Dye Dammit Dye!

So I've been bitten by the RIT Dye bug. I first dyed a pair of white shoes a lemon yellow over a year ago and have come back into it recently after realizing no local fabric store sells navy blue knit- wth?! Thanks to Jill @ Refashionista I decided to DIM- do it myself. There's only one hang up though. I refuse to dye in my washing machine. My washing machine is my baby and I refuse to do anything to it out of the ordinary. 

After some research and lots of posts about how Navy failed- I decided to actually follow Rit's directions- Stove Top Method. My white knit material turned out a perfect Navy Blue. Funny how following the directions actually worked! 

Here's my arsenal that I built for the Stove Top Method: 

What you see is a stock pot, a spoon and pair of gloves. Keep this in mind: If you use a pot you cook with- you have to sanitize it with bleach after using it for dye. Rit's Rules- not mine. 

I bought my stock pot at Goodwill for $4 (The regular one not the Clearance) and the spoon is from Dollar Tree. The gloves are courtesy of Daddy- thanks Daddy!

Alright, now let's get on with the tutorial: 

Black Rit Dye  (Ooooh- Spooky! Well, it really isn't. If you can master Navy Blue, Black is pretty darn simple, too.)

Here are the two test items I chose: 

Yowza that's a busy. Eesh... but nice comfy material!

Another man's t-shirt that I really liked. All except the spots all over it. Look closely. 

Alright, now down to business! But first- completely soak the item you're about to dye in warm water. Ring and shake out so that's it's loose. (Per Rit. Again, I've been successful with their directions so just humor them, okay?) Now add to the dye bath. 

First up was the skirt. Now I didn't want to change the stripes, I just wanted to tone down the busyness of it. So I decided I wasn't going to give it a long bath. Just enough for the white color to change to gray. Follow your instinct- it's usually spot on. 

Skirt in the bath: 

It's not as scary as it seems. After about a minute and a half in the bath I felt pretty good knowing that it was done. 

Now rinse completely where there is no more dye coming off, I'm serious when I say this. Unless you want a mishap in your washing machine. Then it's all on you. And no rinsing in plastic bathtubs; it will stain. Porcelain you *might* have better luck with but do it at your own risk. I prefer a stainless kitchen sink. 

Ooohhhh- I like!

Next the t-shirt. I decided since those dark stains were refusing to come out, I had a feeling if I tried navy blue dye the spots would still be there so I figured black and hope it goes well. Ha! Take that stubborn stains. I'll show you.  

Do everything the same except let the shirt stay in the bath for a good 15 minutes. Stir constantly. 

Take out and do the same as the skirt: Rinse. Start unballing it and voila!

Screen printing isn't affected by dye. 

Now, go wash the items in the washing machine. Use other dark clothes that can take any minute bleeding (I'm paranoid, what can I say?) and when done washing hang to air dry. 

I'm serious when I say this to everyone- dying is not hard. It's scary yes because I was initially worried that it was going to turn out horrendous. But it's really not, especially when I'm using items I found at the Goodwill Clearance Center for pennies. Now I will wear both without any hesitation. 

See?

Who knew?! Bright blue + black = navy and gray. 

I wanna wear it now!

The navy looks brand new! Sweet!

I don't see any funky spots. 

Now go try it and take your time. You can do it! I have total faith in you. 

Hugs,

A. 

I'm the Lucky Duck...

This Sunday started out like any other awesome one. Got to sleep in and wake up when I was fully rested. I decided was going to run to Starbucks so we could have coffee with our breakfast. 

You know how sometimes you take a different route than you expected? Yeah, well I did that. I took a turn at the light and decided to get to the Starbucks via the Lowe's Home Improvement Parking Lot versus the shortcut I was originally planning. 

Thank goodness, I chose a different path. I saw a duck right next to a grate. "Oh, no," I thought. I decided to get the two coffees and decided if she was there when I was done, I was going to check it out. 

Still in my nightgown and no bra (I know, but I wasn't going to be getting out the car so I figured I was safe.) I stopped my car in the loading zone and walked to where she was. I looked down and lo and behold- there were her babies, all huddled together for safety. 

I decided I wasn't going to let this go. I wasn't going to let someone else handle it. What if no one does? Then they'll likely die and I'll feel crappy for not taking it upon myself to get the job done. 

So I started off and called all of the following: 

-Sheriff's Office, who told me to call: 
-Fish and Wildlife, who told me to call: (heart is sinking lower) 
 (I also called Lowe's: the manager who answered said she wasn't able to help me and there's nothing anyone could do) Wow, just mind-numbingly apathetic.  
-Animal Clinic, who wasn't open and had a number for: (heart is on the ground)
-Another Animal Clinic, who gave me a number for: (heart starts rising a little bit)
-Hillsborough County Animal Services (Then got a call from D wondering why I'm not back with any coffee.)

A-ha! Finally. I stayed on the emergency line and hoped that it was an emergency to them, too. It was. They dispatched Officer Adams. 

I was home by this time and he called me directly and said he was on the way. I scarfed down the rest of my breakfast and got dressed like a normal person should be to meet him there. 

I arrived at the parking lot before him and there was no sign of Momma Duck anywhere. Her babies were still in the drain. Shit.

I walk around and there are ducks flying over head in the direction of the retention pond and there are too many ducks for me to tell if the one I saw this morning is the one. I do see another Momma Duck and spot one duck staying close to her. It almost looked as though she were inspecting the ducklings. Hmmm. 

So I walk back to my car and wait for Officer Adams. He shows up and was able to see the ducklings himself. He told me he doesn't have the necessary equipment BUT Fire Rescue can and will get them out. Sweet!

He gives me a number and tells me to call (and he'll call, too) and when I call I'm told that Fire Rescue won't come out. What?! Thankfully Officer Adams was still in the parking lot and I walk over and tell him what they said. He told me he called and Fire Rescue is on the way. Thank you!

Officer Adams tells me to wait there since I'm the one who's made all the calls and gotten the ball rolling. I do and when I see the Fire Rescue squad show up, I see a Lowe's employee stop the truck, talk to them and pointing to the drainage grate. Grrr. I go over to the only female in the truck and say, I'm the reason for all of the trouble. They park and when they get out to look she said she can't see them. I told her they're right under the pipe and the Animal Services Officer was able to see them. 

The grate was lifted and the lady climbed down. Lowe's was generous enough to supply a box, free of charge thankfully. (sorry, for my sarcasm considering how I was treated by the STORE MANAGER.) While the ducklings were brought up and placed in the box, two things happened: One, a Lowe's employee came right up and told Fire Rescue she's the one that called them (BIG, FAT LIAR) and took a picture of the ducklings in the box like it was a carnival and two: I call Officer Adams. Poor guy, he's had enough of me, I'm sure. I tell him that I'll take them where ever they need to go but I need help in where. He called me back and told me Blue Pearl Animal Clinic is known for rehabilitating animals, or at least knowing who will, etc. 

By now all of the ducklings are safe and in the box and I tell the Fire Rescue Lady that I'll take care of them. Her smile was so nice that I couldn't help but be thankful for her to go down there and help them and me. 

The Lowe's employees were saying they saw Momma Duck go off in the opposite direction of the retention pond (I officially have decided at this point that I'm never going to shop at Lowe's again- thank you crappy employees of Lowe's.) I dubiously walk all over the parking lot and the babies are calling out but no dice. I go over to where Officer Adams and I both agree the best place to see if Momma Duck was around: the retention pond. I let the babies call out from their box and I see one showing more interest and but I'm obviously too close for comfort so I back up and Momma Duck (?) flies over the fence and lands too far away. Crows scare her and another duck away (Daddy Duck?) back into the pond. 

Momma Duck and Daddy Duck keep pacing the retention pond and I make a decision that I was super uncomfortable with. I have to let one of the Ducklings out to see if she'll come back and claim it as hers. 

It works! Baby Duck 1 hauls butt down to the waters edge and Momma Duck meets in at the same time as other Ducks come around. Uh-oh. She gets rid of the others by keeping attention off of Baby 1 and is swimming around all crazy (Baby Duck 1 is trying to keep up, so cute!) The others leave and Momma Duck seems super happy but before I can reach in and get the others, she swims off. Baby Duck 1 still close to her side, she goes to eat, etc. 

I decide to let the others out, to see if they'll call to her but no dice. Hmm...so I sit there for another 15 minutes trying to let everything happen on it's own. Nothing's happening so I start trying to get the babies to move. I crackle pine cones, make scuff sounds with my flip flops against the concrete curb and it's working, but slow going. 

All the while, Momma Duck is making her way back around. Whew. And finally they all start running to the waters edge, Momma and all of her Babies are reunited. No rehabilitation services needed. 

I call Officer Adams and thank him for all of his help and efforts. I call my Daddy and start getting all choked up. By the time I call K- I'm crying. Poor thing, K doesn't know if it's good or bad. I finally am able to explain the babies are back with their Mommy. Tears of happiness and relief. 

Thank you Hillsborough County Animal Services Dispatch and Officer Adams for taking me seriously and Hillsborough County Fire Rescue for bringing them out and entrusting them to me. 

A happy ending I'm happy to share. Here are pictures: 

Box full of ducklings. Staying away so they would keep calling out to Mommy and Daddy.

Someone's attention has been captured!

They actually flew to try to get closer but my dumb self was too close for their comfort.

After the one was released, I let the rest go. One was so happy  to get away it tried to go through too small of an opening and I had to pull the baby out and put it through a regular opening in the fence. 

Close for comfort. But they're moving. 

Slowly moving away

Inch by inch, they're moving. 

When I say inch by inch, I mean it. :) But I don't mind. 

Wa-hoo! They're marching. 

Mommy and Daddy making a beeline for their babies. 

I zoomed on this one. Momma and the one baby coming closer. 

Mommy and Daddy with open arms and the babies are hauling butt with their short little legs. 

Almost to the water's edge. 

Reunited. 

After all united again, happily swimming on the other side pond. Close to tears at this part. I was at the whimpering stage at this point. 

After seeing them swimming, I looked down and actually smiled at the bird's messing the box. 

Bawling at this point, I turned and looked back at the temporary, empty nest  and just smiled through the tears. 

Some may wonder why I didn't take a picture before letting them go. I honestly didn't want a picture of the nice people of Hillsborough County doing their job nor of the scared littles in a box- this wasn't a carnival or a freak show. I'm a firm believer that a a wild animal belongs just there: in the wild. I don't enjoy taking pictures of animals in captivity. Some may argue that I take pictures of my cats- who are domesticated pets, I might add. Okay, okay- so I compartmentalize. Whip me with a wet noodle. I'm still against it. 

Some may say those ducks were lucky that I kept at all of my efforts. I'd say with an experience like this, I'm the lucky one. Thank you, God, for putting me in the right spot at the right time. I'm so grateful for an experience like this. 

Hugs, 

A. 

Goodwill Clearance Center Score

So Jill @ Refashionista.net has been a huge help to me lately. It's taken me long enough to sing her praises and to shout out where the credit is due. Thanks to her, I can now confess the following:

1. I can truly see the value of something versus only seeing the negative
2. I already knew how to sew (Thank you, Granny) but just sewing for pleasure and not merely for repairing purposes is 100% Jill. 
3. Goodwill Clearance Centers are awesome! (They're pretty much the cheapest thrift store around here)
4. Wear plastic gloves not the winter mittens I see some people wearing (Everything can penetrate that, honey.)

With that being said, I know I'm not the only one that shops at Goodwill Clearance Centers. The number of people in the store including me proves that time and again. People of all demographics, not just those of us that don't have or are just adamantly refusing to spend the money that it takes to shop at places even like WalMart (That's me. I simply refuse to spend it now that I know how far my dollar can truly go.)

I didn't take pictures of my first visits but K and I were talking and I was wanting to show everything I got so not only does K get to see, so does everyone else who may stumble across this blog. 

Keep in mind that a lot of these are going to be refashioned, cleaned, fixed, etc. I will use every single piece. 

The bag o' goodies and the receipt: 

You know, just for proof :)

The bowling ball bag...I have a totally different use for this. Tutorial will be forthcoming. 

Cute Cherry Cobbler printed tea towel and a delicate hanky (it was clean! And yes, I did smell it.)

So cute, no idea what I'll do with it but for pennies, how could I pass it up?

It wasn't really .25, that was left from a garage sale reject. 

Now all of these clothes: 

Capris, who cares if they're too big- I can take 'em in :)

Too big skirt, again, I can take it in :)                                           

Hideous 80s dress but a few snips and I see a pretty top I can wear out. 

Close up. Meow!

Super vibrant cardi. It has damage around a buttonhole but I know how to get around it :)

Awesome shirts. The tie-dye looking thing is too big but the dolman sleeves are perfect!

Too big shorts that I have plans for skirts. 

Just a few accessories. Yeah, that's a fur collar. I'm thinking Halloween on that one.  The purses are perfect! Some leather cleaner and sanitizing and I'll be set. 

Awesome dresses! I can't wait to grab my Ginghers and start snipping. 

Some A line skirts- I'm thinking a a cute dress for the one on the left. 

How freaking awesome are these tanks!? The octopus is just super cute. The white is classic and the other is funky. 

Loving the length and print. Poor baby, that's all it has going for it. I'll be ginghering that asap!

Close up of the print. Bad ruffles, bad!

Some shirts and a scarf. The striped only has the stripes and length going for it. The Realtree print is screaming Halloween, the child's shirt was only bought because of the owl print. and the Indian Scarf is just beautiful. 

 Hope you enjoyed seeing my scores. 

I'll try not to take a month in between posting. I've been doing arts and crafts, I've just been lazy about taking pictures. 

Hugs, 

A. 


EMERGENCY UPDATE!!! I know this sounds mean but here's a little tip: Sanitize everything! I don't take it out of the bag unless it's going straight into the wash or being cleaned by hand. On that note, yes I did Lysol my carpet where all of those clothes were laying after I put everything back in the bag that wasn't going into the washing machine yet. Jill may see used needles, I see undergarments with brown crotches. Just saying. Ick. 

5/12/13 update: K saw this update after reading the post from today and asked me a good question that I want to make sure I share with everyone. K asked if what I bought had brown crotches. NO! What had brown crotches were little boy's boxers that someone thought was okay to donate. Um- NO! Those are to be thrown out immediately- don't even try to wash those- that's just disgusting. Some people...ugh, I tell ya are beyond comprehension.

DIY Refashion Man's Tee to a Woman's

I love a man's t-shirt. All except for 2 things: the boxiness and the neckline. Otherwise they have all of the cool logos. Logos that I want on a woman's shirt. But gosh darn it- I hate those prices. Even at Walmart, the asking price is $17 -$20. And on top of that the women's shirts are too short for my long torso. I might as well be wearing a mid-driff shirt. Seriously, not cute. 

So what I do is go to my trusty Goodwill or Salvation Army and snag up shirts for $1 - $2. (those prices make me happy all the way around!) And a few snips and cuts and sews later I've got a more feminine shirt. 

Here is how I refashion mine: 

Here's the before: Go Vols!

I may be Square but I don't like to wear 'em.

Next, use a t-shirt you already have as a guide for where you want the curve to be. 

Using chalk, mark where you're going to sew.

Then pin in place. 

Sew then cut the excess off. 

So pretty...but not done yet! 

Now the fun part- getting rid of that horrible neck. How do you guys wear that? Well, stupid question because if you had any other neckline I would say, "Hmm..." Mark the general area where you think you want your neckline. 

Pin in place. Try on very carefully- getting a pin stuck in your neck is no laughing matter. So girly, am totally loving this!

Sew and voila!

So much better...butter..better...you know what I mean, K! ;) 

I love this so much more! :) Sure hope this inspires you to chop up those boxy shirts and make 'em yours. Rock those curves ;)

Hugs,

A. 

P.S. As soon as I got done with this post- I catch Charlie showing me he approves of my handy work and knows how to rock the shirt too- by putting butt cheek prints on it. That's true love isn't it?