It's just amazing what I learn from my friends! I'm fortunate to be a part of the Friday Night Bee. It meets in my home once a month, and the ladies who make up the rest of the bee are the most prodigious quilters I know. We begin each session with Show and Tell, and although there are only eight of us, it can take half an hour to show and discuss new creations, or antique quilt finds, or new books to be shared.
Several of the ladies in the bee are addicted to batiks, and I have to admit that they have influenced my purchases. Unfortunately, until this past year, I've been lovingly stroking my stash, but not using them. We were talking about the fact that batiks have a lot of dye to slough off, and one of them mentioned a product she used to set the dye.
Well, it took me a while to find it, but yesterday I bought three bottles of "Retayne." As soon as I got home, I pulled most of the batiks from my stash, organized them into color values and started washing them. Now, there is a HUGE pile of fabric on my dining room table, and I expect that pile to grow as I work my way through the stash.
It occurred to me that I should also use the Retayne on the fabric Dear Husband brought me from the South Pacific. I'll have to go through the entire stash to see what else might benefit from setting the dyes.
Now, if only I had eight ironing boards and eight irons, I could ask for a little help from my friends......
Comments (4)
Yes, washing begets ironging, doesn't it? When/what/why/how--How did I miss that your Dear Husband had been to the South Seas? Have you blogged it? If so, please point me to the archive; if not, don't just sit there, spill!
Posted by Cop Car | May 29, 2005 3:05 PM
Posted on May 29, 2005 15:05
It's been about four years, maybe five since he spent three weeks sailing near New Caledonia and Vanuatu. I'll do a search on the blog and see if anything pops up, and if I haven't blogged about it, I will. Otherwise I'll send you the blog address.
Posted by Buffy | May 29, 2005 3:11 PM
Posted on May 29, 2005 15:11
I guess I haven't blogged about it. It was a major milestone, so you'd think I would have talked about it. I'll try to make the time to share it tomorrow.
Posted by Buffy | May 29, 2005 3:53 PM
Posted on May 29, 2005 15:53
I'm really embarrassed if your Dear Husband filled me in on it while I was at your house. Please tell me that he did not. Looking forward to reading about his adventure; but, if I've lived this long without reading about it, you shouldn't break your neck posting it.
Posted by Cop Car | May 29, 2005 8:45 PM
Posted on May 29, 2005 20:45