Wonderful Play Day!

4 or 5 years ago I came across a vendor at the Creative Festival in Toronto whose product I just had to have.

I wanted to learn how to dye fabric but not have the mess. 

I thought I would do it on my own... I thought I would do it with my friend. 

Life happened. Using the product didn't. 

So fast forward to now and I finally did it! I signed up for the class and drove to Toronto on Saturday. 

I met some neat new people. So interesting. All wanting to expand what they do... quilting, sewing, smocking,  spinning and dying. 

What did I do? 

I went to the Colourvie Studio and took a class with Gunnel Hag and had a fabulous time. http://www.colourvie.com 

“IRRESISTIBLE RESISTS” (with Gunnel Hag)April 2, 2011: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Are you ready for a fabric adventure? Experiment with the use of soy wax and other resists to create a wide range of patterns and textures on fabric. Learn how to mix pigment colours as well as a variety of  techniques for hand painting/dyeing and making simple stamps and stencils to create gorgeous resist printed fabrics with exquisite colour and complexity. Truly irresistible!

Workshop includes Colour Vie pigments and wax used in class.

I took some pictures to remind me of the processes. 

I got to create some very cool fabric. I learned how to mix the dye concentration with the creamy base and make my own colours. 

Here are some pictures of the process.... 

Batik with soya wax resist.

Who knew using a potato masher could be such fun!

Or making lines with a brayer and elastics....

Chain design made with the lid of a antiperspirant. 

Using a pop bottle to get a neat Tye dye effect. 

All in all it was a good day!!! So well worth the workshop fee!  So much fun I am looking forward to another workshop in May. 

Gunnel is the most enthusiastic teacher I have ever met. So giving, so knowledgeable. So open to questions and experimentation. It felt like a friend sharing her passion with you. 

And where is my fabric that I make and got to take home..... 

That will have to wait a few days because I found out I forgot it when I got home! And although I could not wait to show and tell with my hubby I was not going back for it that day. So I phoned and Gunnel had saw I left it and was going to mail it to me right away!. 

Take the opportunity to go to her web site and see what she offers. If ever in Toronto or where she travels to teach. You won't regret learning from her!