A Beautiful Disaster

It's been a few weeks since Susie Bubble's DIY salt-baked shirt really entices me to create one of my own (the instruction of which is elaborately written if you click the link). I like how the subtle burn effect beautifully wraps the peripherals of the shirt. Plus the dirt cheap price of salt absolutely gives my thin wallet a happy smile.

So yesterday, equipped with 3 kilos of salt, I gave this seemingly simple task a try. A rookie is a still a rookie: my first attempt to do this was unsatisfactory, at least for a perfectionist mind like me. The slightly brownish tint was too subtle - I wanted more from this.

Too light of a tone

Next came the second round. This time I increased the temperature of the oven to the max dial, and placed the baking tray DIRECTLY above the flame. 15 minutes later - the kitchen was misty with smoke, I almost suffocated on carbon monoxide, my eyes teary from the sharp fume of salt.

And just look what happened to the shirt...

I was surprised and excited at the same time! The burn resulted in an amazing ombre effect that I've been waiting for so long to get my mitts on. I like the fact that the black color gradually changes its tone to brown and lighter and lighter hues.

Burn baby burn!

Alas much to my dismay upon trying the shirt on the fabrics tore apart like mahjong paper...

Holey guacamole! (pun intended)

Now the beautifully destroyed shirt lies on the coffee table, a token of my foolish error. Oh, it's okay I guess. I have quite a few white shirts / t-shirts lying around and in fact this definitely won't be my last time experimenting the salt-bake goodness, despite the risk of getting teary-eyed experience again...