The saga of sweat stains

I did the wash post New Hampshire Renaissance Faire and out came my favorite white pirate shirt (I've had it since the 80s, it used to be a work shirt) and one of my favorite gray/blue chemise with nasty rust sweat stains around the neck line.  Grrrr.  One of the hazards of doing renn faires is sweat on natural fabrics.  Sometimes they come out in the wash but sometimes...well, a picture speaks louder than words.

This is the neckline of the chemise.  The white shirt looked just the same.

So, I went researching.  One pin on Pintrest said that 1/2 cup of washing soda and 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide mixed with hot water would take care of any stain.  I soaked both shirt and chemise for 24 hours.  No love.

OK...next to try is Oxy Clean.  I used one scoop and hot water as recommended and did a two hour soak.  While it did brighten the white and the gray/blue, the ugly rust stain is still there.

While I was at the store picking up the Oxy Clean, I saw this.  It's Carbona #9 Stain Devil.  They have several solutions that are specific to certain types of stains.  It's $3.35, but cheaper than replacing the shirt, if I could even find one like it.  While the shirt and chemise were soaking in the Oxy Clean I looked this up online.  It has enzymes in it and the Mavin of Housekeeping, Martha Stewart, recommends enzymes for removing sweat stains.

Success

Here is the white shirt...nice and clean.  I could see the stains lightening as I applied the solution.

Now, a couple of words on this saga.  Both articles are cotton.  Both were destined for the dye pot if they couldn't be cleaned.  I used an entire bottle of Carbona on just the white shirt.

Here is my recommendation for getting rid of these stains.  First, DO NOT DRY the cloths in the dryer.  This will set the stain and you can kiss it goodbye or shove it in the dye pot.  Second, try treating the stain with Fels Naptha laundry soap.  While this didn't work on these particular stains, I have saved many an article of garb or regular clothing doing this before laundering.  Third, a good soak in the Oxy Clean did brighten up the colors, so I would do this first then give the article a good hand scrubbing with laundry detergent or Fels Naptha laundry soap.  Lastly, if all else fails, I will try the Carbona Stain Devils that is specific to that stain.  For sweat or rust it is #9.

Now I'm off to the store to pick up a few more bottles of Carbona for the chemise and a tunica from GNEW last year.

New Hampshire Renaissance Faire is over

What a record year it was.  Honestly, the crowds were huge...even on the first weekend where the weather wasn't so cooperative.  It was an amazing run.  The Three Maples committee did a great job at pulling everything together.

The Primrose pirates had so much fun performing.  We really enjoyed playing with our guns and the crowds seemed to like us.

I have sold out of one size of snoods and almost sold out of two more sizes.  I have three princess hats left and sold out of the sparkly purple wish bags.  I also have three commission jobs to get done.  I told you it was a record year.

I have a lot of work to do to restock for my next event...Stonemarche Palio in Contoocook NH the weekend of June 14th.  So...off to the races again.

Here are a few pictures of my booth at NHRF.

Some new items for New Hampshire Renn Faire

I have some new items I'm going to be selling at NHRF.  First are earrings.  I have four pair.  I just found these hangers interesting and I was able to find some that looked like they should have been pairs.  Here they are.

The second new item is worry beads.  These are made of Tiger's eye beads and celtic knot hangers.  Tiger's eye is supposed to bring calm and serenity.

They are hand knotted between each bead and are on a doubled cotton string.

Lastly, I've been playing in the kitchen again.  I read somewhere that purple/red cabbage will turn things a lovely soft blue.  I took the outer leaves from the cabbage, cut them up and simmered them for 30 minutes.  The two white snoods and the ecru lace mitts went into a alum mordant simmered for 15 minutes.

Here is a picture of the finished product.  The lighting was off, I'll try to get a better picture later.  The baby blue around the edge of the snood is the color they came out after an eight hour soak.

 Today is setup day at NHRF so I'm off.  Hope to see you there.

Appology

I'm sorry, I'm a bad blogger.  I have been going through some personal and medical issues that have sidelined me since September of last year.  It's been a bit tough.

That isn't to say I haven't been crafting.  I have made Christmas gifts and a few custom pieces.  I have also built a new website.  Go to fairelywellmaid.vpweb.com and take a look.

Faire season is upon us.  Between the Primrose pirates, my new pirate crew, and vending I am going to be very busy.  New Hampshire Renaissance Faire is first.  It is May 11, 12 and 18,19 in Kingston NH.  I will be vending as Fairely Well Maid and preforming as a Primrose Pirate.  Come down and see us.  The faire website is http://www.nhrenfaire.com

That's it for now.  I will be posting more often, I promise.

Adventures in Canning - Part 2

Here are the Zucchini and Summer Squash pickles.  First cut them thin, about one pound each.  Then cut a quarter of a pound of onion, quarter it and thin slice.  Set in brine with a quarter cup kosher salt and water to cover.  Let this set for two hours.

Heat up sugar, vinegar, tumeric, celery salt and mustard seed to a boil.  Drain and rinse vegetables then pour hot mixture over them.  Let this set for two more hours.  Put everything into a deep pot and bring to a boil, turn heat down and simmer to five minutes.  Pour hot mixture into sterilized jars.  Put it in the water bath for 15 minutes.

I can't give the measurements out because a friend gave me this recipe and it's her's to publish.  This yielded me three half pint jars, one jelly jar and one cup and a half jar.

That's it for now.  There will be more as the veggies in my little garden ripen. 

Adventures in Canning

As the vending season, at least for me, is winding down, the garden is ripening and it's time to look to the canning stuff.  I have some jars left from last year and I have the jar tongs, but I need a canning pot.  Last year I borrowed my Mom's and she wanted it back.  Off to Ace hardware for a new one and some lids.

A friend sent me some beautiful tomatoes, cucumbers, two summer squashes and a large zucchini.  I'll never be able to eat these myself before they go bad (the Beloved doesn't eat vegetables).  So, time to start the canning.  

Tomatoes, I use these for a bunch of things.  Everything from Indian food to chili.  So, I think I'm doing most of my tomatoes, I also have some in my garden, in their own juices.  This is easy.  A quick blanching to make peeling easier, quartering them up, or in the case of the huge one, eighthing  it up.  A couple of tablespoons of lemon juice in the quart jar and one in the half quart jar.  Tomatoes in the sterilized jars and in the water bath for one hour and 25 minutes.  That's done.

For as long as I can remember growing up, there were always "refrigerator pickles" in the summer.  They tasted very much like half sour pickles.  Here is how they are made.  In a jar, I used two quart jars, pour enough kosher salt to well cover the bottom of the jar.  Throw a small handfull, maybe a teaspoon or two, of mustard seed in and a good amount of garlic, maybe a clove or two well diced.  Fill the jar about half way with water and shake to combine.  Add the cucumbers that you have cut into spears.  Really pack them in there.  Add more water if needed to cover the spears.  Shake and put into fridge.  Shake occasionally, letting them "cure" for about a week or so.  YUMM

That's all there is to it.  Next are zucchini and summer squash pickles. 

Fun with contact paper

I was at the Dollar Tree today and say this beautiful twoile contact paper.  I have a card table from a thrift store that has a huge gouge in the top.  So, two rolls of twoile paper and a few minutes in the hot sun on the driveway and voila

See the big gouge

I did a pretty good job at matching up the pattern.

I also have this camp chair that I got at another thrift store.  The pop-up table is in pretty bad shape, although still usable.  It is bowed down.

Got to admit it looks much better here

So, chair was $5.00, table was $3.00 and the two rolls of contact paper was $2.00.  And I still have some left over.  Not too bad.