When I was teaching full time, a friend came to me one day and begged me to take this shoe off her hands.

Her husband had bought a brand new pair of shoes, and her ridge-back pup had eaten the top on the second day he had them. She asked me to add the shoe to my printing basket so that she could be rid of the damning evidence.

She returned to the store with the remaining shoe to find a replacement pair in the hope that her husband would not notice, and her pup would be spared the scolding. She had the single shoe in the trolley, when she turned away to look for something on the shelf.

When she got back to her trolley, it was gone. Some store merchandiser likely thought it was a sample from a shelf.

It was an unlucky pair of shoes that did not last a week.

More than a decade later, it still serves me in my printing basket.

#printingwithfoundobjects

Floral Heart Shaped Stamp

Everybody likes hearts and all girls like flowers, so this lino stamp is a hit. This floral heart-shaped stamp took me two whole days to carve. It started out as a good idea and ended up being a labour of love.

It was all worth it though because everybody loves this stamp and I have used it to create articles for Cratwise Magazine and I have used it to print on canvas for Show Me How on DSTV. I have printed it on many different materials in many different colourways. I have used it to print on fabric, card, paper, wood, leather and pvc.

Many people have asked me if they can buy this stamp from me, however it is irreplaceable. The fact that I can keep printing images over and over again means that it has almost infinite value.

I have found a supplier who can produce a nice quality stamp for me and they can even make it in pink! I am very excited about my new pink stamps. They will be available at R150 for the 20cm x 20cm stamp. Let me know if you would like me to add your name to the waiting list at

info@dyeandprints.co.za

I cannot wait to see what my students make using these new stamps!

Have a great day in full colour!

Kind regards

Melanie

0835689150

www.dyeandprints.co.za

10 000 T-Shirts For Charities

Our drive to collect 10 000 Rainbow T-shirts For Children In Orphanages is picking up pace and we are having a great deal of fun as we go.

You can participate in store st our stockists at Art Den in Roodepoort and at The Crafter's Den in Edenvale.

We have also taken the activity to Hobby-X and the Waterkloof Airshow & Lifestyle Exhibition.

My students in my classes are also contributing and some of them are even sending me T-shirts in the post from outlying areas.

Thank you to all of you who have supported the drive so far.

Get in touch with me directly if you would like me to send you a schedule of dates and venues where you can get involved at info@dyeandprints.co.za

Have a great day in full colour!

Kind regards

Melanie

0835689150

www.dyeandprints.co.za

Mount Olive Outreach

Last week we went to the Mount Olive Outreach near Lenasia with HIVSA to share our skills with the local community. We gave people from the surrounding area the chance to come and dye fabrics and T-shirts. We hope that the experience will inspire them to start their own businesses.

The smiling faces in these pictures tell the story...

Have a great day in full colour!

Kind regards

Melanie

0835689150

www.dyeandprints.co.za

10 000 T-shirts For Charities

We are doing a drive to collect 10000 T-shirts for charities in Gauteng.

While it is fairly difficult for one person or organisation to make a big difference in the lives of many orphans, it is fairly easy for many people to do one small thing, especially if they can have fun while doing it.

Visit one of the venues where we are having this drive and become part of this awesome charity drive. How it works...

Arrive at the venue with two white 100% cotton T-shirts. Pay a nominal fee of R30 for the materials that you will use. We will show you how to dye the T-shirts. Take one home for yourself and leave the other behind and we will donate it to an orphanage.

The children who benefit will not only receive a practical garment that they can wear, they also receive a unique gift that has been made with love by somebody especially for them.

Contact me today for more information so that you can find a venue that suits you at info@dyeandprints.co.za

Have a great day in full colour!

Kind regards

Melanie

0835689150

Kids LOVE tie dye!

Something very special happens inside a child when they open their first tie dye...they realise that the power is in their hands to make something very special for themselves. It ignites their excitement and opens their minds to the idea that they can be captain of their own ship.

The experience is amplified further when they wear what they have made. People stop them and ask them where they got such a beautiful T-shirt and they get the chance to reply "I made it myself." The T-shirt becomes an automatic feedback system for building confidence.

These are all pretty "deep" concepts and some will argue that the reason that kids love tie dye so much is because they have so much FUN!

You decide for yourself...

Have a great day in full colour!

Kind regards

Melanie

0835689150

www.dyeandprints.co.za

South Africa Fashion Industry Revival

The South African Fashion industry has been under some pressure for many years now. Forty years ago it was a huge driver of the economy. Today it is a mere remnant of its former self and it almost looks as if it might disappear altogether. I spoke to somebody a couple of years back who went so far as to say that "The industry is DEAD."

I have never been able to accept his autopsy. So long as there is a handful of people fighting for it, the industry cannot be dead. It certainly is in big trouble. It is not dead.

Last night I attended and amazing seminar where key players in the industry are rallying together to find solutions. AFI (African Fashion International) has partnered up with Endeavor and GIBS to turn the tide and GIBS has announced the rollout of their Fashion Entrepreneurs programme. Even Government has joined the conversation and it looks as if the industry is poised to rebuild.

As a generation of determined young designers emerges to revive the ailing industry, they are going to need a generation of determined artisans and manufacturers to service them and I am very excited to be right in the middle of this work.

For years now I have prayed that the industry would rally together to find solutions and that day finally seems to have arrived.

Keep your eye on the local Fashion industry and expect some big things.

Have a great day in full colour!

Kind regards

Melanie

0835689150

http://www.dyeandprints.co.za/