Tie Dye with Sharpies

This  a Pinterest ",I did that!"  Tie dying with Sharpies, I would say that it turned out pretty nice.  I slowly, with trial and error learned the idiosyncrasies of the technique. I plan to develop this idea even further.

 

You will need:

 * Sharpies (Bet you didn't see that coming.)

* Alcohol (The rubbing kind, not the drinking kind)

* Dabbers (Such as ear swabs)

* Spray bottle

                                          

           * Your choice of fabric (I started out with tea towels.)  

The first technique was drawing designs, such as flowers on the fabric with the Sharpies.  Then, you dab the alcohol on the drawn lines. Note, that if you lift the fabric the lines will run in the down direction, it makes a cool effect in it's own way.  Unless, you want the ink to run in a specific direction, keep it flat until the alcohol is somewhat dry. 

 

Pinterest

The next technique employs a bunch of bunching.  I started in the center and grabbed up the fabric Then twist the fabric tightly.  While holding your fabric in place, color the edges of the twist with your chosen marker.  Let the twist go, Then gather and twist a few times.  On the next gather and twist, i found it nice to change color.  Repeat a few times with your new color.  Now find a few different places in the fabric to spread the design.  I did this expansion by doing smaller gathers and alternating single colors, here and there.  I then hung the towel on the clothesline and used the spray bottle willy nilly.  Remember the ink will run in the down direction.  I turned the towel and sprayed again to get the ink flowing in two directions.

 

The final technique, for now, is a combo of the first two. I folded the fabric into triangles and colored the edge.  The starting point of the triangle is in different places.  Then, I drew organic shapes in the center of each triangle fold. I hung this one on the line and prayed, as well.  I turned this one in four directions.

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Salve, Rinse, Repeat!

The plant that bothers many people trying to have a nice lawn, is the same one that can be used for several natural products....You guessed it, Dandelions!

These are the early season dandelions left over after I mowed.  I picked them along with the unopened buds to make capers. 

I left plenty for the bees, as it is an early season food for them. 

Dandelion promotes hair growth with many vitamins and minerals. As a hair rinse the benefits also include dandruff control. Topical solutions of dandelion sooth bug bites and stings.  Also, the plant is a good anti fungal agent. 

When I was done crawling around the ground picking the select parts of the plants, I spread the flowers on a tray and dried them in the oven on very low heat, as low as the oven will go. This will take a few hours.  When the flowers were dry, I divided them into 2 jars and covered with one lot with canola oil, the other I covered with apple cider vinegar.  I set this aside for 24 hours.  Strain the next day and do it all again.  

After the double infusion, strain again. 

 

To the oil add any other essential oil you would like and a few tbsp. of vitamin E oil.

To the vinegar infusion add 1/4 c. coconut water.   

Keep in a pretty bottle by the shower, or tub.

Lather!  Rinse! Repeat!  ....Or as the case may be, rub or massage in, repeat.

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