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Waldorf inspirations

A rainbow of playsilks {a tutorial}

We were excited to receive a package of blank playsilk from Dharma Trading last week. Ready and calling out for colour… a rainbow of colour! Or so I like to imagine 😉
I used a medium saucepan just over half full with water. Then I added 1/3 of a teaspoon of Wilton’s Icing Colour and a good lug of vinegar. Stir well and heat until simmering.
(some have a solid colour and some are dappled)
While the dye was heating up I opened up a silk and soaked it through with water before adding it to the pot. Then I let the silk soak up the dye for a good 20 minutes or so, stirring every so often. 
(excuse the mess in the background, it was cleaning day!)
Turn off the heat and let the silk sit in the dye until cool. Then rinse until the water runs clear.
(peek-a-boo)
Wash the silk on a gentle cycle before drying (I used a clothes dryer because I was impatient to see the results). And ta da…
(the orange is a little dappled because I used red and yellow to dye it)
Warmly, Kelly
March 26, 2012 by

Needlecraft ~ child style

My kids continuously amaze me 😉 Max noticed that I was doing some needlework recently and asked to try it out.

So I set him up with needle and thread, and showed him how to poke the needle through the material, draw the thread all the way though and then come back up. He took to it really well and seemed to enjoy the process of it, and seeing his colours strike out across the muslin.

Initially I was a little concerned about the needle (I had given him the same one I use) but I explained that he needed to be careful or he may prick himself with it. He was fine though*smile*

He did loop the thread around the side a couple of times, but I helped undo it and showed him that he had to poke the needle back through the same side the thread was loose on.

Crafting like this seemed to really captivate him. He was so quiet and intent on his work. It was incredibly calming ~ even with Ruby trying to get his attention (she even tried sucking on his foot at one point – eww).

We’ll be doing this craft again, that’s for sure!

Warmly, Kelly

March 9, 2012 by