November Stitch-In

Some new pieces by Barbara M-C

Just three of us for the November Stitch-In...Barbara, Peggy and me. But, as always, great discussion and sharing...and stitching!

Barbara is working on a new series of hoop pieces to hang on her pink wall. These are a combination of gelatin printing and block printing on a sheer fabric. Barbara backed them on white cotton and is starting to stitch details.

Peggy brought in a number of small pieces that she printed and is now adding stitched details. These will either be turned into individual pieces or stitched together into a larger wall hanging. She also brought in two new stitch books. The book, From Art to Stitch by Janet Edmonds looked interesting. The author creates stitched works inspired by famous modern painters.

I brought in some of my resist rubbing and stitched mats. I started hemming the one that is the featured project in this month's Julie B Booth Surface Design News (Issue #31).

Ann is out west visiting family. She'll be heading to Texas to visit with her granddaughter and foster great grandchildren. She sent me some photos today to share. She's just about finished with Buffalo Boy (click here to read about him). Isn't he great! I also love that his cape is stitched with encouraging words. Ann says that these are the qualities symbolized by the buffalo.

We had a extra special treat today...Barbara brought along the French embroidery floss and books that she used to sell in her wonderful little shop in London. She now sells some of these items online.
Peggy and I dove into the basket of floss...so many colors! Thanks Barbara for bringing them to the meeting and also for selling them for such a sweet price!

Looking forward to next month's Stitch-In!

New Newsletter and Roy Reminder

Just a quick post before I head out for a few days to Austin, Texas.

I just published Issue #30 of Julie B Booth Surface Design News. I talk a bit about my experience taping TV segments for Quilting Arts TV and then there is a fun project about using a resist with leaves to make leaf prints. Click here is you'd like to read it. The newsletter is free so feel free to sign up for it!

This is also your monthly reminder that the next installment of Roy G Biv...searching for the colors of the rainbow and beyond...continues this Thursday with GRAY. If you'd like to play along, post up to five GRAY photos and leave a comment here or on Jennifer Coyne Qudeen's blog and we'll link to your post for our usual colorful blog hop.

I'll be traveling home on Thursday but do promise to post my Roy photos no later than Friday morning.

Weekly Pattern Wednesday Week #3

It's Wednesday and I'm once again posting a pattern for Lynn Krawczyk's Weekly Pattern Wednesday.

I'm again featuring a pattern from a Newsletter project...but this is brand new! Issue #28 of Julie B Booth Surface Design News comes out this Sunday, June 7...so you are getting a "sneak peak".

Here are my print blocks...and I will show you how to make them in the new issue. The Newsletter is free and comes as an email about once a month. It features fabric printing projects that use items you have around your home. Sign up is in the right hand column of this blog.

If you want to take part in today's Weekly Pattern Wednesday, post a pattern on your blog and leave a comment over on Lynn's blog. Looking forward to seeing other folks' patterns.

Weekly Pattern Wednesday

I'm taking part in week #2 of Lynn Krawcyzk's Weekly Pattern Wednesday. Just post a pattern on your blog and leave a comment on Lynn's blog for a pattern-filled blog hop!

I was hoping to create a brand new pattern this week but between a weekend getaway with my hubby (Frederick, MD) and trying to get caught up on stuff (still doing that!)...I opted for a detail of one of the scarves I created in Issue #25 of my free online newsletter, Julie B Booth Surface Design News. 

In this project, I created a series of Valentine's Day-themed silk scarves using adhesive craft foam (fun foam) shapes and hot glue on cardboard blocks. I like the contrast between the black glue lines with the colorful foam prints. You can read about how to do this project here. Feel free to sign up for the newsletter...the sign up is in the right hand column. A new issue will be out very soon.

On my list of summer projects (catch-up stuff), I have a number of scarves I plan to create to thank some of my fellow surface design folks who helped me with my book blog tour in February....so you may be seeing more patterns using glue and foam!

Weekly Pattern Wednesday

I've decided to join in this fun blog hop that Lynn Krawczyk will be hosting every Wednesday. It's called Weekly Pattern Wednesday. Post a pattern you've created on Wednesday (today!) and leave a comment on Lynn's blog (or if you're into Instagram she has a hashtag for you!).

Today's pattern is created using a stencil I designed using packing tape. If you'd like to learn how I made the stencil, you can visit this issue of my free monthly online newsletter called Julie B Booth Surface Design News. I had so much fun fiddling around with the stencils I made for this project...I wanted to see how I could add layers of color to fabric using just one stencil.

I'm looking forward to seeing what other folks have posted for their patterns...since I absolutely LOVE patterns!

P.S.: Don't forget that tomorrow we're Searching for Roy G Biv...the color BLUE! See details here.

Day #7: Fabric Printing at Home Scavenger Hunt Update #3

Today is Day #7 of the Fabric Printing at Home Scavenger Hunt. It's time to reveal your Texture Prints!

But first, let me reveal how I made the Texture Prints from yesterday's post:

1. Broccoli
2. Thumbtacks stuck in corrugated cardboard
3. Bubblewrap
4. Lentils glued to cardboard
5. Strips of corrugated cardboard rolled and glued to cardboard
6. Rolled paper cut into cross-sections and glued to cardboard
7. Household sponge

How many did you guess correctly?

The winner of yesterday's giveaway is Karla Koerber...congrats! You just won two Detailer Writers that you can use for drawing/writing with paint or resists. Please send me your mailing information (threadborn@gmail.com) so I can send them off to you.

Now that you've seen some of my ideas for texture, I hope that you'll join in the fun and try your hand at printing some kitchen textures! Just print your textures on fabric or paper, take a photo and post to your blog or Facebook page. Leave a comment on this blog post with a link to your post. I'll continue to update this post throughout today so that we enjoy sharing our prints. If you don't have a blog or Facebook page, send me an email with your printed texture photo(s) and I'll post them here for you.

REMEMBER that taking part in any one of the Printing Challenges makes you eligible to win the Grand Prize of four great books from Quarry (including Fabric Printing at Home)! You can also continue to contribute to any of the previous Printing Challenges (Circle Prints and Line Prints).

If you'd like a few printing pointers, you can visit the most recent issue of Julie B Booth Surface Design News.

Texture Prints Challenge
Thanks for participating in this third of five printing challenges! (I'll be updating the links as they come in.)

Karla Koerber has a wonderful album of kitchen textures...looks like she had great fun with this printing challenge!

Deb B. has a great step-by-step using her texture blocks...some really lively results!

Sue and Elizabeth of PGFiber2Art printed their selection of textures on dyed Color Catchers. A new product for me to explore!!

Now for the next Challenge:
Challenge #4: Find items in your kitchen to create Rubbings on fabric or paper.
Please post your Rubbings on Thursday, May 7th. Leave a comment on my blog post on that day with a link to your prints.

HINT: The easiest description of a Rubbing is to slip a flat texture, texture block or objects under your fabric and then roll a layer of paint over the top to pick up the designs/textures from below. You can also use paint or dye sticks, crayons or pencils to do rubbings. I'll have a short tutorial tomorrow on Rubbings.


I often like to use a Rubbing as a first layer on my printed fabrics. Rubbings can also be great fun to do with resists...

Brayer rubbing using confectioners' sugar resist.

Here is a fabric I made by slipping a cardboard block with hot glue designs under the fabric and rolling over it with confectioners' sugar resist. You can find out more about Rubbings and Resists in Chapter 6: Irresistible: Fabric Resists Using Kitchen Ingredients in my book, Fabric Printing at Home.


Don't forget tomorrow is the next Guessing Game and Giveaway Challenge...don't miss your chance to win a prize! All you have to do tomorrow is leave a comment!!

Fabric Printing at Home Scavenger Hunt Starts Tomorrow, April 29

Just a final reminder that the Fabric Printing at Home Scavenger Hunt starts tomorrow!

Look at all the cool designs you can print with stuff from your kitchen! Come join me for a great 12-day adventure!

I encourage you to join in on the fun! We'll be searching around the kitchen for cool stuff to print with. I'll be giving you "hunting and printing" and "guessing game" challenges. AND there will be prizes!!!!

Tomorrow, I'll give you all the details...but if you want a head start on Challenge #1, then visit my most recent Newsletter and read all about it.

See you all tomorrow! Can't wait!

Questions..? Leave a comment and I'll answer them.

Countdown to the Fabric Printing at Home Scavenger Hunt!

A NEW blog event starts on April 26th...The Fabric Printing at Home Scavenger Hunt!

You may have noticed a number of little hints on the sidebars and up above my blog posts for the Fabric Printing at Home Scavenger Hunt. After the success (and fun!) of the Fabric Printing at Home Blog Tour, I was inspired to put together another blog event. And this time I'm asking you to participate! So I hope you'll gather together a bunch of stuff from your kitchen and maybe grab a few friends, or children or grandchildren and come Join the Hunt!

The Fabric Printing at Home Scavenger Hunt starts next Wednesday, April 29th and the Grand Prize will be awarded on May 10...Mother's Day! Other giveaway prizes will be awarded throughout the event.

More details to come....Are you Game?

If you'd like a sneak peak into this event, I'll be featuring An Invitation to Play in the next issue of Julie B Booth Surface Design News which publishes this Sunday, April 26th. Find out about the first Hunt Challenge and some helpful hints. If you're not a subscriber yet, all you have to do is sign up in the right-hand column of my blog.

I can't wait!!

Two Birds

Using hot glue blocks and craft foam to make silk scarf designs.

Busy...busy...

Trying to "kill two birds" as the saying goes (a weird saying!).

Pushing to publish Issue #25 of Julie B Booth Surface Design News and working on Valentine's Day projects to share with all of you during the Fabric Printing at Home Blog Tour (February 1-14)...YIKES!!

Burying myself in the studio today...to create some scarf designs using hot glue blocks and craft foam.

Gluing myself (ha ha) to the computer later today to pump out the Newsletter...

Wish me luck!

Open House Fun!

I spent Friday evening and Saturday afternoon demoing at two open house events. It was a great opportunity to show prospective students some of what I teach and to show off my new book, Fabric Printing at Home! I was also running some giveaways...and who doesn't love a great giveaway!

 I was so lucky to have my wonderful friend, Kathy S. helping out on Friday night at The Art League School Open House and Holiday Party (aka Artfete). What a super saleswoman she is! Her "job" was to talk to people about the special giveaways...one being offered by my publisher, Quarry Books and one by me. Quarry's giveaway was a really nice blank journal featuring collaged images from their line of books with a sticker about my book on it. They also had an opportunity to win some of Quarry's published books. My giveaway featured two different packets of hand printed fabrics. Folks had great fun picking out journals and ooing and ahing about the fabrics. Kathy gathered names and email addresses for my publisher's craft newsletter (Craftside) and also for Julie B Booth Surface Design News. By the end of the night, Kathy reached her goal of two completed sheets of information! (Yippee!)

I had great fun chatting with people, talking about and demonstrating printing techniques. I put out lots of fabric samples to entice people. Some of my students stopped by and many new prospective students who I hope to see in a future class. The highlight of my night was printing the "gatto" block with a pair of sweet  3-year-old identical twin boys who only spoke Italian. I gave each one of them their printed piece and they were beaming with lots of "grazie"s!

Saturday's open house at Artistic Artifacts was equally gratifying...if on a smaller scale. I continued the signups and giveaways. I met a number of interesting and generous teachers who shared their skills with customers (and with me) with take away projects. I focused on veggie printing and chatting up my upcoming class, Fabric Printing at Home: A Kitchen Sampler. I think that customers (and teachers and staff) got the biggest "kick" out of printing with corn-on-the-cob. I got so involved in the activities that I forgot to take photos!

All-in-all a very rewarding weekend!

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.

A New Newsletter Coming this Sunday!

Issue #21 of Julie B Booth Surface Design News is just about ready. I'll be releasing it this Sunday, September 28th.

I decided to play with some packing tape this month to create some nifty stencils. Hope you enjoy reading it! And...if you don't yet receive it...hope you'll consider signing up...it's free, after all!

Sign up is in the right hand column of this here blog.

The Printed Fabric Bee: Inspirational Words Giveaway

This month, Queen Lynda Heines had all us worker bees producing fabrics with the theme, Inspirational Words.

I thought a while about what I wanted to do and decided to use the Adinkra symbol for strength. This symbol is two stylized sets of ram's horns coming together to form a beautiful symmetrical design. I've often played with variations of this symbol. I love the swirling spirals. When I make this symbol, I think of friends or family recovering from illness and in need of strength.

Lynda's requested colors were: orange, light green, blue and plum. Of course, I couldn't print just one piece! I had to play with the color combinations. I also wanted to be sure that I had enough fabric in case I made a mistake while printing. So...three color combinations. I'll be sending two off to Lynda (Lynda- the first two unless you prefer the third one. Let me know before Tuesday) and one off to the giveaway winner. The remaining fabrics may show up in a future fabric giveaway of my own.

Here is what I did...

After painting washes of color on white PFD cotton, I decided to use two of the pasta blocks from Issue #20 of Julie B Booth Surface Design News: Pasta Play. I wanted to have some interesting textures going on in the background.

Next, I designed and carved the symbol and two variations of the word, STRENGTH using a font I found online that looked "African".

I printed the Adinkra symbol over the pasta textures. I used a rectangular piece of craft foam the same size as the carved words to set the words off from the background.

Finally, I painted some details in the letters to make them pop!

Here are the final pieces.

And here is the giveaway fabric. It's a bit larger than the usual 6" square because I wanted the winner to get a repeat of the design.

Now...here's how you can win...go to either Lynda Heines' blog and post a comment under the giveaway photo OR go to The Printed Fabric Bee blog and post a comment there. Lynda will post a date for the giveaway and the winner.

Good luck!!!

Pasta Play and Book Update

I've been arranging pasta patterns to make print blocks for the next newsletter.

I spent Sunday in the studio... playing with pasta! I'm preparing for the next issue of Julie B Booth Surface Design News. A couple of the blocks took quite a while to put together. I have a greater appreciation for mosaic and inlay work! I can't wait to see the fabric prints I can make with these pasta blocks. I'll post a preview right before I publish the newsletter.

On the book front... You might have noticed the book icon just to the right. It's a link to my page on the Quarry book shop.

The "working" cover for the book. The final cover design is in the works and will be ready soon.

From there, you can click on your favorite book seller to pre-order Fabric Printing at Home. I spent an hour on the phone last week with Quarry's marketing manager and will be talking with their social media specialist today. I'm learning A LOT! Apparently, pre-orders are what to strive for...so... I'm hoping that some of my blogging buddies out there will put in an order soon! (especially those of you who contributed to the gallery section of the book) :-)

Okay...enough shameless plugging for now. I'll be off to Old Town Alexandria this morning to meet with my F.I.N.E. buds. It will be great to see what they've been up to the last couple of months. And...even though it's raining, I'll be bringing my camera along in case I spy some PINK (Roy G Biv on August 20th).

Hope you all have some creative plans for today! I'll be back to gluing pasta this afternoon....

Prepping for the Summer Art Project

Drying teabags on fabric.

I spent some time in the kitchen today preparing for this summer's family art project.

Teabags waiting for the boiling water.

Black and green teabags soaking.

Why waste tea? The teabags are drying on cloth and more cloth is soaking in the tea.

Every summer, I put on my artistic thinking cap and come up with a project to share with my nieces and nephew and other family members.

In the past we've:

• made Jazzy dolls
• created woven bags on an innovative loom (my design) for collecting summer treasures
• painted and sun printed silk scarves and created story bags
• printed fabric squares for a 60th anniversary hanging

This summer, I was inspired by one of my Story Cloth students, Susan P. For one of her story cloths she printed designs on dried teabags. I even decided to write my upcoming Newsletter about Deconstructing Tea...using dried teabags, the little envelopes they come, the tags and string and even the boxes to create little pieces of tea art (Hope you'll sign up for Julie B Booth Surface Design News (if you haven't already) to find out more about it!)

Some of the teabag prints from the next issue of Julie B Booth Surface Design News.

My plan is for all of us to make little books using teabags for pages. We'll collect small leaves and other nature textures and print on the teabags. The covers will be made from softened and painted brown paper. As usual, I'm already getting excited to see what my nieces and nephew do. They always surprise and amaze me!