Harmony Hand Dyes hand-dyed Fabric MX Procion Dye Shiva Paintstiks Tisdale SK Sask Saskatchewan Canada
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| Experience & Service Since 2005 |
Harmony Hand Dyes & Specialty Quilting Supplies
About Us
About Our Business
Our Location
We are located at:
Box 277
Tisdale, Saskatchewan
Canada, S0E 1T0
Phone: 306 873-5109
Proprietor: Kathy Tanner
Box 277
Tisdale, Saskatchewan
Canada, S0E 1T0
Phone: 306 873-5109
Proprietor: Kathy Tanner
A Little Background:
Women on the prairies have always been able to take scraps, left-overs and minimal resources; enjoy social
opportunities; and create a product that meets the need of both form and function.
The quilting bee is a perfect example. Old sugar sacks were bleached and remnants from old clothing were stashed
away to be reused for quilt blocks. When there were enough created to make a quilt top, friends and neighbors gathered
to help quilt it together. Daylight time that was so precious had to be put to good use and the multi-tasking of working,
socializing and creating was all rolled into one event. Many Saskatchewan families have an heirloom quilt in their closet
that still attests to the value of this tradition.
I learned to quilt while visiting and drinking tea at my grandmother’s. It was much later in life when I really began to value
the work and beauty that her simple tools and scraps had created.
Traditions, styles and tastes all adapt and change. Tools change and materials change. The modern sewing machine
took the place of hand sewing and synthetic fabrics took the place of cottons. Supply and demand for the quick and
easy – maintenance free products came with the surge of women that began to work outside the home. Busy lives did
not eliminate the appreciation for the quilt but sewing was placed on the back burner for a number of
years.
We still value the multi-tasking that our ancestors were able to do but we have been able to incorporate newer, faster
tools and systems to move into another era of quiltmaking. The invention of the rotary cutter and cutting mat shaves
hours of time off the preparation of materials. Cotton has made a comeback and newer sewing machines and equipment
have enabled today’s quilter to choose from many sewing techniques that were not available to our ancestors.
The art of traditional hand sewing and appliqué is still visited in today’s quilts but with fusible webbing, spray and fabric
glue, the fabric artist has many more options at her fingertips.
I began quilting again once my kids were grown. I rediscovered my love for the traditional quilt but I have also developed
an interest in the art quilt. As I began to search for a colour or type of fabric to fit into a specific quilt design, I discovered
hand-dying fabric. MX Procion dyes are much different from the old style dyes that I remember dumping in the washing
machine. The Procion dyes are permanent and can create vibrant, intense colours or make the softest pastel or the
darkest shade. We can create a soft “sueded” look or mottled and complex combinations in the fabric. While I worked
full time, hand-dyeing my own quilt fabric was a delightful, productive hobby.
My husband’s job brought us back to Tisdale a few years ago and opened the opportunity for a change in direction for
me. I wanted to utilize some of the skills that I have been able to acquire and spend my time working with something I
love.
I began sourcing the materials I would need to do larger batches of hand-dyes and I researched the provincial and
federal requirements – fortunately besides sewing machines, technology has given us the computer and the internet.
With fabric, dyes, chemicals, a GST number and PST number, I was ready to start building up some inventory. Marketing
via the internet seemed the most logical method for a rural home-based business so I researched and built my own
website: www.harmonyhanddyes.com. My background in accounting supplies some business skills. My interest in
design has helped me record my designs and create patterns. My love and satisfaction from sewing have provided a lot
of enjoyment for creating proto-types and samples. My past experiences with Toastmasters and leadership in Girl
Guides have contributed presentation skills that help me share my knowledge of dyeing and quilting through instructing
quilting classes and dyeing workshops. It is also an advantage to be able to re-dye fabric results I don’t like and rip out
sewing I’m not happy with.
My business is still developing. My product is for a niche that will not appeal to everyone. I have discovered it is a lot
more work that I expected, but I have also gained a lot of satisfaction. The real bonus is the people I meet and deal with
through hand-dyeing are all interested in fabrics and colours and quilting.
Along the way, I have discovered many more products. I have chosen some items to stock that are not easily available to
all prairie quilters - for example Shiva Paintstiks and Jones Tones Fabric Foil. We don't all live near a quilt shop and not
all quilt shops carry these products. In addition, I loved my Grace Frame so much that I have become a retailer for Grace
Frame Products. As I try new ideas, or search out clients' requests, I am able to offer more items. If you have seen a
product advertised and have been unable to locate a retailer, just send me an email and I can check to see if it's
something that my suppliers carry. Some customers asked for cones of cotton thread and bolts of batting. I am now able
to supply this as well.
Like my ancestors, I am trying to make use of the resources that I have. My sales venue is my home, the internet and a
booth at quilt shows. I enjoy the benefit from multi-tasking -- while I am offering my product at the booth, I also get to
visit and socialize with other quilters, and share ideas and inspirations.
Kathy Tanner
Women on the prairies have always been able to take scraps, left-overs and minimal resources; enjoy social
opportunities; and create a product that meets the need of both form and function.
The quilting bee is a perfect example. Old sugar sacks were bleached and remnants from old clothing were stashed
away to be reused for quilt blocks. When there were enough created to make a quilt top, friends and neighbors gathered
to help quilt it together. Daylight time that was so precious had to be put to good use and the multi-tasking of working,
socializing and creating was all rolled into one event. Many Saskatchewan families have an heirloom quilt in their closet
that still attests to the value of this tradition.
I learned to quilt while visiting and drinking tea at my grandmother’s. It was much later in life when I really began to value
the work and beauty that her simple tools and scraps had created.
Traditions, styles and tastes all adapt and change. Tools change and materials change. The modern sewing machine
took the place of hand sewing and synthetic fabrics took the place of cottons. Supply and demand for the quick and
easy – maintenance free products came with the surge of women that began to work outside the home. Busy lives did
not eliminate the appreciation for the quilt but sewing was placed on the back burner for a number of
years.
We still value the multi-tasking that our ancestors were able to do but we have been able to incorporate newer, faster
tools and systems to move into another era of quiltmaking. The invention of the rotary cutter and cutting mat shaves
hours of time off the preparation of materials. Cotton has made a comeback and newer sewing machines and equipment
have enabled today’s quilter to choose from many sewing techniques that were not available to our ancestors.
The art of traditional hand sewing and appliqué is still visited in today’s quilts but with fusible webbing, spray and fabric
glue, the fabric artist has many more options at her fingertips.
I began quilting again once my kids were grown. I rediscovered my love for the traditional quilt but I have also developed
an interest in the art quilt. As I began to search for a colour or type of fabric to fit into a specific quilt design, I discovered
hand-dying fabric. MX Procion dyes are much different from the old style dyes that I remember dumping in the washing
machine. The Procion dyes are permanent and can create vibrant, intense colours or make the softest pastel or the
darkest shade. We can create a soft “sueded” look or mottled and complex combinations in the fabric. While I worked
full time, hand-dyeing my own quilt fabric was a delightful, productive hobby.
My husband’s job brought us back to Tisdale a few years ago and opened the opportunity for a change in direction for
me. I wanted to utilize some of the skills that I have been able to acquire and spend my time working with something I
love.
I began sourcing the materials I would need to do larger batches of hand-dyes and I researched the provincial and
federal requirements – fortunately besides sewing machines, technology has given us the computer and the internet.
With fabric, dyes, chemicals, a GST number and PST number, I was ready to start building up some inventory. Marketing
via the internet seemed the most logical method for a rural home-based business so I researched and built my own
website: www.harmonyhanddyes.com. My background in accounting supplies some business skills. My interest in
design has helped me record my designs and create patterns. My love and satisfaction from sewing have provided a lot
of enjoyment for creating proto-types and samples. My past experiences with Toastmasters and leadership in Girl
Guides have contributed presentation skills that help me share my knowledge of dyeing and quilting through instructing
quilting classes and dyeing workshops. It is also an advantage to be able to re-dye fabric results I don’t like and rip out
sewing I’m not happy with.
My business is still developing. My product is for a niche that will not appeal to everyone. I have discovered it is a lot
more work that I expected, but I have also gained a lot of satisfaction. The real bonus is the people I meet and deal with
through hand-dyeing are all interested in fabrics and colours and quilting.
Along the way, I have discovered many more products. I have chosen some items to stock that are not easily available to
all prairie quilters - for example Shiva Paintstiks and Jones Tones Fabric Foil. We don't all live near a quilt shop and not
all quilt shops carry these products. In addition, I loved my Grace Frame so much that I have become a retailer for Grace
Frame Products. As I try new ideas, or search out clients' requests, I am able to offer more items. If you have seen a
product advertised and have been unable to locate a retailer, just send me an email and I can check to see if it's
something that my suppliers carry. Some customers asked for cones of cotton thread and bolts of batting. I am now able
to supply this as well.
Like my ancestors, I am trying to make use of the resources that I have. My sales venue is my home, the internet and a
booth at quilt shows. I enjoy the benefit from multi-tasking -- while I am offering my product at the booth, I also get to
visit and socialize with other quilters, and share ideas and inspirations.
Kathy Tanner
It is our objective to create quality products for Quilters.
Hand Dyed products are unique! No two turn out exactly
the same (although we can duplicate the colors fairly
closely).
One-color fabrics can have a soft "suede-like"
appearance while complex over-dyes can have many
effects from subtle blending to bold contrasts.
Hand Dyed products are unique! No two turn out exactly
the same (although we can duplicate the colors fairly
closely).
One-color fabrics can have a soft "suede-like"
appearance while complex over-dyes can have many
effects from subtle blending to bold contrasts.