Dye-ing For Tulips!!!

I was browsing around the local thrift shop one afternoon...(more on that in a later post)....and I came across this bunch of real touch tulips....(they truly do feel & resemble real tulips).  This bunch of a "bakers dozen (thirteen stems) was selling for $3.99.....

They are priced so much higher in the stores....so at under $4....I snagged them to add to the ones I currently have.  A bunch of 7 is currently being sold here for $29.99!!  I would never pay that much...

I laid all my stems on the top rack of the dishwasher..... they washed amazing!  For what I had planned they needed to be clean & dust free .......

I wasn't a fan of the "white"....it appeared more like they were "yellowing". or "aging".... than actually white. Now they would have been fine left that way....but I wanted colour!! I let them dry completely overnight...one bunch resting on a dish towel...

Since I'd had great success when I dyed faux hydrangeas....I picked up a couple of bottles of Rit dye at Michaels...in the colours Kentucky Sky & Apricot Orange.  Rit dyes are available in powder form as well....I just prefer the liquid...

I brought a couple of pots of water to a boil.....turned them down to simmer, added a bottle of dye to each pot & mixed.   First colour I dipped was the Apricot Orange...

I was surprised how the stems absorbed the colour....the longer I let them sit in the dye bath, the darker they became...

Since it was working so well....I continued on with the Kentucky Sky ...,... and while it didn't absorb as quickly .....the longer I allowed them to sit in the dye....the better it worked...

I placed the stems on dish towels & paper towel covered cookie sheets....to dry overnight....here are just a few drying....

I'm obsessed with how beautiful these turned out...the striped vase was a previous thrift store find...(sorry for the shadows....it was an overcast morning & needed an overhead light on)...

Once finished, the range top needed a good scouring & cleaning.....but an easy fix....

I discovered a few days ago....purchases from Home Sense, Winners & Marshalls....can be exchanged at any of their stores....I had purchased a lamp for the small bedroom makeover....and while it was in the trunk....I decided to peruse around Winners....and found this amazing lamp...I love a scallop shade...

I had plans to purchase it and then return the one in the trunk to Home Sense. I  casually asked the cashier at Winners if Home Sense purchases could be returned at Winners.  She replied, "of course".  And suggested I bring the one in I had previously purchased & she would do the return & check out the lamp above.   So glad I asked...who knew??

*Note - Remember the lamps I missed out on at Home Sense?  The ones with the floral scallop shades?  I follow a local gal here on FB who does interior painting & decorating....she had posted a photo of the lamps on her page.

When I commented I missed out on them....one of her followers apologized....as she was the "culprit" who had purchased just one & broke up the set!  I quickly advised I was very happy someone loved the lamp(s) as much as I did!!  

The seam filler is hoping to come Wednesday or Thursday to get a start on the small bedroom ceiling!  I dropped off the quilt, sham & bedskirt for laundering & pressing at our local laundry & dry cleaner establishment....$50 for three pieces!!  *thud*.  

Now I had the choice to launder & press them myself....but since they do a wonderful job, I left them in their experienced care.  Even though new.....they were quite wrinkled from packaging....

How is this for an under $3 find?  (cannot beat Temu for some things).....such great prices I ended up purchasing two iPhone cases....this one I am currently using....sweet little Valentine doxie....

And another for later in the year....at these low prices...how can you not get more than one??

It's a wintery day here....snow & blowing snow....the schools across the Island have closed for the day & most businesses are either delaying opening or closed as well.  Not only is the snow a factor....but the winds are causing visibility issues.   The next couple of days threaten cold windchills....now we are getting into the thick of winter!  Ugh.

Mr. Seventies is so thankful for his brilliant assistant with the challenges of Sudoku puzzles..... good to keep their minds sharp!

Thanks so much for spending a bit of your day with me....so greatly appreciated!

Be sure to join me later today over at https://betweennapsontheporch.net/ for Metamorphis Monday....

And tomorrow with https://www.myslicesoflife.com/ for Talking About It Tuesday & https://www.astrollthrulife.net/ for Inspire me Tuesday....

Have an awesome day...until next time....