new-ish.

I have a soft, comfy little gray dress that is a weekend staple for me. It's perfect for any of the following (but not limited to): yard sale-ing, grocery shopping, dog walking, errand running, seafood shack eating, etc.

Well, sadly, I pulled it out of the dryer a couple of weeks ago and the soft, comfy little gray dress became a soft, comfy little gray dress with pink splotches all over it. Ok, I admit it. I continued to wear it. Yeah, like in out. In public. But then the pink/gray mess even started bothering me and I just about gave up my weekend dress.

When - I remembered a package of teal dye that I had bought a year ago. You know, for a project I'm sure I thought I'd do. Of course, I do not remember that almost-teal-project at all. But hey, the dye was there and I've always wanted to try to dye something and if I messed it up, well, what? I'd have to wear a grey/pink/teal dress to the coffee shop? Would that really be so bad?

So, I dyed it! (my craft supplies aren't going to know what to do with themselves if I start actually using them) I read the instructions and then re-read the instructions and then laid out the instructions on the bathroom counter and read them aloud the entire time for complete fear that I would completely screw it up and end up with a teal bathroom floor and a still gray/pink dress.

It was not nearly as scary as I thought. I did have this worry that the dye would be so toxic that after inhaling it for the 30 minute bucket stir session, I would pass out all lady like on the bathroom floor or that the dye would burn right my skin since my rubber gloves (recommended by instructions) were actually thin little hospital gloves. Neither happened, by the way.

Actually, nothing was stained, burned, spilled, contaminated, ruined, or destroyed.

Why can't all my projects be this successful?

As I mentioned, I followed the instructions exactly, which means that I did add the recommended cup of salt (I dyed a cotton dress) and the tablespoon of laundry detergent (tide). I also stirred that dress constantly, fearful that taking a second to relax or scratch my nose would result in a dress that looked like it had been assaulted by a 7-11 blue raspberry slurpee. (good tip, I used an extra-large paint stick as a stirrer. worked great) Next time I would probably relax a bit, you know, calm down and also, I would have left it in the dye longer for a more intense color change. Oohhh...maybe next time I'll try mixing dyes. So many possibilities.

I am so amazed that I did something that turned out wearable, I have this urge to take utter credit for the dress, which might result in me accidentally telling a perfect stranger that I made the dress from scratch.

And then, I'll immediately tell them that that was a lie. And that I'm sorry, teal overexcites me. And then I'll finish my order and drive to the next window to pay for my coffee.