Saturday, March 7, 2009

Repurposed clothing...A fun way to make new again






Today I had sooo Much fun repurposing some old clothes I had.

First, I went off to the thrift store and found some old curtains that I just adored. Then I sorted through some old clothes I had and found some old tees that I could stain. Off to the linen closet where I must admit alot of my inspiration comes from, there I found some old table runners that I have never used. I love old linens... With all these treasures, I had my loot to tea stain.

I whipped the old curtains into an expandable elastic skirt. Then I sewed the table runners into a scarf and in to a shirt. After I had refashioned these items I dropped them into the bucket of tea. Well I couldn't stop there, so I tea stained some old tees as well..I just sort of went tea staining crazy. Then, well I needed labels and tags and you know what I did...Tea Stained them...

Tea Staining: Labels, tags, and of course clothes...

I started with a tea bath. I added some soda ash and a box of about 120 tea bags into a painters bucket. I mixed it all together and waited until the sun got hot and then added the clothes when my tea was full strength. I let them sit in the sun in the bucket for about three hours stirring often.
Off to the clothes line with my daughter Juliette helping me to hand and wring the clothes.
I let them dry about two hours, and oooh la laaa...They look great.

I also made tags from duck cloth dyed in the tea bath and wrote my name with sharpie..I kind of like the way they turned out.

The used tea bags I set on top of manila tags and got some great tea stained tags as well.


Block and stamping tees:

I love layers, worn antiqued looks, and pieces that look as if they have a history, a secret.

That is where my love of layering words on top of old Indian block prints comes from. I collect these blocks as they get rarer and rarer due to the fact that block printing is being replaced by screen printing in India where most block printing is being done. Block printing has been around for centuries. The first blocks were cut and used in Nepal to print prayer books.

To print I first over dye a colored tee shirt to give it depth.
Then I use a sponge, or paint brush to apply the paint to the block, gently covering the surface. Then on a padded surface-a pile of newspapers, foam, or layers of cloth, I print onto the tee shirt. To be safe I usually put a piece of cardboard inside the tee. After I have printed the design with the blocks I love to add handwriting on top of the over all design using a rubber stamp or stencil. I just like the way it feels. Once done, let the front dry then repeat the patterns on the back and sleeves. Now you too have your own version of antiquity.


Thansk For taking a look XOXO Marie