Hi everyone!
Just rustling through my cupboards the other day and found these:
They started out like this:
A pair of white PB linen/cotten blend pillow shams.
I had forgotten that I even had them!
I knew exactly what I wanted to do with them after reading and loving a post by Carol Spinski on dying thrift finds, you can find it here. Carol is an amazing photographer and stylist and has a beautiful blog!
If you have some things that you’ve forgotten about in your cupboards or have a great thrift find, how about giving them a new lease on life, so to speak, with some fabric dye!
I got together my supplies and used Dylon brand because that was the brand I found at my fabric store.
You’ll need:
package of dye
iodized salt
gloves
measuring cup
measuring spoons
you’ll need to use a stainless steel container, I used my sink, as well as a stainless steel stirring utensil.
I put on my gloves and mixed the packet of dye in 500ml of warm water to dilute the dye. Then I poured my mixture into the sink with 5-6 litres of warm water.
My brand of dye required that I put 5 tbsp of salt in the sink of warm water. Put in the dye mixture and stir/mix well.
I placed both of my pillowcases in at the same time. My directions said to constantly mix/stir the fabric into the dye for 15 min.. I did it for maybe 10 min and then my back was sore from standing ,lol. Then you’re supposed to stir occasionaly for 45 min. I didn’t want my pillow cases to be as dark as the color on the package so I took them out after half an hour.
I then rinsed them in cool water until the water ran clear, after rinsing I washed them in the machine in warm water and then dried them.
This is how they turned out. You can see that they’re practically the exact same color as on the package. I must admit that I wanted them to be a little paler. But, it was my first try at dying fabric and I will know for next time. The color is actually a very lovely turquoise called “Bahama Blue” it even sounds nice!
Here they are with my my daughter’s bed spread in her room with a couple of her other loves. What girl doesn’t love Tiffanys and she has all her little Tiffany boxes on display with one of my perfume bottles that she “borrowed” from a little collection I had. It all has a lovely beachy feel to it and I thougt it would be a great direction for her room makeover.
Until she told me that she actually loves white and vintage! White and vintage? How does she know about white and vintage?! I guess I’ve really rubbed off on her. Lol. Yes, she says she wants her bed all in white with some vintage. However, she does like this picture frame I picked up today and wouldn`t mind it…yeah right. Lol. Ok, I may have to use this direction for my other daughter, who btw, also loves Tiffanys!
Not only will they not leave the nest, they want me to decorate it too! Lol
Thanks for stopping by!
I will be celebrating my 6 month anniversary of blogging in a few days and am working on a giveaway! Will keep you posted.
Be blessed!
Will be linking up with:
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage
Frugal Friday @ The Shabby Nest
Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on shoestring Decorating
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home
SNS @ Funky Junk Interiors
VIP Party @ Design Garden
What would we do without our girls….her room will be lovely I am sure!!! Have a great day! x0
What a gorgeous color!!
Great pictures. Thanks for sharing!
Kaye
Beautiful pictures…..good idea for tired linens…..i don't know if i could've done that to such pretty white shams though, lol! But they did come out amazing…..and you can always buy more white!!
Congrats on your blogiversary! Those slips turned out so….so….Tiffany! 🙂 Love the beachy color! I know that Heather at Simple Daisy would fall head over heels with them!
xoxo laurie
you are so brave. dye scares me. looks absolutely wonderful!
They turned out great. The blue is so fresh and springy too!! Don't you just love when the kids start developing their own style?!!
Hello,
Óóóóhhh I love your blue renovation:)) It´s amazing idea and blue color !! Perfect.
Have a nice day Vlaďka
That color is beautiful and the dye job came out perfectly! I've never tried dying…but you've shown me I should. Thanks!
Kristen
Turning a House into a Home
Happy Blogiversary! I can hardly believe it's been 6 months already! I've really had fun following, Kim! I have shams just like these. I love that you can change the color. I'll have to give this a go. This is a beautiful color. I love blues and aquas.
Enjoy the weekend!
Michelle 🙂
Hi Kim
Discovered your great blog today through your slip feature over at pink and polka dot! Just had to share w/ you that we have the same wedding anniversary – year too!! Looking forward to following you 😉
Suzanne
ssawyer@hallandgreen.org
Love it!
Where did you get the pretty perfume bottle?
Looking forward to the giveaway.
Congratulations on your continued success.
I absolutely adore this project! I am hosting a Springtime Craft and Project linky party today and I would love it if you would particpate.
There is a giveaway involved. 🙂
Just found your blog through Pink & Polka Dot showing off your dropcloth slipcover.
What drew me to your blog was the corner of your kitchen/dining room I could see in the picture Pink & Polka Dot showed. What a gorgeous room! Can't wait to browse your blog further.
Thanks for sharing the idea of dying the linens…I have several I may have to try dying.
Love this idea! Thanks for sharing with us! Enjoy your weekend!
XO
Love this- the color is amazing! Shared on FB~ thanks for sharing at FNF! 🙂
Oh migosh you are so brave! This would have scared the bejeesers outta me lol. But holy smokes they turned out awesome! I hope you will share this at my VIP party today =) http://designergarden.blogspot.com/2011/04/vip-party-11.html
New follower here! Just wanted to compliment your page and say that I love your post! : )
Just found your blog wanted tell you how beautiful your home is and that I have had a great morning looking through your past posts.
I was wondering if you could tell me where you got your wallpaper, the green in the kitchen. I'm in love with it.
Thanks
Visiting from FJI! I absolutely love the color of those pillow shams! I've only dyed fabric once, and it turned out fairly well, but not nearly so lovely as yours. I dyed a patterned (floral) fabric, which was interesting. I love everything about that last picture. It's the makings of a beautiful room!! I hope you get to use them somewhere!
I've started a weekly link party on Sundays over at Addicted 2 Decorating. I hope you'll come link up your project!!
What a great idea and I love the color!! Your vignette is so beachy wonderful!! I hope you had a good weekend!
XO
What a beautiful color to dye these cases!! Love that frame too!
What a great find in your own house! Such a pretty pop of blue. you make me want to dye something now.
those came out awesome!!!!
Simply Beautiful:)) Such a stunning color:) Thank You so much for the mention and sweet comments Kim~I'm going to edit my blog post from today and include a link to your post:))
Blessings,
Carol
http://www.CarolSpinski.com
http://raisedincotton.typepad.com
Hi Kimberley….I saw the same post from Carol Spinski and decided to give the dying a try. I dyed two pillowcases and a top sheet pink and that had lace around the edges. I did not keep mine in the dye bath as long as you and found that mine were a little more pink than I wanted. So here's what I did….I immediately put them in the wash with LOTS of bleach and laundry detergent. I believe I let them soak for a few hours and then washed. They actually came out about the right pink I wanted. the bleach really toned down the color. You might want to give this a try.
Linda
They look great. I gorget that you can dye fabric like that. My mom used to do it quite often with curtains. Need to keep it in mind.
You have a great daughter there who likes white and vintage. Mine daughters aren't quite with me yet.