Dyeing Silk Ribbon to Match the Flowers in My Garden

As a gardener and lover of flowers, 

the thought of dyeing a piece of silk ribbon and then working it into a piece of crazy quilt is truly heaven on earth. 

It gives me a tiny hint of how my Father in Heaven felt as

He spoke each and every flower into existence.

I usually start with 100 yards of 7mm silk along with a tray of 12 or so different cups of dye.

I cut the silk in pieces of 2 yard hanks, then as I overlook my garden, I dip each one in the dye,

Mixing and matching colors and length of time in the dye to achieve different saturations of color.

My best pal Pat Winter taught me how to "speckle" the silk by sprinkling dry dye 

onto the wet hanks.

This creates one of a kind ribbon that will go on to create a one of a kind silk flower.

When the ribbons are dyed, rinsed several times then dried outdoors in the sun 

                                                         
                                             they are ready to be carded for my beautiful customers.

I run each piece under a hot iron then divide them by color. 

                                              Then they are carefully placed on card stock.

If I have pretty glass flowers that happen to match the ribbon I will sew them to the cardstock.

Sometimes I will dye some lace to match the ribbon and sell then together as a set.

                      I still have a good selection available on  My Etsy Shop if you'd like to stop by!

All the pictures on this post are from my garden in Naugatuck, Connecticut.

The next three photos are cigar boxes I covered in crazy quilt for my customers.

The next two photos are felted book covers that were for sale on my Etsy Shop

This one is still available. I include a vintage book  ~ it's a sweet little gift for someone special.

Thanks for stopping by! 

Feel free to ask any question in the comments.

Feel Loved, Be Blessed ;)