Guess who just endorsed Obama?

For all of you out there in Obama-rama land. Or not. But, seriously, most of the times endorsements don't mean much, right? Not so with this one. This gives Obama military/foreign policy cred, not to mention the fact that it's from a prominent Republican. Who is it, you ask? None other than Former Secretary of State, General Colin Powell. See below for a video of his endorsement on Meet the Press today. He gives a really good distillation of why Obama is the man for the moment.



What he says about Obama being a "socialist" and the McCain campaign taking that stance:

"We can't judge our people and hold our elections on that kind of basis. Yes, that kind of negativity troubled me. And the constant shifting of the argument, I was troubled a couple of weeks ago when in the middle of the crisis the campaign said 'we're going to go negative,' and they announced it. 'We're going to go negative and attack his character through Bill Ayers.' Now I guess the message this week is we're going to call him a socialist. Mr. Obama is now a socialist, because he dares to suggest that maybe we ought to look at the tax structure that we have. Taxes are always a redistribution of money. Most of the taxes that are redistributed go back to those who pay them, in roads and airports and hospitals and schools. And taxes are necessary for the common good. And there's nothing wrong with examining what our tax structure is or who should be paying more or who should be paying less, and for us to say that makes you a socialist is an unfortunate characterization that I don't think is accurate."

and here's what he has to say about Obama being a "big scary Muslim":

"I'm also troubled by, not what Senator McCain says, but what members of the Party say. And it is permitted to be said. Such things as 'Well, you know that Mr. Obama is a Muslim'. Well, the correct answer is, he is not a Muslim. He's a Christian. He's always been a Christian. But, the really right answer is, what if he is? Is there something wrong with being a Muslim in this country? The answer is no. That's not America. Is there something wrong with some 7-year old Muslim American kid believing that he or she could be President? Yet, I have heard senior members of my own party drop this suggestion, 'He's a Muslim and he might be associated with terrorists'. This is not the way we should be doing it in America. I feel strongly about this particular point because of a picture I saw in a magazine. It was a photo essay about troops who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. And one picture at the tail end of this photo essay was of a mother in Arlington Cemetery. And she had her head on the headstone of her son's grave. And as the picture focused in, you could see the writing on the headstone. And it gave his awards, Purple Heart, Bronze Star. It showed that he died in Iraq. Gave his date of birth, date of death. He was 20 years old. And then at the very top of the headstone, it didn't have a Christian cross. It didn't have a Star of David. It had a crescent and star of Islamic Faith. And his name was Kareem Rashad Sultan Khan. And he was an American. He was born in New Jersey. He was 14 years old at the time of 9/11. And he waited until he could go serve his country. And he gave his life. Now, we have got to stop polarizing ourselves in this way. And John McCain is as nondiscriminatory as anyone I know. But, I'm troubled about the fact that within the party, we have these kinds of expressions.

That makes me really really heart Colin Powell. Someone's been needing to say that for a long time. This kid gave his life for our country. I think we should all be mindful of that.

Edited original post to add picture of Kareem's mother by his graveside.

Yes, More

Ok, so Justin thinks I'm a tad obsessed. WHO CARES??? I DON'T CARE!!!!!!!! Did that sound too defensive? Heh heh heh heh hmmmm (that's my typewritten version of embarrassed, uneasy laughter). Anyway, so I think we all know by now that I'm a little bit in love with Barack Obama. Not only do I think he'll make a great President, but I think he's an amazing man. He's overcome a lot of adversity in his life to excel in every single one of his chosen fields. He's also an excellent father and a wonderful husband. Those are two of my favorite things about him. Show me a man that very obviously loves his kids and his wife and I'll show you me melted in a little puddle of happy goo.

So, yeah, I made a couple photo montages. (Montage as a plural looks weird.) Alright, this one is called "Don't Let Them Win" and it's set to the song "Don't Dream It's Over" by A Crowded House. It features a lot of excellent photos taken of Obama and his family and supporters along the campaign trail.

The "don't let them win" title references several things. First, it's one of the lines in the song. Second, it's clearly saying not to let John McCain win. Lastly, it's saying "can't nobody take my pride; can't nobody hold me down" or something to that effect. If you notice, in a lot of the pictures, Barack Obama looks dejected, sad, somber. Think of all he's enduring to try to secure this election. He's endured slurs on his race, on his mother, on his father, on his wife, on his principles. He's really and truly risking his life. Consider how many people you may have heard call him a n***er. I can name 3 off the top of my head. And these are not things I heard from a friend who heard from their friend. These are people I know. Also, consider how many people you've heard reference Obama's possible or probable assassination. Whether they were referencing it in fear, despair, or sadly, wishful thinking; again, I can name at least 3. Anyway, if you consider all of these things on top of the huge mess he has waiting for him if he gets in office, the man really does have the weight of the world on his shoulders. Any of us that are voting for him should remember all that he's risking and enduring in order to get in there and fight for each and every one of us.

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Now, this next one is a kind of ode to Michelle and Barack Obama together. I love how they always look like they really genuinely love each other. And, like they sincerely enjoy each other. I recently read an article titled The Obama Relationship: A Major Benefit Nobody's Talking About. Here are a few quotes from that article.

One of the greatest benefits of an Obama presidency is hidden in plain sight: the relationship between Michelle and Barack. They provide a great role model of a healthy relationship, at a time when such models are sorely needed.

Imagine having a president who likes his partner and values her as an equal, a president who touches his wife affectionately in public and actually listens to her when she talks!

We have a chance now to make a real difference in the world. If we elect Barack Obama, we can all focus on the critical challenges that must be met now. Speaking personally, we feel a sense of warmth and pride when we think about the support and love the Obamas have for each other. We breathe easier when we see how they live their lives with balance, honesty and clarity. They're the real deal. In November, let's give ourselves this new mirror of our own value.

So, I made this montage because I'm a little bit in love with both Michelle and Barack separately, but I'm also a lot in love with them together.

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Ok, so that's all for now. And don't anybody give me any crap about being Obama Obsessed--Kathy, that means you, haha!! Oh, and I know I haven't posted a weight update in a while. I've still been doing really great! No falling off the wagon or any of that! To date, I've lost 23 lbs! Yay! Next weigh in is on Thursday, October 6, so I'll post another update on poundage then. Peace!

My American Prayer

Another insanely inspirational Obama video! Ok, this video is representative of what I feel fairly often about Obama's candidacy. It's not just that I think he's a wonderful man and that I think he will make an excellent President. It's about the massive community of people who have come together to try and get him elected. The grassroots campaign for Obama is like nothing this country has ever seen. Consider how many donors he has to his campaign. Over 2 million individual citizens have donated to him so far. And that was at last count, which was a couple months ago. This whole campaign has been about more than just Barack Obama. He's said a number of times that it's not about him. It's about all of us. And, honestly, this is more than a campaign. It's a movement.

The song was written by musician Dave Stewart along with Bono of U2. About the creation of this video, Dave says:

"When I set out to make a video for the new version of this song, I wanted to honor all of those millions of people, especially young people, who are, for the first time, feeling empowered to voice their beliefs. I wanted to capture how Obama's message of change has echoed across the broad fabric of what is America. To do that, we've cast the film with an eclectic array of personalities, including Forest Whitaker, Jason Alexander, Whoopi Goldberg, Cyndi Lauper, Barry Manilow, Joan Baez, Macy Gray and Joss Stone. They appear alongside veterans, teachers and everyday citizens -- all of whom have been touched by this simple idea of change.

As an Englishman, I'm not an expert in all the intricate details of American politics. But as an artist, I understand how rare it is to inspire a connection to a bigger idea or purpose. This video isn't so much an endorsement of Barack Obama as much as it is a celebration of all those who have picked up a sign, who have registered to vote and are working to make the world a better place. So as Senator Barack Obama ascends to the mountain top, let us not forget all of the others who for the past 40 years have sung anthems of change to make this moment possible."

The entire video is wonderful, but the bit that shows Martin Luther King, Jr. always gets to me. And the homeless veteran, he gets to me too. It makes me feel so good that I'm just about ready to finish up my end of this charity project I've been helping out with. My Knitters for Obama group has been knitting items for homeless veterans and coordinating different shelters that we can donate them to. Next week, I'll go to Nashville to Matthew 25, a homeless shelter that houses and rehabilitates homeless veterans. I'll bring with me over 100 knitted and crocheted items for the residents there. We have more than 50 hats, as well as more than 50 scarves and a handwritten thank you note will accompany each item. After talking with Alvin at Matthew 25, I was pretty emotional (even though I didn't let him know that). It makes me really sad that these men fought for our country and they've ended up in such terrible circumstances. Some sobering statistics:

In 2006, approximately 195,827 veterans were homeless on a given night—an increase of 0.8 percent from 194,254 in 2005. More veterans experience homelessness over the course of the year. We estimate that 336,627 were homeless in 2006.

We estimate that approximately 89,553 to 467,877 veterans were at risk of homelessness. At risk is defined as being below the poverty level and paying more than 50 percent of household income on rent. It also includes households with a member who has a disability, a person living alone, and those who are not in the labor force.

The VA finds that, overall, 45 percent of participants in the VA's homeless programs have a diagnosable mental illness. We know from previous studies that greater than 30 percent of Iraq veterans coming home have some PTSD. Those studies were done before third deployments and 15 month extensions. And, remember, sometimes PTSD takes years to manifest itself. So bank on the number with PTSD being higher by war's end and in years after.

It's a real shame that these men return home to inadequate psychiatric care and counseling. Just remember that while John McCain likes to claim that he's a friend to the veterans, his record proves otherwise. For example the non-partisan group Disabled American Veterans gives John McCain a 20 percent rating for his voting record on veterans' issues, while Barack Obama has an 80 percent rating. Also, McCain is one of only four members of Congress to have a rating that low or lower. (Republican Representative Chris Cannon of Utah received a rating of 0%, Republican Senator Larry Craig of Idaho received a rating of 20%, and Republican Senator Michael Crapo, also of Idaho, received a rating of 20%). Another example is that the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave McCain a D rating, while Obama received a B+ rating. So, just because John McCain fought with veterans doesn't mean he fights for veterans. There are miles of difference between those two. On the flip side, supporting the troops does not have to mean supporting the war. As a matter of fact, our deployed troops donate to Obama's campaign 6-1 over McCain's. On that note, I hope you guys enjoy the video. Phoebe and Jessica, get somewhere where you can watch it!!! For real!! Till next time, peeps:)

Obama love!!

Best Obama impersonator...EVER!! "To put it plainly, uhh, I'm the business." Hahahaha!!!



And a really beautiful montage of photos set to the strains of "I Know Where I've Been", sung by Queen Latifah in the motion picture, "Hairspray".

Edited to clarify something. This montage wasn't made by me. It was made by one of my ravelry friends. Just wanted to be clear on that!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Sorry, No Fluffy Stuff:)

Ok, so I know I've been talking politics and heavy stuff a good bit over the last couple weeks. But, it's my blog and I'll politicize if I want to!! Haha. A very weird take on a Cyndi Lauper classic. Anyway, I might be using this blog as my platform in this manner several times over the next 36 days. If anyone takes issue with that, please feel free to email me and ask me to remove your name from my update list. I won't be mad, I promise. I just have a lot to say and this is my place to do that and this election is that important to me.

Now, on to my commentary on the debate. Several things I took note of.

1) McCain refused to look at Obama-throughout the entire debate. Even when they shook hands, McCain wouldnt look at him. Obama tried numerous times to directly engage McCain, tried to make eye contact, and McCain would have none of it. He wouldn't even look in Obama's direction. This seemed extremely discourteous to me. It's just plain rude.

2) Obama made it clear that he has an excellent grasp of foreign policy, regardless of his supposed inexperience.

3) Obama tried to find common ground with McCain. Several times he said "John and I agree on this point" or "I agree with John on that, but here's where we differ". For McCain, who's supposed to be such a "maverick" and who's supposed to be the one who can "reach across the aisle", he sure did manage to look antagonistic as all get out and reluctant to agree on even the smallest point.

4) Every time Obama talked, McCain was smirking, huffing and puffing, scoffing, etc. He just made a point of making rude noises and faces while Obama was speaking. In contrast, the only time Obama interrupted McCain is when McCain was making a statement that was patently false (which happened quite a few times). And when that happened, Obama would cut in to say "that's just not true John". Then, when McCain was finished talking, Obama would rebut McCain's untrue statement.

Here's a video compilation of all of McCain's smirky rudeness.



So, in summation, I thought that Obama came off very well. I think that he looked knowledgeable, diplomatic, firm, and very calm and collected. I think McCain looked angry, flustered, and antagonistic. I read this article on the dailyKos yesterday and it really touched me. It emphasized one of the things I really like about Obama. He's just a good man. So, here it goes:

An Unsung Moment of the Debate

(the author's foreword)

I am writing to share what was for me, the most quietly inspiring moment of the the debate last night, and why, along with the obvious policy positions, why Senator Obama is my candidate. There were plenty of points, very important points made and scored by Senator Obama. All the blogs have them, and they were significant and clear positions articulated by Senator Obama, detailing why he is the candidate to lead us forward.

But the moment that made me feel like this man is more than a politician, more than a candidate, came right in the middle of this debate when Senator McCain was struggling to say the name Ahmadinejad.

(the main text)

After waiting for what has felt like an eternity for this debate to occur, I watched every second on the edge of my seat, on an emotional roller coaster. I was sitting there cheering for points scored (I'm a sports addict, it's just how I approach situations like this, it is after all a competition). And there were plenty of points, very important points made and scored by Senator Obama. All the blogs have them, and they were wonderful. After the debate's conclusion, I checked some blogs and some talking heads.

And then I watched the replay of the debate to digest the whole thing. To think rather than emote my way through the responses. And it was in watching the replay that I picked up my absolute favorite unsung moment of the debate.

It came when Senator McCain was stumbling with Ahmadinejad's name. He was stumbling hard, almost unable to get the name or any semblance of it pronounced. Very quietly, but audibly Senator Obama can be heard saying something. In the first viewing, I knew he had said something there, but was unable to decipher exactly what he had said. In listening to the replay it's easy to hear his comment.

He quietly acknowledged to Senator McCain "That's a tough one." When I heard his remark, his gracious nod to the Senator's struggle to pronounce a very difficult name, his compassion for the man, I choked up. It humbled me. It made me briefly look inward, and feel lesser for originally maybe hoping that it was some cutting barb. And it showed him as a man greater than politics, greater for inspiring empathy and compassion for a fellow man.

Senator McCain's demeaning, belittling style in the debate has drawn criticism. Rightly so in my opinion. Some has been said of Senator Obama's gracious and respectful style, some even criticizing his style for not being more vicious, more attacking. But to me, the real measure of the man, not his "style", but who he is, came in that comment.

It was a very quiet statement. But what it said about Barack Obama is loud and clear.

This man is not only a great leader, he is a very good man.

And here's video of the moment she's talking about.







Also, yes, Obama is my candidate. I believe in him wholeheartedly, with every fiber of my being. Of course that will tend to color my perspective of his performance in the debate. So, here are some polls and surveys taken following the debate.

A CNN poll:

Who Did the Best Job In the Debate?

Obama 51%
McCain 38%

Who Would Better Handle Economy?
Obama 58%
McCain 37%

Who Would Better Handle Iraq?
Obama 52%
McCain 47%

Now, of course most Republicans think McCain won, while most Democrats think Obama won. What's important are the independent/moderate/swing voters. Here's some info regarding that:

Independents in the MediaCurves focus group "gave the debate to Obama 61-39. They also think he won every individual segment. Republicans gave the debate to McCain 90-10, Democrats to Obama 93-7."

Here's some video of a FOX News focus group, made up entirely of undecided voters:



Now, in that last video, you can see what I meant by McCain never even looking in Obama's direction. Obama's trying to talk directly to him, has his body angled towards him and is looking at him, and McCain won't even turn his head.

So, that's all for today! Like I said, I hope I'm not bringing you guys down with all my serious talk, but these are things that I have to say and as I said before, this is my platform for doing so. I hope y'all understand!

Shutter Click & Chat 09/21

Sorry I'm so late on this Tameka!!! Ok, so the topic is "My Special Book". Here's mine:

Black Like Me, by John Howard Griffin. It's a nonfiction book about John Howard Griffin, a white man who chemically alters his skin color so that he can live as a black man in the late 1950s South. This book is a compilation of his journals during that time, as well as his later musings while reflecting on those journals.

This book is...it's really hard to even put into words. I first read it in the fall of 1996. It was my first semester in college and I had to do a paper for English Comp I. There was a list of reading material to choose from and I chose this book. I know this may sound trite, even a little strange, but this book changed my life. It forever changed the lens through which I viewed racism.

Prior to reading Black Like Me, I already knew that racism was a horrible thing and that it was very much alive and well. Even though I lived in Mississippi at the time, I still kind of viewed racism distantly. I knew that I felt it was wrong. I knew that it bothered me. I knew that I didn't agree with it. But, I was never very open or outspoken about that fact. Racism had affected me personally in certain ways that I won't discuss here, but for the most part I looked at racism from the perspective of a passive observer. It was impossible to continue in that vein after reading this book.

I'd like to post some excerpts from the book and maybe all of you will see why it had such an enormous impact on me. This first passage is detailing Griffin's experience as he rode a bus in New Orleans. New Orleans was the first place he entered society as a black man. Also, please note that this book was written using the language in place at the time, which included the word Negro. Please know that in posting excerpts using that particular word, I mean no disrespect.

...I caught the bus into town, choosing a seat halfway to the rear. As we neared Canal, the car began to fill with whites. Unless they could find a place to themselves or beside another white, they stood in the aisle.

A middle-aged woman with stringy gray hair stood near my seat. She wore a clean but faded print house-dress that was hoisted to one side as she clung to an overhead pendant support. Her face looked tired and I felt uncomfortable. As she staggered with the bus's movement my lack of gallantry tormented me. I half rose from my seat to give it to her, but Negroes behind me frowned disapproval. I realized I was "going against the race" and the subtle tug-of-war became instantly clear. If the whites would not sit with us, let them stand. When they became tired enough or uncomfortable enough, they would eventually take seats beside us and soon see that it was not so poisonous after all. But to give them your seat was to let them win. I slumped back under the intensity of their stares.

But my movement had attracted the white woman's attention. For an instant our eyes met. I felt sympathy for her, and thought I detected sympathy in her glance. The exchange blurred the barriers of race (so new to me) long enough for me to smile and vaguely indicate the empty seat beside me, letting her know she was welcome to accept it.

Her blue eyes, so pale before, sharpened and she spat out, "What're you looking at me like that for?"

I felt myself flush. Other white passengers craned to look at me. The silent onrush of hostility frightened me.

"I'm sorry," I said, staring at my knees. "I'm not from here." The pattern of her skirt turned abruptly as she faced the front.

"They're getting sassier every day," she said loudly. Another woman agreed and the two fell into conversation.

My flesh prickled with shame, for I knew the Negroes rightly resented me for attracting such unfavorable attention. I sat the way I had seen them do, sphinxlike, pretending unawareness. Gradually people lost interest. Hostility drained to boredom. The poor woman chattered on, reluctant apparently to lose the spotlight.

I learned a strange thing-that in a jumble of unintelligible talk, the word "n***er" leaps out with electric clarity. You always hear it and always it stings. And always it casts the person using it into a category of brute ignorance. I thought with some amusement that if these two women only knew what they were revealing about themselves to every Negro on that bus, they would have been outraged.

This next passage is from a time when Griffin was at a Greyhound station, awaiting a bus to Mississippi. He was going there because the Pearl River County Grand Jury had just failed to return an indictment on the lynching of Mack Charles Parker. They failed to return an indictment in spite of the fact that the FBI had compiled a dossier of evidence identifying the lynchers. Griffin wanted to get a feel for the racial climate during such a painful time. The passage details Griffin's accidental foray into a waiting area that was not designated "Colored".

Once again a "hate stare" drew my attention like a magnet. It came from a middle-aged, heavyset, well-dressed white man. He sat a few yards away, fixing his eyes on me. Nothing can describe the withering horror of this. You feel lost, sick at heart before such unmasked hatred, not so much because it threatens you as because it shows humans in such an inhuman light. You see a kind of insanity, something so obscene the very obscenity of it (rather than its threat) terrifies you. It was so new I could not take my eyes from the man's face. I felt like saying: "What in God's name are you doing to yourself?"

A Negro porter sidled over to me. I glimpsed his white coat and turned to him. His glance met mine and communicated the sorrow, the understanding.

"Where am I supposed to go?" I asked him.

He touched my arm in that mute and reassuring way of men who share a moment of crisis. "Go outside and around the corner of the building. You'll find the room."

The white man continued to stare, his mouth twisted with loathing as he turned his head to watch me move away.

In the colored waiting room, which was not labeled as such, but rather as COLORED CAFÉ, presumably because of interstate travel regulations, I took the last empty seat. The room was crowded with glum faces, faces dead to all enthusiasm, faces of people waiting.

The books I had bought from the Catholic Book Store weighed heavily in my pocket. I pulled one of them out and, without looking at the title, let it fall open in my lap. I read:

"...it is by justice that we can authentically measure man's value or his nullity....the absence of justice is the absence of what makes him man." Plato.

I have heard it said another way, as a dictum: "He who is less than just is less than man."

I copied the passage in a little pocket notebook. A Negro woman, her face expressionless, flat, highlighted with sweat, watched me write. When I turned in my seat to put the notebook in my hip pocket, I detected the faintest smile at the corners of her mouth.

This book is full of stories like this. I had such a mix of emotions the first time I read it. I still feel that same mix every time I read it again. It's a combination of sadness, horror, deep shame that this our country's history, anger, guilt for not understanding how deeply it runs sooner than I did, the unfairness of it all...I can't really put into words all the things I feel. This book just tears at my heart. Please read it. You might find that it will change your life too.

Stenciling: Version 2.0

Ok, so here's how to do a bleach stencil!

List of supplies:

Freezer Paper
X-Acto Knife
A surface to cut the stencil out on
An iron
A piece of cardboard or something to stick inside the shirt for when you're ready to bleach
An image to stencil
A shirt
2 paint brushes (one very small one for detailing and a bigger one)

So, here's my stuff:



We already went over how to get your image on the paper the last time, so we don't need to do that again.

Now, the most important thing you need to remember for bleach stenciling is that you're cutting out the opposites of what you would cut out for regular paint stenciling. So, based on that principle, your black free floating pieces are your islands. The white parts will be cut out. And there will be black pieces that are still attached. Here's my image:



First, you'll want to cut out an outline all the way around your image, staying just a hair outside the lines (like maybe 1/8-1/4 inch to the outside). You'll end up with this:



Let's take a closer look:



Now, look at the close up of the image again and you'll see that there are some parts that need to be cut out that are still attached to your outline. This is because the lines closing those bits off aren't all connected. That sentence doesn't make any sense, but look at this:



See? Ok, what you need to do is connect all the lines. Here's how it'll look at that point:



See how all of those lines are now connected? Ok good. Now it's time to start cutting. Time for another diagram!



Ok, so I took the pictures out of order. This picture doesn't have all of it's lines connected, but just pretend. So, like you did before, just set the islands aside for now. Also, that piece of paper with your text on it? Set it aside also. Once you have your stuff cut out, you should have this:



So, you have all of your islands to the left there. It helps to lay them out in generally the same position that they'll go back in. It just cuts down on poking around trying to figure out what piece goes where. Then, you have your main stencil. That's the gray outline of the face. Then, you have your big white part. You'll use that later with your islands to get them positioned properly. So, now you iron your main stencil down. Like so:



Then, using your big white part as a puzzle piece, position and attach your islands. Like this:




Now for the text! Cut out all your letters and again, save the ones that have middles. Since I used a different font, this time I had more middles to be saved. Dang, Obama, why there gotta be so many middles in your name?



Now, you'll want to kind of match up the bottom of your stencil with the top of the piece that has the text on it. Like this:



When you iron it down, leave a bit of space (again, about 1/8 to 1/4 inch-just be consistent with how much room you left on your outline). So, now you should have this:



Now, cut out and attach all of your middles and you'll have this:



Now, it's finally time for some bleaching!! Stick your piece of cardboard or whatever inside your shirt. Get a little plate or something and squirt some of your gel bleach onto it. You'll be using it as if it were paint. What you're going to do is "paint" the bleach just inside the lines of your stencil and just outside the lines of your island. You have to do it this way. You cannot do like you do with the paint and just brush all over the stencil. The bleach will eat through the paper and you'll just end up with a Rorschach looking blob. I know because that's what happened to me the first time I tried bleach stenciling.

One of the really interesting things about using bleach is that it's different every time. You'll never know what color the bleached part will be. Sometimes it turns white, sometimes yellow, sometimes a light purple, sometimes a brownish red. Because gel bleach is a diluted form of regular bleach, it can safely sit on the fabric for a while without it being corrosive and eating a hole in your shirt. So, depending on your particular shirt, you won't necessarily see instant bleaching. It may take a minute or so before it starts "developing", so to speak. Also, it doesn't look the same on every part of your fabric. Some parts will be lighter than others, but it makes for a very cool effect. You'll see.

Once you're finished with all of your "painting", you'll need to go all around your stencil in a line. Not the part with the text, just the outline of the head. The reason you have to do this is because if you don't, all of the dark parts will just blend in with the rest of the shirt and you'll have a face kind of free floating. Here's what I have now:



As you can see, the shirt is just barely changing color at this point. This fabric was particularly stubborn (maybe because it was a sweatshirt?) and I just left the bleach sitting for about 3 or 4 hours, until it was sufficiently lightened for my tastes. I've never had to leave one that long before. Usually by the time I've finished "painting" my bleach on, the first parts that I started on have already lightened enough.

Now, once everything has lightened fairly evenly, go ahead and peel your stencil off, carefully, so that you don't touch any non-stencil portions of the shirt with bleach. If you can throw it in the washer right away (by itself, obviously), go ahead and do that. If you can't, just run it under some cold water to get the bleach off and leave it until you can wash it. Just machine wash and dry it as usual. Here's my finished product:



See what I mean about it not bleaching uniformly but making for a really cool effect?

Here are a couple close ups:





And here it is on the ridiculously cute Dorian:



So, there you have it!! Again, if anyone has questions, just ask them!!! Peace, love, and happy stenciling!