Copyright Notice


Please note that the artwork and photographs used in this blog belong to me and should not be reproduced or used without my permission. Thank you.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Guess What I've Been Doing

This is what I started off with:-


  a pile of snowy white lace, broderie anglaise, tatting and other bits of net and trim.

                                       Here are the same items afterwards:-
                                         varying degrees of subtle pinkness. Yummy!


Yup, you guessed right - avocado dyeing again.  DH is the avocado fan in our house - I don't like them and he used this up at the weekend and I asked him to save me the skin.  I wasn't ready to use it at the time so it was put into a plastic bag in the fridge for a couple of days and brought out yesterday.  I wasn't sure if it would work as it had been in the fridge and not used when fresh and ripe.  I found that it took longer to boil this time maybe as a result of this but I ended up boiling it all for an hour and a half (much longer this time) until I could see a murky brown colour in the pan and I knew it was starting to take.

I put the skin inside a piece of cotton scrim to boil this time as it is a fairly messy job with all the little pieces of avocado pith floating around and it seemed to work quite well at keeping them all inside.  I don't think the colour was as strong this time but it's still pretty and some of the pieces are such a delicate shade - not quite white, not quite pink, as every type of lace takes the dye differently.

It's quite a time consuming job but well worth it I think.  Now to use it!

14 comments:

fabriquefantastique said...

must give avocado a try

Anonymous said...

I have done that method twice since your last posting. It's kind of addicting, isn't it? And can't beat that color!!

So pretty, Barbara. Makes me want to run to the store for yet another alligator pear!

Julia @ Vintage with Laces said...

These are gorgeous laces you have dyed, Barbara. I love the shade of pink that you get with the avocado skins and I'm happy that you had posted about it. I've done it two times so far. Even though it takes some longer cooking it's great to know that you don't have to use them immediately.
Sending you hugs and warm wishes,
Julia

Tina said...

They all looks wonderful with the new color Barbara - awesome
Have a wonderful weekend.
xo Tina

Ellen said...

Wowwwww amazing! Love the new color!

Hugs,
Ellen

Sea Witch said...

Dying textiles is such fun. You have mastered this lovely shade of pink.

Rhonda said...

Stunning pink! I love dying my ribbon and laces - I must try this.

Jensters said...

Simply beautiful, such a change i like the idea of putting the skin inside a piece of cotton scrim.

Joanna said...

You have achieved such a beautiful colour with your avocado dye - great work!

Laurie said...

Oh my, I must try this!

Linda Vincent said...

Looks like a great success Barbara ....so very pretty. :-)

ewa-christine said...

A lot of nice textiles......

suziqu's thread works said...

Hi Barbara
How are you going? I love the results you have achieved with the avacardo skins - gorgeous! By the way I also love your little hanger you made with the erosion bundle results - it is so sweet!
Hugs,
Suzy

Phillipa said...

Just found your blog thru the Erosion Bundle blog and I must say, I love your
I will be an avid follower :)
Regards
Phillipa in NZ