Breeze Jazz Festival, Which was great. I tossed a tie dye to young jazz sensation Brian Culbertson. He has taken the Jazz world by storm and is bringing back the FUNK! With members of Grand Funk Railroad backing him up. I picked out a smokin' orange black and yellow T for this Smokin' hot young performer. Then Early May was Arts Quest at Sandestin. The Cultural Arts Association Got a couple of my tie dye sheets to decorate their booth at Arts Quest with. They are the organization that produces Arts Quest every year. I was flattered. The Artist's at Gulf Place also hosted the Champaign Tour for Arts Quest. All this has lead me with little time to Dye but I have managed to get a few things done. Coming right UP is the Billy BoLegs Festival in Downtown FWB. I will be set up at the landing on Friday June 6th through Sat June 7th. Gail Waller is Coordinating the Crafts vendors and Has personally Placed an 'order' for a Rayon SunDress. So I will Oblige. Placing an Order Tommorow Am with Dharma for more goodies to DYE. And Lastly, I am feeling the Calling to Return to my Nursing Career. Yes, My absence these last few years has been nagging at me, and I refuse to let go of my hard won Nursing. I am confident, more so now than ever before in my life, that I will be able to Balance it all out. My ART will not suffer but be better for my return to nursing. Wish me luck as I Negotiate my RE-entry! Love TIEDYEKRIS

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Invasion!

Well, I am afraid my tie dye porch has been invaded! First by the mama sparrow who now has 3 live chicks, and then the carpenter bees. They are boring holes in the trusses. They support a plastic roof, I know I should 'invite' them to leave, but, I have a hard time being cruel to living things. Even the pesty ones. I went outside this morning to get some new stock soaking in the soada ash, and noticed the chikies have left the nest? It seems so soon for them to be flying they are only a few weeks old, I hope mama bird diddn't freak out on the giant tie dye person who occasiounally invades her nice little sheltered spot. I try to be mellow and not make sudden movements but Ihave to tell you , between the birds and the bees, (no pun intended) It has really discouraged me from wanting to be in my studio. Any Advice for me???
I have always felt that the energy of the little nature spirits that surround my porch adds something special to my work..... HMMMM

Thursday, March 27, 2008

Painting Not Dying


Well, the weather was perfect, and by all accounts I should have been out on the TieDye Porch mixing up dyes, and dying up a storm. But it was, after all, the last day I would have peace and quiet for two weeks as the kids are getting out for spring break tommorow. So I spent the day formulating my plan for keeping them from driving me crazy and soaking up the last peaceful day alone for awhile. I did get some painting done, I love to paint, it's soothing to me and not as hard as doing tie dye. So I painted some funky hippy signs for upcoming jazz festival, and started on a kid's jacket for a friend. But mostly that was it. Oh Yeah and The fact that a sparrow is nesting on my tie dye porch has made me want to avoid that area as much as possible, so as not to disturb her. She is always in her nest, which makes me think she has laid eggs. See Photo above. I haven't named her yet though, like two years ago when I had a big yellow garden spider named 'GUS' who kept me company out there for several months. He helped to keep the nasty mosquito population at bay.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Dianes Spring Collection!

So Finally I have had a chance to finish Diane's Dresses and Take Pictures for all of you who have been patiently waiting!
Diane is my Dear Friend who also started out as a customer, in California. She probably has like 20 wilddyes dresses. Now she has 8 more! The thing I love about Diane is that she's so open to my creativity and design ideas. I try to dye things for her that will go with her beautiful long auburn hair. She is a real sweet lady, and I love that my dresses make her so happy. If you see one here and you would like for me do do a similar dress for you let me know. These dresses retail for 50.00
I love the dress below, I call it the Mojave Sunset Dress, oranges, browns, aquas and greens, like a desert sunset!










Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Dang I wanted a better Bed!

So I have been needing a new mattress on my bed for quite some time now...and browsing the freecycle ads on yahoo I found a king size mattress with just a little wear in Crestview up for grabs. So after I drop the kids off at school i rush up to Crestview to avoid the line of storms rolling in to pick up this mattress that would surely make my life worth living again right? EHHH well not so much. All seemed ok when we loaded it on my truck but it diddnt' seem to be a whole lot better than the one i already own and was deffinately OLD. So I bungee it in thinkin ok we'll compare later, and get going back down hwy 85 to south okaloosa county, and that's when the trouble starts. The wind is vicious with the front rolling in, i found out later 37mph gusts and here i am with this mattress in the bed, and I am in a skirt to boot. Bam off it flies, at least it diddn't land in the middle of the highway, I back up pick up the bungie that just couldn't take it anymore and try to re-load the mattress-a king size pillowtop which now has skid marks and a bent wire frame- back into the truck by MYSELF. I was wondering about the time I gave up on that idea how many of the hundreds of passing cars got a good laugh at my expense. The thought of how pathetic I must have looked 250lb woman in a skirt wresteling a mattress on the side of the road! Just as I was about the call the Highway patrol for help, a sweet lady and her daughter pulled up behind me and helped me load it back in and insisted on staying behind me all the way to Fort Walton at 40mph. God Bless Her! Thankyou For saving The Day Angels! I limped back home with the thing and pulled in the driveway right when the rain unleashed. At that point i just sort of fell into an exhausted heap on the bed and drowned my sorrow in chips and homemade salsa. I am gonna have a hard time explaining this one to DAVE...

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Limelight

How fitting that on the weekend of Saint Patties Day I should be in the limelight again!
Truely it is with all humility and gratitude that I share this article in the Walton Sun with you, heralding the welcoming of Brownie, John and Myself into the fold of artists that make up the afore mentioned Artists at Gulf Place. http://www.waltonsun.com/entertainment/artists_996___article.html/gulf_join.html
Also, today marked my return to the Way Of Life Unity Center in Fort Walton Beach after a prolonged absence. I returned home like the prodigal daughter that I am.....Rv George Schmidt pointed a finger at me with that wry smile of his as I walked in the sanctuary and said tounge in cheek "I Know you don't I???" I replied " yeah you look kind of familair too"
It was nice to be back in the front row for some quiet reflection and reminder of who I really am.
And seeing all my great brothers and sisters there always rocks my world!
Love You Guys!

Saturday, March 15, 2008

Painting The Van











The Artist's at gulf Place got togeather to paint Brownie's Work van. We put a proper art car style paint job on it....it was a great creative project! Everyone Brought their paints and brushes, and went to town. I had my Kids with me, so I was keeping one eye on the paint brush and one eye on them. High-Energy my two little ones are, and they are a handful even at 6 and 8.
But we survived the day with only one potty accident and a splinter in the foot. When I got home I decided to Jam a little see pics. Tommorow I will try to update with pictures of Diane's Dresses.

Friday, March 14, 2008

Happiness Is....Freshly Mixed Up Dye!!!!


A shelf Full of Dyed Items all wrapped up and Chillin'

So Much Tie Dye So Little Time.....

Today has been a good day to Dye. The weather has been rainy but not hard rain, and the temps are mild. A good day to be rinsing out tie dyes. I dyed about 40 items yesterday and so today i am rinsing out. Some cute little junior dresses with spaghetti straps to put in my kiosk at Gulf Place, and a series of Dresses for my Friend Diane in California. She probably owns more wilddyes than anyone on the planet! Including me....
I will post pictures when they are done and the weather clears up.....In the mean time have a look at my work in progress: