To Tell a Story with Cloth: Impressions, Connections, and Memories: Significant Object Portraits

Jan B.: When Jan was helping her mother to move, she discovered that her mom had pressed leaves in many of her books. This is a piece that celebrates that discovery.

In the third session of, To Tell a Story with Cloth: Impressions, Connections, and Memories, we focused on Significant Object Portraits. We talked/journaled about how certain objects can have strong connections to memories. They can trigger a memory or be a touchstone. These can be actual objects...but also memories of  "lost" objects...those that no longer exist but still have a strong hold on us.

Ann Z.: Memories of the Beach. Ann used carved blocks, aluminum printing plates/stencils, and moldable foam blocks. Hand stitched details.

Students designed and created a number of print blocks to tell stories about these special objects. They made Speedy Carve Blocks (carved), adhesive-backed craft foam blocks and aluminum pan printing plates, then printed fabrics to use in their story pieces. The Memory Challenge this week was to complete a piece that featured an object that has personal meaning or significance.

Alice A.: The Marketplace. Alice carved a print block, then printed it on two fabrics simultaneously. This is a childhood memory about the marketplace (in Mexico)...the colors and objects and the people.

Alice A.: Alice continued work on this piece from Session #2 by adding stitching.

Jan B.: A carved block and print. Memories of the leaves her mom pressed in books.

Jan B.: Jan is also working on a piece to honor her father. She made some moldable foam blocks using tools, nails, screws and washers.

Jan B.: Jan also did some sun printing at home!

Amy L.: "My piece is about my grandma's pink fuzzy bathrobe and her great hugs! I have really fond memories of her staying with my mom, sister and I when all the guys in our family were hunting or sleeping over at her house. She'd always have her pink fuzzy bathrobe and matching slippers. "

Judith K.-P.: Memories of Japan. Judith has strong memories of the fish market in Tokyo. This piece has many layers and textures. There is crocheted lace (representing coral) hiding under a layer of organza and stitching.

Judith K.-P.: A carved block that Judith is turning into a memory piece about flowers.

Judith K.-P.: Aluminum pan printing plate print of a teapot.

T.T.: Fabrics using print blocks and resists.

Karol L.: Memories of the Eastern Shore. Karol found that trips to the Eastern shore (Delaware and Maryland) renewed her during difficult times and was also a place where she spent many good times with family. 

Karol L.: Karol is putting all her memories together into a piece that she will be able to fold like a book.

Karol L. : Detail showing painted and printed fabrics.

Karol L.: In process. This panel will feature part of the boardwalk at Rehoboth Beach.

Judy M.: This piece is about Judy learning how to sew from her grandmother. She made her first outfit...a blouse and shorts. The fabric surrounding this memory is reminiscent of the lake near her grandparents' home.

Judy M.: A piece of painted and printed fabric that Judy is planning to turn into a memory cloth. We talked about the possible imagery we saw in it. Looking forward to seeing where Judy goes with this fabric!

If you would like to see student work from the first two classes:
Color Connections
Mapping Memories

I'll be teaching this class again this fall (evening class-TBA) at The Art League School in Alexandria, VA. If you'd like more information, please contact me.

Kitchen Couture at Artistic Artifacts

Marine W.: Autumn scarf in process.

This past Saturday, I taught my workshop, Kitchen Couture: Print-Your-Own-Scarves at Artistic Artifacts. I had four very industrious and talented students.

Marine W.: Autumn scarf in process.

Marine W.: Adding the final layer.

We covered a number of printing techniques and created a number of print blocks including: hot glue on cardboard, adhesive craft foam and Speedy Carve.

Lexi T.: Printed with a cabbage!

Lexi T.: Detail of cabbage prints.

We also printed with fruit and vegetables...some that we carved.

Marjie C: Corn and Star Fruit prints.

Jodie F.: Rubbings and prints with hot glue blocks.

There was a lot of experimenting, a lot of beautiful color mixing and just a fun day!

Jodie F.: Corn prints, plastic needlepoint canvas and Speedy Carve blocks (scissor blocks designed and carved by me).

Lexi T.: Corn prints and adhesive craft foam block.

Lexi T.: Detail.

Marine W.: Detail of scarf printed with corn and Speedy Carve fish.

Marine W.: Rubbings with hot glue block.

Marine W.: Monoprinting.

Marine W.: Final scarf

Marjie and Lexi working on scarves.

Marjie C.: Scarf printed with foam and adhesive foam blocks.

Thanks students...great work!

Story Cloth: "Introducing" Some Characters

Kathy B.

This past Wednesday, in To Tell a Story with Cloth, we invited some characters to enter our stories.
Students had the chance to carve print blocks, create craft foam blocks, emboss recycled aluminum pans for printing plates (a project from my book, Fabric Printing at Home) and design stencils.

Here are some of the characters that showed up!

Kathy B. carved this angry cat. She is continuing work on a series of hers and friends' pets who have passed.

Kathy B.'s print block

Kathy B.: Test prints

Hattie used her grandson's drawing to design her block of a Horned Owl.

Hattie's print block

Hattie B.: Print

Jan B.  played with different color combinations with her block.

Jan B.: Block and print.

Karen M. had fun designing this leaf block. She carved the same image, with subtle differences onto both sides of the block and plans to have fun printing them in combination.

Karen M.: Print blocks.

Kathy F. experimented with both carving a print block (the bird) and incising a foam block (frog).

Kathy F.: Test prints.

Kathy F.: Detail

Marine L. really got into the carving! Here are her blocks and prints.

Marine L.

Amy got inspired to create this bird block.

Amy P. 

She then found a photo of the shtetl where her relatives once lived. That block was designed from incised craft foam. Printed together they are the beginnings of a story!

Amy P.

Here are some demo prints I made with recycled aluminum printing plates.

Julie B.

Looking forward to this coming week and seeing the stories develop!

Scarf Workshop for Landings Art Association

I had a great time down in Savannah visiting with my Mom and also teaching a scarf printing workshop with members of the Landings Art Association.

Students rolled and knotted scarves and painted them before unrolling
to reveal the designs. Here are some of the scarves drying...

After the scarves dried, we had lots of fun adding textures and printing with carved Speedy Carve and veggie blocks and craft foam blocks with adhesive foam stickers.

Students made sampler fabrics before printing their scarves.

This student used an ear of corn to create designs in paint and monoprinted her fabric!

 

Many students made brayer rubbings using hot glue on cardboard blocks (see my recent article in the February/March 2016 Quilting Arts Magazine, Create Quick-and-Easy Pattern Blocks Using Hot Glue pp. 76-79).

I had a lot of fun teaching this artistic group. Thanks, ladies!