Tie-Dye by Shabd Simon-Alexander - Book Review

When I was a teenager I did tie-dying with elastic bands and shop bought dye.  It was messy and fun but I am not sure I ever wore anything I made as it all looked a bit...well.., ‘tie-dyish’. You know what I mean - a bit 1960s psychedelic hippy but not in a good way.

But I like dyeing. I like the art of taking one thing and creating something new with your own pattern and colour choice.

So when I was asked if I would like to review this book, I jumped at the chance and I am very happy to share with you this lovely book:

Tie-Dye  by Shabd Simon-Alexander

If you have read any of my other reviews then you know that I like a book that shows you how to do something, that challenges you but also one that you can just sit down with and browse (with a cup of tea).  This is a beautiful book – it looks attractive with gorgeous illustrations, colour charts and diagrams and it tells of the history of tie dye. So that is a tick on the last point.

It certainly challenges me as my previous dyeing had been using shop brought pre-mixed dyes.  This book uses fibre-reactive dyes that produce a stronger, longer lasting colour.  Tick.

 I have not any such dye in my craft stash but I soon will!  I will also very soon have all I need to dye following the instructions in this book.  Thank you Shabd, for introducing me to a wonderful, fun, creative craft.  I cannot wait to get hold of the dyes to have a play. Shabd has done all the hard work in giving instructions on colour mixing, and percentage of ingredients to use. There are instructions for stripes, dots, circles, on t-shirts, dresses, scarves, shirts.  Tick.

The book gives you all the instructions you need to tie dye and experiment.  The links given are USA based but I did some research and asked around and found out that it is easy enough to get hold of the dyes and the soda ash in the UK

I wanted to play right away and I used all I had to hand which was a Silk Painting kit that I bought in a charity shop.  One paint had dried up so I was left with red and yellow. But the kit also included a bit of silk.  So I was ready to go and using the instruction for the Crystalline Scarf I was off.

So when you look at these photos please remember that I did not use the correct dyes or have any soda ash!

  

However, I loved the results, and the book so much that I am champing at the bit to go dye more.

This is a book that will become dog-eared and well-thumbed with use as I intend to use it lots. 

Tie-Dye  by Shabd Simon-Alexander

Publisher: Potter Craft

ISBN  9780307965738

£14.99

Out now

 

Buy from Amazon UK. 

Buy from Amazon USA

Brussels - We Love You! Our Happy Holiday

We have just returned from 5 days in Brussels, Belgium.

What a wonderful time we had!


My daughter is a HUGE Tintin fan and ever since she found out that there was a Herge museum near Brussels, she has wanted to go there.   This year we were deciding between Paris and Brussels and we chose Brussels.  Now you might think we are a bit crazy here, but just you wait.


In Brussels you will find

 Interesting museums:-

The Herge Museum (not actually in Brussels)

At The Comic Centre

The Comic Centre

Cinquantenaire Museum

Cinquantaire Museum

The Cafe at the Cinquantenaire Museum

Lots to eat:

Beautiful architecture and interesting sites:

The Grand Place

The Grand Place

Lots and lots of shops and shopping:

And finally, for the Tintin fan there is lots to see and do:

There is so much more to do in Brussels that we did not have enough time.


For now we say goodbye -

Our trip to Brussels made my daughter very happy and she will be thinking of her adventures with her friend Tintin for a long long time.