Jacquard iDye Poly Review by Eli Pelizza

Dying polyester and nylon is not usually accessible to the average home dyer, until now! Jacquard has come out with a great line of very user friendly dyes for synthetic fabrics, iDye Poly.

iDye Poly makes dying nylon and polyester easy. The color selection is great and it is affordable. The soluble dye packet dissolves in water and virtually eliminates the messy powder yuk common with other home dye options.

There are two methods of using the dye, stove top and washing machine. I used it in my front load washing machine and achieved the result that I was looking for. This dye is great to use for Shibori* or just changing the color of your favorite skirt or shirt.

Tips:

1. Make sure that the packet is fully dissolved!!! This can cause blotching if it is not fully incorporated.
2. Pre-wetting your fabric will help prepare the fibers to better accept the dye as well as help it dye a little more evenly.
3. Make sure to agitate the item you are dyeing consistently to ensure more even coloring.
4. This product works very well with the Shibori* processes.

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shibori

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Montana Gold Spray Paint Review by Em Kempf

When I hear the clink of metal to metal while working, I usually drop what I'm doing and make haste to the Montana Gold display rack located near the front of the store. If the metal to metal noise I heard was indeed made by a customer, hovering over the Montana Gold spray paint display, my face lights up and I immediately ask the same question every time "Whatchya doin with that?!"

Some customers are students preparing for a project deadline and they commence to tell me all about their grand schemes and ideas (which I love). Some are home room mom's getting geared up for a massive 3rd grader's art auction. And some customers get nervous and pause a little too long before spitting out some watered down reason for their reason of choice in spray paint. Some of these customers are newbies in the land of art and look at me wide eyed and desperate for a solution to their woes and ask "Will this work on plastic?" "Yes! Yes it will!" I reply with great pride and excitement. "..and metal!" Then I go on to explain that I have painted my entire van with Montana Gold and it has not only stuck tried and true to the sides of my car for over a year now, it has also withheld the pressures of snow, rain, wind, Atlanta pollution and beating sunshine.

Montana Gold just rocks. I've use Montana Gold in set design to get mass ideas & patterns out quick and efficiently with minimum mess. I've used it on postcards, cardboard scrap art, a skateboard, and even a welding helmet!

Alright, let's break it down,

7 REASONS WHY MONTANA GOLD ROCKS MY SOCKS:

1. It doesn't drip easily (but if you want drips, they can be achieved...butit's really, really hard).
2. It's true to the color on the cap and to the sheen (a soft satin usually,unless you have a metallic or a fluorescent).
3. There are like 72 colors (92?) Whatever, a LOT of color choices.
4. The paint itself is thick, opaque and gives great coverage.
5. The cans can last a good while depending on the usage.
6. There are like 6 cap sizes (which depicts what size line the can nozzlewill spray)
7. It's super classy.

7 TIPS ON USING MONTANA GOLD, SO IT CAN ROCK YOUR SOCKS TOO:

1. Take the white cap off and turn can upside down to let black rubber doughnut fall out (This doughnut is simply to keep the can from spraying while not in use).
2. Shake the can for like 2 minutes (for reals). Even 3!
3. Spray a little out on test cardboard or paper before attacking your project (sometimes a foamy or powdery substance comes out..just spray 'till it stops, then shake a little more, and your ready!!).
4. Continue to shake every so often during project just to keep thing fresh.
5. Wear a freaking mask. And not a hip looking scarf or one of those white dust masks. This isn't a gangster fashion show or just simple particles of dust we are dealing with here people. I don't know about you, but i don't need to be losing no more brain cells thankyouverymuch. So pass them masks!
6. If you haven't already figured out from above statement, Montana Gold istoxic (as is all spray paint) and ain't for kids. So keep the little ones indoors during spray time. Assuming your spraying outdoors that is, which brings me to tip #7....
7. Outdoors is best environment when dealing with Montana Gold.

OK guys! go out and spray the world into a better place!!! Spread the LOVE
-emily (em!) kempf

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