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Learn what soda ash does in tie dye and why it helps cotton shirts absorb color evenly. Includes a photo of the soda-ash presoak process. What does soda ash do before dyeing? It makes the fabric ready to grab color. The soda ash raises the pH so the dye will chemically bond to cotton instead of just washing out later. I soaked this lavender work shirt in soda ash water and wrung it out by hand. It’s 100% cotton with white screen print graphics that I’m planning to overdye. The white ink stays white because it’s a synthetic material. The soda ash step doesn’t look dramatic, but it makes a huge difference in how permanent the color will be. It’s called sodium carbonate, but in the tie dye world, people refer to it as soda ash. I usually mix one cup of soda ash per gallon of water and let the shirt get fully wet before squeezing it out. Some people like to spin out the excess soda ash and pour it back into the main soaking bucket. This page was last updated on Feb 5, 2026

Opae ula shrimp are tiny brackish-water “volcano shrimp” that live for years with almost no maintenance. Here’s what they look like in small jar set-ups, how to care for them, and where we bought ours in Indiana. Ōpae ula shrimp as pets These are Ōpae ula shrimp, also called volcano shrimp. They live in small brackish-water jars and stay healthy for years with almost no maintenance. Ōpae ula shrimp are tiny brackish-water shrimp from Hawaii that people keep in small jars or nano tanks because they’re extremely hardy and low maintenance. They’re also called volcano shrimp, lava shrimp, or their scientific name, Halocaridina rubra , and they’re known for being slow-growing, long-lived, and basically unfazed by most beginner mistakes. Volcano shrimp jars We first saw them in person at the Goshen Reptile Expo, where a seller named Andrea Foxx had a full display with different jar sizes and set-ups. Her table was put together in a way that made you want to stop and look without feeling pressured to buy anything. You could pick up the jars, look at the tiny shrimp, and just explore. We had never seen these before, so it was surprisingly fun to stand there and watch how small they are. We ended up buying one of the smaller jars she had pre-made. One year later, this is what the jar looks like: the shrimp are alive and fine, there’s some algae growth, and the whole thing has basically taken care of itself. You can clean the sides of the jar if you want it clearer again, but the actual “care” part is extremely minimal. That’s been the interesting part, just how stable they are even for total beginners. What are Opae Ula shrimp? Opae ula shrimp are native to anchialine pools in Hawaii, which are pockets of water fed by a mix of freshwater and saltwater. These pools are stable, low-nutrient environments, so the shrimp evolved to be slow metabolism, low waste, and extremely tolerant of different conditions.They change color based on mood, age, light, and food availability. When relaxed or well-fed, they get a deeper red. They can live 15–20 years and breed slowly, which is why people treat them more like a long-term ecosystem project instead of a typical aquarium pet. They are not the same as cherry shrimp or other freshwater species. They’re brackish and need a very specific salinity range, but once it’s set, it barely needs adjusting. Opae Ula care basics If you’re keeping them in a small ecosystem jar like the ones at Andrea’s table, the main things you need are: brackish water (around 1.008–1.018 SG) lava rock crushed coral or aragonite sand a little natural light patience for the algae to build their food source They don’t need filters, heaters, or constant feeding. A tiny amount of spirulina every few weeks is enough, and algae usually does the heavy lifting. Too much food is worse than too little. Excess algae This isn't a problem, but if your jar grows algae faster than you'd like, and you can't see clearly, you can clean it by wiping the inside of the container. After a year with almost no intervention, our jar has algae on the sides and the rocks, but the shrimp are healthy and still moving around. Opae Ula shrimp in Indiana At the Goshen Reptile Expo, Andrea Foxx sells Opae ula shrimp in pre-made jars. Some with larger decorative set-ups and some with small starter jars. Her display is easy to understand even if you’ve never heard of these shrimp before. Everything was clearly labeled, and she had different bundle prices, spirulina powder, and little ecosystem jars ready to go. A lot of people stopped at her table because it stood out and the jars looked interesting. Kids and adults kept picking them up to look closely at the shrimp, which tells you how approachable the whole set-up is. It’s a nice “first tiny pet” experience because there’s no intimidation factor. Jar one year later The small jar we bought last year is still running with almost no maintenance. There’s algae growth, which is normal and expected, and the shrimp are very easy to see once you clean the sides of the container. If you like the look of a clear jar, you’ll probably want to wipe the sides every month or two. If you don’t care, you can just let the algae build up because the shrimp eat it. The rocks, sand, and salinity have never been changed. We’ve only topped off evaporated water with fresh water. These shrimp really do behave like slow, self-sustaining ecosystems. Why Opae Ula are popular They’re appealing because they are: quiet tiny low maintenance long-lived interesting to watch hard to accidentally kill People keep them on desks, in classrooms, or in kitchens because they don’t need equipment. They also don’t smell, which is part of why they’re starting to show up on search engines for tiny ecosystems and “Opae Ula shrimp tank” ideas. Help from the seller If you want detailed care instructions directly from the person we bought ours from, here’s her guide and social links: Full care guide: https://linktr.ee/foxxae Instagram with updates and photos: https://www.instagram.com/opae_ula_shrimp/ This page was last updated on Feb 5, 2026

An annual festival held in South Bend, Indiana hosted by Make South Bend. See times, dates, and photos from past years. Rebel Art Fest Rebel Art Fest is hosted by MAKE SOUTH BEND at Potawatomi Park in South Bend, Indiana, happening June 7th, 2026. Address Potawatomi Park 2105 E Mishawaka Ave, South Bend, IN 46615 Date Sunday, June 7th, 2026 12pm to 8pm Admission This is a free event, no tickets required! Organizer The host of this event is MAKE SOUTH BEND . All of the food vendors were in one area and the loop around the park was the path to see all of the vendor booths. There were two different stages with bands and artists performing. Notes There are a few different places to park since Potawatomi Park is between the zoo and the conservatories. This was a dog friendly event, with many lovely pups present. Corky Lorenz May 7, 2026

Vendor Rambows and Friends shared that her female tarantulas can live up to ten years, while males live a few years less. Her display at the Goshen Reptile Expo featured young slings beside their mature male tarantula with orange legs. How long do tarantulas live? Vendor Rambows and Friends shared that her female tarantulas can live up to ten years, while males usually live a few years less. After reaching maturity, most males live for only about two years. At the Goshen Reptile Expo , several people were gathered around the Rambows and Friends booth, asking questions and admiring the reptiles. The vendor was friendly and open, answering everyone’s questions about the animals she had brought. I was looking at the small containers that held baby tarantulas, also called slings. Next to them was a display showing the father of those babies, a mature male that had recently passed away at the end of his life cycle. His legs were covered in orange coloring, and he was strikingly beautiful even in stillness. When I asked how long tarantulas live, she explained that females can live close to ten years, while males only live a few years less, and around two years after maturity. It was fascinating to see the slings up close, with their tiny fuzzy legs, bits of soil, and small feeder crickets waiting to be eaten. The contrast between their size and the adult display really showed how much they grow over time. In addition to the tarantulas, this vendor also brought several colorful geckos, which she displayed in neatly organized enclosures. Rambows and Friends Accessories regularly attends large reptile expos in the Midwest, including Tinley Park and Goshen, and shares updates about where she’ll be vending next through her Instagram account @rambows_and_friends . This page was last updated on Jul 10, 2026

Full gallery of high resolution images. @CORKYLORENZ Max & Brenna's Wedding May 30th, 2025 Gallery Scroll to a section and click an image to make it larger. You can download from the large view, or click the arrow to view the next image. On mobile devices, swipe to the next image. Images are high resolution and suitable for printing, if downloaded from the gallery. Sections: Portraits Getting Ready Ceremony Reception Candid Moments Portraits Getting Ready & Details Ceremony Reception Candid

Before you dye, here's what you'll need: Get soda ash and then proceed. One cup of ash, one gallon warm, will make the mix in proper form. How much sodium carbonate do you mix with water? For tie dye, mix 1 cup of powdered soda ash (sodium carbonate) with 1 gallon of water. It dissolves faster with warm or hot water. Enjoy a soda ash poem below. Before you dye, here's what you'll need: Get soda ash and then proceed. One cup of ash, one gallon warm, will make the mix in proper form. Just stir it well with gloved-up hands, till every clump dissolves as planned. Now soak your cloth right through and through, then wring or spin (what works for you). It won't get old, won't go to waste. Add water if it's lost some space.Wear gloves and mask when mixing in. Keep covered well from nose and skin. Your colors now will bond for good. The ash has worked just like it should. This page was last updated on Feb 5, 2026

MAKE SOUTH BEND is a community makerspace and art studio in South Bend Indiana offering classes, memberships, tool access, and collaborative arts events. MAKE SOUTH BEND MAKE SOUTH BEND is a community makerspace and art studio in South Bend, Indiana. They offer hands on classes, tool access, memberships, and host collaborative arts events across the region. What they do MAKE SOUTH BEND operates a public makerspace where artists and community members can take classes, use shared tools, and participate in workshops led by local instructors. The space supports a wide range of media including printmaking, fiber arts, woodworking, and mixed media. Events In addition to classes at their studio, MAKE SOUTH BEND organizes and co hosts larger community events, including outdoor art markets and festivals such as Rebel Art Fest. These events often take place at partner venues like parks and conservatories. They post a thorough list of classes and events on their Facebook page, which you can follow here: https://www.facebook.com/makesouthbend/events Location & access The makerspace is located on Mishawaka Avenue in South Bend and is open to the public during scheduled hours, with memberships available for extended access and tool use. 2228 E Mishawaka Ave, South Bend, IN 46615 Contact & Links They are quite active on social media and you can find their accounts on Facebook and Instagram . Festival and market events are often created on their Facebook to save for later. Website: https://www.makesouthbend.com/

These Terms of Use outline the rules for using corkylorenz.com, including content ownership, user behavior, external links, and affiliate disclosures. Terms of Use Last updated: February 25th, 2026 By using this website, you agree to the following terms. Content Is for General Information Everything on this site is educational or creative information. It should not be taken as professional, legal, medical, or safety advice. Intellectual Property All photos, text, and media on CorkyLorenz.com are my original work unless otherwise noted. You may not copy, repost, or use my content without permission. User Behavior You agree not to: • misuse the site • attempt to hack or disrupt it • scrape or mass-download content • post harmful or spam messages through contact forms External Links Links to outside websites are provided for convenience. I am not responsible for their content or policies. Affiliate Disclosure Some pages may contain affiliate links. If you click them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Changes to These Terms I may update these terms occasionally. Continued use of the site means you accept the updated version.

Visit E Brewing Company in South Whitley, Indiana. This brewery has outdoor seating, food, beer, farm animals, and plenty of parking. E Brewing Company South Whitley, Indiana A brewery in South Whitley that has ample outdoor seating and farm animals to visit. Address 8324 W State Rd 14, South Whitley, IN 46787 Phone 260-610-0553 A cute brewery that serves food and drinks, with animals and outdoor seating. See farm animals and a white variety of chicken colors. Ample parking available in the lot. This page was last updated on Jul 10, 2026 About the author Corky Lorenz is a photographer based in Elkhart, Indiana, who documents parks, restaurants, festivals, and everyday places across Indiana and the Midwest. To request a visit or license images, email Corky at corkylorenz@gmail.com

Optional chemical that helps dyes stay wet longer and penetrate fabric. Urea supply Urea, when used for tie dye, is an optional chemical that helps dyes stay wet longer and penetrate fabric. It's use when mixing liquid dye to get vibrant color. Some people like to use this when they are mixing up big batches of chemical water. It's something liquid dyers prep ahead of adding dye to the water. It can contain thickening agents, urea or salts to make the dye behave for their specific technique. I don't see ice dyers using urea in their process very often, and I have never used it with ice dye. I need to do more experiements to see where the most value comes with using urea. Tie dye links See all glossary items See tutorials for flowy ice dye and geode tie dye .