u/hot-chai-tea-latte

Hello pen (and hopefully ink) enthusiasts!

Questions about vintage inks:

1. Is it likely that vintage drawing inks contain substances that would be a health concern today (heavy metals like lead, cadmium, mercury? strong acids/bases? etc? Would they be safe enough to, say, be turned into craft paints and use them on household objects that would be touched from time to time? Not dishware or anything, but stuff like flower pots, picture frames, soap bottles, that sort of thing?
2. What's the safest way to clean the more used-up bottles? Can they be washed down the drain? I've seen ammonia recommended on some other threads, but I'd rather not start adding chemicals until I have a better idea of what could be in the bottles

Added context:

The other day I rescued a large box of vintage inks at the end of an estate sale. I'm a crafter but not a pen person, but they were clearly old, and the pigments and glass bottles were so pretty I didnt want to see them just get thrown out. Some are still liquid, some are liquid but clearly separated, and some have dried out. I can't find 4 digit years on any of them. One says "Made in W - Germany," so they're from the 80s at least, but im guessing probably a bit earlier. Cause a couple have 2-digit numbers like "76", "53" molded in the glass on the bottoms that could be years, tho I'm not sure. As far as label info, some labels mention shellac, some say not to add acid, and a few specify diluting with water only. but most don't say much of anything, and none of them list ingredients. Representative photos attached.

Side note - I've done enough googling to know that these aren't meant for use in a fountain pen, and I don't intend to try that. I am NOT asking about the 'safety' of use in a fountain pen. Most are labeled as drawing inks and appear to have been intended for dip pens. Thanks a lot and hopefully this is an ok place to ask this question :)

Hello pen (and hopefully ink) enthusiasts!

Questions about vintage inks:

1. Is it likely that vintage drawing inks contain substances that would be a health concern today (heavy metals like lead, cadmium, mercury? strong acids/bases? etc? Would they be safe enough to, say, be turned into craft paints and use them on household objects that would be touched from time to time? Not dishware or anything, but stuff like flower pots, picture frames, soap bottles, that sort of thing?
2. What's the safest way to clean the more used-up bottles? Can they be washed down the drain? I've seen ammonia recommended on some other threads, but I'd rather not start adding chemicals until I have a better idea of what could be in the bottles

Added context:

The other day I rescued a large box of vintage inks at the end of an estate sale. I'm a crafter but not a pen person, but they were clearly old, and the pigments and glass bottles were so pretty I didnt want to see them just get thrown out. Some are still liquid, some are liquid but clearly separated, and some have dried out. I can't find 4 digit years on any of them. One says "Made in W - Germany," so they're from the 80s at least, but im guessing probably a bit earlier. Cause a couple have 2-digit numbers like "76", "53" molded in the glass on the bottoms that could be years, tho I'm not sure. As far as label info, some labels mention shellac, some say not to add acid, and a few specify diluting with water only. but most don't say much of anything, and none of them list ingredients. Representative photos attached.

Side note - I've done enough googling to know that these aren't meant for use in a fountain pen, and I don't intend to try that. I am NOT asking about the 'safety' of use in a fountain pen. Most are labeled as drawing inks and appear to have been intended for dip pens. Thanks a lot and hopefully this is an ok place to ask this question :)

hi! I am struggling to understand how to start box pleats on a skirt where the pleats start halfway down and not at the very top. I don’t really understand where the extra pleat fabric comes from? I’ve attached come photos of skirts with the style I’m talking about. every tutorial or pattern I see shows how to fold and sew down pleats that start up under the waistband, which I crudely drew in my notes app.

so on my example skirts, do the folded pieces go alll the way up? like would the red dotted lines extend all the way up to the waist band? I assume no - that seems like a lot of extra fabric.

second, is it possible to make these pleats without the vertical stitching/panels above each pleats? like in my past pic of the brown plaid skirt?

I’m so confused by this in general... these skirts have no separate horizontal seams so I just don’t understand where the fabric is hiding! Any help appreciated!

Couldnt get comfortable or sleep last night (6 days post-op). I was chuckling at my set-up and took a pic. Reminds me of those cluttered scavenger hunt cartoon puzzles that would be on the back of the cereal box when I was a kid. Not thrilled to be up til 4 am, but I figure I should learn to laugh at myself a bit and this was pretty funny to me so I guess that’s a start.

Spot the following: pain meds, water, strap to get my leg in/out of bed, purse to use the strap in case I drop the first strap, fanny pack with toiletries (chapstick, pads, benadryl for my newfound chlorhexidine allergy, etc), sweatshirt, leg pillow(s), foot pillow to stop my calf from yanking my heel up into oblivion, cat