Summertime...

...and the livin' is easy.

For reals, I love that I get to do whatever I want. I've been working on craft projects (ribbon flowers for headbands, crocheted blanket, painting, cardmaking) spending time with friends and family, writing ukulele songs, and whatever else. I'm looking forward to going on some trips (bluegrass festival, visiting my mom's family in Utah) and who knows, maybe even the moon. Actually, that might be a little expensive.

Anyways, this summer is going well so far. If anyone asks me what I did last summer, I really don't know. Minus my Utah trip, it wasn't really anything too exciting. So, to combat the "what did I even DO for two months" feeling, I've been keeping a diary of sorts of what I do every day, so that at the end I'm sure not to feel like a life waster.

Because I am determined not to be a life waster.

One thing about summer - I'm so used to being busy and having stories to tell from school/work, that when people ask about my day, and I reply "[insert reply]", sometimes I feel just a little silly. Because they go to work and do "important" things, and I mostly stay home. and do... things.

One thing that is relatively new - I have a new little sister. That is, I'm mentoring a young 10 year old girl through Big Brothers Big Sisters. She's a little shy, but she is warming up to me (I think) and we have a good time. Plus, she really likes doing crafts, so I'm hoping she will help me use all of the superfluous beads/paper/materials I have in my house.

So far, so good. Hope you are enjoying your summer also!

Monday’s Adventure: Dyeing Clothes

So, a couple of weeks ago I pulled some whites out of the washer only to find that my white tank-top-undershirts and another BRAND new white shirt were all brown and dingy (it must have been the first wash for a new, colored clothing item). I tried washing them again- no luck with getting out the stains. I tried to bleach them in the washing machine- Nothing. I tried bleaching them in the sink- Nothing. I purchased some “dye-out”, thought it would work (there was some serious foaming/bubbling action in the washing machine that I was sure would get the job done), pulled them out – Nothing. I realized my only option left was to dye them.

Today I went and got the dye (teal and fuchsia) and I was excited though the last time I dyed something was probably the tie-dye shirts we did at girls camp my first year, so I was by no means a pro earlier this afternoon. Well, now I might qualify as a dyeing beginner 2.0. By no means an expert, even and intermediate, but it worked. And, my apartment (and clothing) made it through without any damage done, thank goodness. Except for the 2 tiny bleach spots I got on the shirt I was wearing as I was cleaning up some dye that got on the counter. Oh well; I guess you have to be grateful it is just two tiny spots on an old shirt and not that my carpet is now purple.

Oh, and what made it even more enjoyable was that my friend Alyson  came over to dye some clothes with me! She dyed a dress and a tank top, both of which turned out really good. However, she took her stuff before I took the final picture, so you don’t get to see them (sad, I know). We made a really yummy salad for lunch then spent the rest of the afternoon workin’ on our clothes. Part of me wished that I had more stuff to dye, but at the same time, it took long enough just doing what we did. Needless to say, it was fun, but I don’t think I’ll be doing it again any time soon.

Here’s some pictures:

Stirring the clothes on the floor in my kitchen.

Rinsing them in the sink.

Like my “plastic gloves”? (Aka, grocery bags)

Alyson wanted to “easter egg” some socks. So, she did.

My final products: Hopefully the color lasts a long time.

Well, have a great day! Thanks for stopping by!