Summer of Color, Week 1: blue, blue, green

Summer of Color at Kristin's has officially started, and I have finally come up with my first entry.  This is nothing like I first envisioned I would make, but as it turned out, I'm rather pleased with the outcome.

What made me decide to dye fabric is beyond me.  I'm quite sure there are easier ways to approach this first challenge.  But as I was deciding, which included using stencils and my brayer, this quiltlet idea popped into my head.  My three colors included Midnight Blue and Cactus Green StazOn, and whatever blue color this old bed sheet I tore up was.  Granted, this may seem like a cop out, but I thought the color was ideal for my background, and I didn't have to do anything to alter the color of the sheet.

I proudly give you the Blue Bird family. 

The Midnight Blue StazOn was mixed with 91% rubbing alcohol to dye the fabric I used  to make the birds, the lace I used to make the bird wings, and the natural colored cheese cloth I used for the bird's nest.  I was surprised how differently each material took the dye bath.

I was hoping for a mottled look in the fabric, and I was happy when I got it.  Note I have no way to drop my feed dogs, which means I have no way to do free-motion stitching.  That's why my stitching looks like it was done by a six year old.

I used variegated green thread that I matched to the fabric (from an old pillowcase) I dyed Cactus Green.  I was even more pleased with the variegated look I got with it.

Because my scanner and my camera change read the color of the piece differently, I though I would show it both ways.

The biggest surprise was the nest color, which was flattened on the scanner, but not in the photo.  I left the threads long because I thought they would signify what a bird might use in its nest.

The back uses the same background, the same dyed bird, the same dyed lace, but a different "tree limb."  I used the same Cactus Green to dye the lace, which is used in hems.  It is sometimes called lace hem tape.  But I use it as a lacy accent and like to buy white so I can dye it whatever color is needed.

You can see this piece was created by Bleubeard and Elizabeth.

Other details include batting and a wooden stirrer stick at the top to hold the quiltlet flat when it's hung.

Those of you who visit often can see, that even though I couldn't sew a straight line if my life depended on it, I have now corrected my needle and tension problem. 

Thanks for visiting.  I'm off to visit Kristin at Twinkle, Twinkle Like a Star where I hope to visit as many SOC entries as time permits.  I look forward to seeing what others have created this first week of SOC.