Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Orange Circles Fabric and More Giveaway News


 Last night, I finally finished the Orange Circles giveaway fabric. For the last layer of printing, I flipped the milk top over and printed with the concentric ring design on the inside of the top.


I really like the results...so simple...using just two "found" objects I had in my house---a milk bottle top and a C battery. This is just one of many ideas I have in store for you in my book, Fabric Printing at Home! The book is coming out in December but right now you have a chance to win a signed book plate (just like getting a signed book copy!) and will also be entered in my fabric giveaway.

Wouldn't this book make a great gift for you or a crafty friend? Wouldn't it be great to have it signed (via a book plate) by the author? Wouldn't you like the chance to win some fun fabrics to play with?

All this can be yours by following the directions here.

AND GUESS WHAT!?!?...I'm extending the pre-order giveaway an extra week! Now you have until November 10th...how great is that!?

Monday, October 27, 2014

A Weekend Full of Treats...not Tricks!

The second layer of another giveaway fabric...printing with a battery!

This weekend was full of treats!

I got to meet two lovely ladies (and sisters), Patty and Hilda, while teaching them my Inspired by Nature: Creative Fabric Designs. Hilda was visiting from Honduras.

They made Flower Garden scarves.
Flower Garden Scarf by Hilda G.

Flower Garden scarf by Patty B.

And designed numerous print blocks to make these samplers.
Sampler by Hilda G.

Sampler by Patty B.

I'm looking forward to teaching them again!

I also had a special treat! An unexpected rendezvous with fellow Printed Fabric Bee member, Carol Eaton. We sipped chamomile tea and chatted about our love of designing fabric, writing (and marketing) books, future dream projects, work and family. Thanks so much Carol for getting in touch!

And last...but not least...a special treat for you!

I spent part of my day printing another giveaway fabric for my book pre-order giveaway. This one is very "Op" Art (or "Top" Art?) using a milk bottle top and a battery!

First layer...printing with a milk bottle top!

Another view.


There's only ONE WEEK left for my book pre-order giveaway! Don't miss out on this opportunity to win a FREE signed book plate and a chance at winning a pack of fat quarter fabrics! Many of you live far from me and this is a great chance....just place a signed book plate in your copy of Fabric Printing at Home and viola!...you have a signed book! Click here to find out how to win your signed book plate!

Thanks! Hope that you're week is full of lots of treats!

Monday, October 20, 2014

Fabric Printing at Home Pre-Order Giveaway Starts Today! Extended a week! Now running through November 10!!


Hi friends!
Today marks the beginning of my first sojourn into marketing my book! Deep breath here (laced with excitement and anticipation!)...

I'd like to announce the Pre-Order Signed Book Plate and Fabric Pack Giveaway for Fabric Printing at Home!

Here's how it works:
The giveaway takes place from Monday, October 20 through Monday, November 10, 2014 and includes autographed bookplates for the first one hundred who follow the steps below.  Participants will also be entered into a drawing for a selection of hand painted and printed fabrics designed and created by me.

I call this fabric, Fiesta! Doesn't it look festive?!

Steps for Entering the Pre-Order Giveaway for Fabric Printing at Home:

1. If you haven’t ordered Fabric Printing at Home yet and want to take part in the giveaway, just click on the photo of my book in the right-hand column of this blog (or the highlighted book title anywhere in this description of the giveaway) and it will automatically direct you to the Quarry Bookstore where you can choose your favorite online bookseller to pre-order my book. If you’ve already pre-ordered my book (thanks!), just continue with the steps below to join the giveaway.

2. After pre-ordering Fabric Printing at Home, you’ll need to send an email with proof of purchase to fabricprintingathome@gmail.com. Be sure to also include a mailing address and if you are among the first one hundred to respond, you will receive an autographed bookplate! Stick it in your book when it arrives and viola, you will now own (or can gift) a copy of Fabric Printing at Home signed by yours truly!

3. Whether or not you are among the first one hundred to respond, your proof of purchase automatically makes you eligible for the entry in the fabric giveaway.

4. The pre-order giveaway ends at midnight (Eastern USA time) on Monday, November 10, 2014. On Tuesday, November 11, a winner will be randomly chosen to receive the selection of hand painted and printed fat quarter fabrics. Good luck!!

Thinking this one needs another layer. What do you think?


I've gotten a start on the giveaway fabrics but will continue to update you about my progress over the next couple of weeks. If you'd like to know how I created the piece below, see Issue #22 of Julie B Booth Surface Design News.

I've titled this one Aurora Borealis.
P.S.: If you have questions, just leave a comment here and I'll get back to you.

Friday, October 17, 2014

Around the World Blog Hop!


 I was recently asked to participate in the Around the World Blog Hop by fiber artist and fabric dyer extraordinaire, Carol R. Eaton.

A selection of beautiful hand dyed fabrics by Carol R. Eaton.

I first "met" Carol as part of The Printed Fabric Bee. The Bee is an online group of surface design enthusiasts who design and print fabrics for one another throughout the year. I then had the opportunity to meet Carol in person at the SAQA conference earlier this year. What a delight! I also got to ooo and ahh over her scrumptious hand dyed fabrics. And of course, I had to buy some! You can learn more about Carol and her techniques on her Around the World Blog Hop post from last week.


As part of this blog hop, I was asked to answer some questions:
1. What am I working on?
At the moment, I'm designing, painting and printing several fat quarter fabrics for a pre-order giveaway for my upcoming book, Fabric Printing at Home. I'm using techniques I cover in the book to create the fabrics including: printing with fruits and veggies, found object printing, stenciling with kitchen materials and resist techniques. I'm also working on the next issue of my online newsletter, Julie B Booth Surface Design News (see the right-hand column to sign up...it's free!) where I'll set out the guidelines for the giveaway as well as include a "how-to" project featuring the steps I used to create one of the fabrics (seen here).


2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
For the past four years, I've focused on using my kitchen as my resource for materials to make print blocks, stencils, rubbing plates and resists.I continue to be inspired by all the different ways I can use common household materials to design complex textures, patterns and designs on fabric. I guess that using these materials in unique ways is my signature. My continuing explorations led me to write my book, Fabric Printing at Home- a whole book of playing and experimenting with kitchen materials to create unique fabric designs!


3. Why do I create what I do?
I find designing fabrics inspiring-- the colors, textures, repetition of design elements and of course, layering all of it together! When everything falls into place and the fabric sings, it is truly satisfying!


I also love to teach and find that designing classes and explaining/writing about techniques is an art in itself. I love to joke that I design classes that I want to take! Right now, I'm extremely excited about two classes I've designed and am teaching: Fabric Painting, Printing, and Stitching to Tell a Story with Cloth (aka Story Cloth) and Patching, Stitching, Weaving: Creating Healing Cloth where students use mending and applique techniques to create a cloth with a healing message.

4. How does my creating process work? 
I find that I work best when I have a combination of time to play/experiment with materials and a deadline.  Most of the time, I like to have some sort of  goal in mind. It may be as simple as, how many ways can I print with a particular material or  how can I manipulate the material to turn it into something with which I can print, stencil, rub or resist? I keep a notebook and jot down notes and draw thumbnail sketches that act as starting points and also to record what I've learned during the process. A good session in the studio starts full of "what ifs" and ends with some of those questions answered (and generates new questions as well!).


Now I have the pleasure of introducing you to two other artists whose work I admire. Here is a brief introduction. You'll be hearing more from Lisa on Friday, October 24...so don't forget to check out her blog!

Lisa McGarry
Lisa McGarry is one of my online friends. I met her when she decided to join in on my and Jennifer's monthly colorful Searching for Roy G Biv blog hops. I soon came to look forward to her posts...full of gorgeous photos of her adopted home city of Florence. Along the way, she's impressed and inspired me with her thoughtful paper art works and books. She's also made me drool on more than one occasion with her yummy recipes and photos of ingredients and the final product (YUM!). Here's Lisa's description of herself and her work:

Lisa McGarry is an American artist and writer who has been living in Florence for the last ten years. She finds the experience of space and place to be endlessly fascinating, and much of her work is inspired by architecture, cities, travel and design of any kind. Her favorite “materials" are words, paper and paint, and she spends a lot of time looking at the world through her camera lens.

Visit Lisa's blog: http://arzigogolare.blogspot.com

Jennifer Coyne Qudeen
Jennifer is my good buddy! I met her while we were both in fiber galleries at the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, VA. When we were first introduced (by our mutual friend Pam Sullivan...an amazing fiber artist in her own right...but blogless!), Jennifer was a basket maker. Her organic and colorful reed baskets soon gave way to woven wall art and experiments with rusty found components. Needless to say, rust won out in the end...and I'm oh so happy about that! Jennifer is a magician with rust and more recently, tea bags. Here's how Jennifer describes herself:

Jennifer Coyne Qudeen is a mark maker, storyteller, surface design explorer, tea drinker, rust junkie and thorough believer in asking what if? And in discovering the answer. 

Jennifer couldn't commit to joining in on this blog hop this time but I hope you will stop by her blog for a visit: http://jennifercoynequdeen.blogspot.com

P.S.: For those of you still interested in playing along with the Search for Roy G Biv this month, I'll continue to update that post through Saturday midnight Eastern USA time!


Thursday, October 16, 2014

Searching for Roy G Biv III: White Update #6

Exterior of Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim (KKBE)

 This month, we continue beyond the rainbow once again, with WHITE.

 I happen to be in Charleston, South Carolina so lots of local southern WHITE for me this month.

WHITE appears in a lot of the architecture and architectural details in this quaint but bustling city.




Looking up there was also WHITE!

Looking up inside the dome of  KKBE

Where did you find WHITE this month?

Post up to five WHITE photos on your blog and leave a comment here or on Jennifer Coyne Qudeen's blog. We'll link to your post and share others as well for a fun blog hop. The blog hop runs through Saturday, October 18th at midnight. I'll update as new comments come in.

I'll be traveling home to Virginia today so might not get to update until I get back home...no worries though...there will be updates!

Check out Jennifer's typographic WHITE.

Maya at Million Little Stitches has some eclectic WHITE from a heavenly staircase to a heavenly dessert!

Lisa at arzigogolare has paper sculpture story book WHITE.

Barbara at Salt Air and Pistachios has some directional WHITES.

Eric at Cerulean has some "concise" WHITES.

Sharmon Davidson reminds us that WHITE=ROY G BIV! Love all the beautiful natural WHITES and that natural beauty in WHITE at the end of her post!

Mary Ann at Blue Sky Dreaming is celebrating WHITE.

Diane at Yarn Goddess has some sparkling WHITES. 

Margaret at Charlton Stitcher plays with the theme WHITE=new beginnings.

Joan S. has joined in this month and here is her WHITE:
Old Faithful
Mt. Rushmore
Crazy Horse (actual monument in process in background)
Homage to the Corcoran School of Art
Wax sculpture from Corcoran Museum of Art

We're extending the Search for Roy through the end of the year...
November 20: Brown
December 18: Blogger's Choice 


Sunday, October 12, 2014

Roy Reminder: White


Here is your monthly reminder that it's time, once again, to continue on the search beyond the colors of the rainbow! The color this month is WHITE and this Thursday, October 16th, is the time to post up to five WHITE photos on your blog. Leave a comment here or on Jennifer Coyne Qudeen's blog and we will link to your post. Look for updates through Saturday, October 18th.

I'll be searching for some of my WHITE down in Charleston, South Carolina. My hubby and I are finally getting to see that city after having to cancel our trip last year.

The photo above is from our last trip together to Staunton, Virginia. Now that was a lovely town!


Saturday, October 11, 2014

Story Cloth: Gelatin Encounter

Barbara M-C.

Pam D.

The fall session of Fabric Painting, Printing, and Stitching to Tell a Story with Cloth (aka Story Cloth) started about a month ago. A big turnout (for me) this time...nine wonderful, creative, and industrious students! I go to class each week with a smile on my face...excited to see what this group will come up with.

This past Wednesday, we had our gelatin printing session. Those of you who are regular readers of this blog know about my love affair with gelatin. Monoprints created with the gelatin printing plate are always a surprise. I began the class by demonstrating a number of different techniques and encouraged lots of  layering. The students started out slowly. Then suddenly they took off! That's when the fun started! Each student discovered a technique or a printing tool that caught her interest. Lots of excitement and ooos and ahhs followed. I wish I could show you each and every print--there were so many wonderful ones to share. Here's a selection from each student. I can see the stories percolating!

Barbara M-C.
Barbara M-C.


Pam D.
Pam D.
Alice H.
Alice H.
Mel C.
Mel C.
Susan P.
Susan P. (printing on some sheer silk)
Amy S.
Amy S.
Ann Z.
Ann Z.
Amy L.
Amy L.

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

The Printed Fabric Bee Urban Surfaces Giveaway


It's that time of the month again...when The (Fabulous) Printed Fabric Bee offers up a giveaway collection of fabrics. Each month, a member of the group becomes the Queen Bee and decides on a theme. The rest of the bee members get to work to produce some pretty amazing fabrics. This month's Queen was Leslie Tucker Jenison. Her theme was Urban Surfaces and she asked for a 6" x 24" piece (final fabric sizes have to add up to 144 square inches). The theme seemed to resonate with many in the group and this may be one of the best collections yet!

For inspiration, I decided to look back as some photos I'd taken of graffiti. These are from a trip to NYC and a bridge walk over the Manhattan Bridge.


There is so much to work with here! I was intrigued by some of the more subtle color changes in the painted bricks.


For the brick design, I decided to use a liquid soap resist. BTW, I cover more about what you can do with this resist in my upcoming book, Fabric Printing at Home.

A look around the studio and I found a kitchen sponge. I cut a piece to resemble a brick and started painting the sponge with soap and printing to build my wall.


Next, I painted over the resist with black Pebeo Setacolor Transparent Fabric Paint.


After the resist and paint dried, I set the paint and removed the resist. I made two pieces of fabric so I could experiment on one and have extra for the giveaway.


I painted the fabrics with a selection of transparent paint colors. I let some of them bleed together for more interesting color combinations.


For the graffiti layer, I placed a hot glue on cardboard block under the fabric and rolled over with white Pebeo Setacolor Opaque Fabric Paint.


Finally, I added some marks with a black brush-style Pigma pen.



Here is the final piece.


Here is the 6" square giveaway piece.


For a chance to win the complete collection of 6" squares, visit The Printed Fabric Bee blog and leave a comment. The winner's name will be drawn on October 15th.


Visit the other members' blogs to find out how the rest of  pieces in the collection were created:

Deborah Massie Boschert
Lisa Chin
Gerrie Congdon
Carol Eaton
Lynda Heines
Lynn Krawczyk
Jackie Lams
Susan Purney Mark