Spotlight on BTRT

Beneath the Rowan Tree is the creation of Lori, a mama in Canada with unbelieveable amounts of creative energy. She's got a website, a Hyena Cart, a sucessful Etsy store, and is in two congos (conglomerations of sellers that stock a group store). Her blog is extensive and she's organizing a charity challenge for dyers. She is doing some needle felting (which I confess I don't even know exactly what it is, but she's got step-by-step photos of projects on her blog), toddler crayons and party favors, playsilks, web banner design...and all this is in addition to the main attraction: her fabulous dyed-and-painted children's wear. I've admired her work since she started a year ago, which has been easy to do because she is a genius at marketing and I'm always intruiged to see what she'll be up to next. Somehow, Lori manages to work a day job in addition to all of the above. I have no idea how she does it all, but clearly, she is a person just brimming over with new and original ideas. BTRT is an inspiration to me.

Dyeing fever has taken hold around here. I recently read one of the best how-to books ever: Ann Johnson's Color by Design lays out all the possible ways you can use dye to color fabric. That's got my creative engines revved so I'm making and stocking more dyed items right now, including some lovely lush bamboo velour:

I had bought the BV yardage some time ago in case I might want to make some fitted diapers but decided not to go that route. So instead I am dyeing it for other sewists to use in their creations.

I'm also continuing to dye paint with resists, now on fabric. In order to have a venue to offer these, I've opened an Etsy store called dyegoods.

Here is a fat quarter that I've called "Camping Guitars." Painting with dyes allows me to be more free than ever before with how I color fabric, and yet at the same time it requires a lot of energy and concentration because every single mark or splash of color shows up on the fabric and there is no way to erase!

Tie Dye for the Professional Man

The Fishnoodle Daddy wears mainly polo shirts to work, so I made him one for those days when he needs something kickin'. The classic swirl in shades of blue is off-center, centered over the spot where a little logo is often sewn on. I kept the collar white by wrapping it tightly in a plastic bag and applying dye sparingly as I got near the collar so it wouldn't bleed up. I also kept the collar elevated so gravity wouldn't defeat my evil plans. Ta-da! The super funkin workaday Daddy!

When the worst becomes the best

I like to work in series. For instance, four or so shirts, each in a different size, done all pretty much the same. It takes me so darn long to conceptualize what I'm going to do, planning designs and mixing colors, that to do just one of something seems silly.

 

So, there I was with a series of four tees I was dying green, yellow, and brown. I was on the last one and hadn't mixed quite enough brown and was furiously scrabbling around the bottom of my dye containers, splashing on dye and trying by sheer force of energy to get that last one done. Well, it came out pretty dotty and splotchy. I thought it was hopeless. Too crazy. At least I can test out some rubber stamps on it, I thought, since in won't matter what I do to it at this point.

 

I started stamping away with bugs and snails and grasshoppers. I liked the way the snails looked the best, so I did a more restrained version with those on the other three shirts. Then I set everything aside. When I came back the next day with a fresh eye...those three shirts were nice. But that crazy forth one? I love it best. Go figure.

Who needs a cookie?

It's so nice to have a colleague who's willing to share her animal crackers and who appreciates my old James Taylor album. Music, singing, dancing, snacks--just a few of the many benefits of working from home.

Spotlight on Whiffy Bean Bags

Sometimes the simplest idea turns out to be brilliant. A beanbag is just a beanbag...ho hum...could you really make a whole business out of that? Darn tooting you can, if you're Whiffy! Kids love playing with bean bags (such a great open-ended, low-tech, creativity-required toy) and you combine that with all sort of scents and there you have a multi-sensory toy. Or sachet. Or...well. Here I do just have to mention the new Whiffy Poo. A rose-scented beanbag shaped to look just like a poo. Doesn't surprise me at all that the Daddy thought of that one! Gag gift? Potty training aid? Hey, I can see my Little One making her dolly poo in the potty as she begins to get interested in such things. Just a bean bag? No, it's just brilliant!