| Wouldn't you like to be able to create your own | | | | the point the colors aren't running any longer, think |
| artistic silk scarf? Well, you can. With a few tools | | | | about your next color combination for the scarf |
| from the arts & crafts supply store and a little | | | | soaking in the bucket. You might want to add |
| imagination, you can have a beautiful silk scarf in a | | | | some metallic gold or silver this time with a finer |
| few hours!Begin by using whatever supplies you | | | | brush. You might also sprinkle some salt crystals |
| might have at home already. Paint brushes, plastic | | | | onto the fabric at this point and see what |
| pans and buckets, styrofoam cups and plates, | | | | happens.As soon as the first scarf is no longer |
| sponges, rubber gloves, paper towels, white | | | | wet and you can lift it off the papertowels, place |
| vinegar and salt crystals.Now go to the arts & | | | | it gently onto a styrofoam plate and put it into |
| crafts store and find three acrylic paints that you | | | | the microwave oven for 1-1.5 min. on medium. |
| like, plus one or two metallic ones such as gold | | | | This will heatset the paints nicely and dry the silk |
| and silver. Then go to the fabric store and find | | | | scarf more. Take it out and hang it to air dry |
| ready silk scarves or silk fabric suitable for | | | | outside if you can or in the laundry room near an |
| scarves, such as an 8-10 mm habotai silk.Prepare | | | | open window. Sometimes the vinegar odor lingers |
| a well-ventilated area at home with a small table | | | | a while but most of the time it's gone by the |
| covered with plastic. Take the silk fabric or scarf | | | | time the scarf is dry.Keep this procedure going |
| and soak it in the half white vinegar, half water | | | | for as many silk scarves as you want to make. |
| mixture in a pan or bucket. While the silk is | | | | Change out the paper towels in between, but |
| soaking, take out your paints and styrofoam | | | | save them for another painting session. The paper |
| cups, mix about a tablespoon of acrylic paint with | | | | towels will dry in pretty color patterns and can be |
| a tablespoon of water, stir with a brush until the | | | | used again. The brushes can be used again, just |
| mixture is even and no pigments are floating | | | | clean them in soap and water. The cups and |
| around. Do this with each color you've selected, | | | | plates can be reused as well, just run water over |
| even the metallics.Take the soaked silk fabric, | | | | them and make sure any paint residue is gone. I |
| wring it out under running water quickly, and take | | | | use thin rubber gloves to protect my hands but |
| it to the table where you're working. At this point | | | | you can do this if you're neat and careful about |
| you can take paper towels and spread them out | | | | rinsing your hands in between things.Try |
| to cover the table or the area where you will be | | | | scrunching the fabric, try twisting it into a long |
| placing the silk scarf. Lay the fabric piece on top | | | | sausage, try folding it into pleats and see what |
| of the paper towels.Now take one of your acrylic | | | | happens when you drip the paints over these. |
| colors and make broad brush strokes in any | | | | Have some paints in applicator tip bottles and |
| pattern on the scarf. Take another color and do | | | | spray bottles if you like for added effects. Don't |
| the same, overlapping here and there with the | | | | be afraid to experiment with color combinations |
| first color. Follow this with the third color by | | | | and techniques, that's the whole idea here. Have |
| dripping the paint from the brush all over the | | | | fun!After the silk scarves have dried, I then iron |
| scarf. Notice how the various colors will run into | | | | them with a medium iron and I sometimes |
| each other and make interesting abstract | | | | sprinkle water on them if they're really wrinkled |
| patterns, sometimes taking the texture from the | | | | from the process. Then sign your creations with a |
| underlying paper towels.Have another silk scarf | | | | permanent fabric ink pen and give them away as |
| soaking in the vinegar-water mixture while you're | | | | gifts to friends and family!Now go to my website |
| painting the first piece. While it is drying slightly to | | | | at and see what I've done with silk scarves! |