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!

More Black & White: Texture Samplers

 The next issue of Julie B Booth Surface Design News is coming out tomorrow. Usually, it's an early morning release, but will more likely be an early afternoon release tomorrow. This gives those of you interested in signing up a bit more time!

Spaghetti block print

The focus this month is on kitchen textures, which I'm calling Textures Time Three. You will learn how to make two different types of print blocks and then learn some different ways to print those blocks. I created a number of samplers before moving on to do some color fabrics (which you can see in the newsletter).

Spaghetti and almonds

I hope you will consider signing up. It's easy. Just add your email to the sign up in the right hand column of this blog. You can also read the past issues by clicking on the Past Newsletter Issues under the Newsletter Archives.

I'm off to work. Sunday could be interesting here in the Mid-Atlantic. Frankenstorm is coming!

Man-made vs. Nature: Surface Design

Just put the finishing touches on Issue #5 of Julie B Booth Surface Design News. The focus this month is making marks.

Reviewing some photos from Maine, I couldn't help but notice that this snail was up to the same thing!

Issue #5 comes out this Saturday, September 22. To receive this free online newsletter you can sign up at the top of the right hand column.

Each month, I'm always up to something (surface design related, of course) in the kitchen!

Guessing Game

Can you guess what blocks I used to print this fabric?

Hint: It will be the focus of next month's Julie B Booth Surface Design News. See the new Newsletter Archives in the right hand column.

Shameless Plug

Sun printing with objects from the kitchen

Okay...here goes...
A reminder that Issue #3 of my free online newsletter, Julie B Booth Surface Design News is coming out this Saturday, July 28. The focus, this month, is on sun printing using objects from your kitchen, especially that catch-all drawer.

For those of you who have signed up...thanks! For those of you who haven't, I encourage you to join me as I explore the kitchen as a surface design resource. Every month I will introduce a new project or technique.

To sign up, just look at the top of the upper right hand column of this blog. You will see the sign-up form. In addition, you will receive a free list of Ten Kitchen Surface Design Ideas just for signing up (more FREE stuff!).

Thanks for enduring my shameless plug...

Julie's Studio Reports, "I Feel Years Younger!"

Julie's Studio: Yes, I feel year's younger after my purge and organize diet!

Look at me before...ugh...so disorganized...I couldn't wait to shed all those layers of excess stuff.

Now that I've lost all that weight, I feel so spacious, so full of creative energy. Look at my work table...it's like a clean slate!

I'm so ready for Julie to get to work creating her beautiful fabrics and works of art!

 Julie would also like me to remind you that the second issue of her newsletter, Julie B Booth Surface Design News will be coming out Saturday, June 23 at 8:00 AM Eastern time (USA). If you haven't yet signed up, you can go to the upper right hand column of this blog and fill in your info. Julie's newsletter focuses on using the kitchen as a surface design resource. This time, she'll be talking a bit about me (her studio...I'm so honored!) and will continue to focus on getting readers set up to create some amazing fabrics. She will also send you a free list of Ten Kitchen Surface Design Ideas...just for signing up!

Also...the Searching for Roy G Biv Challenge continues through Saturday midnight, Eastern time (USA). Leave a comment here and Julie will link to your blog. She is giving away some of the fabrics she printed on my table. The drawing will be on Sunday.

Arresting Resists: Student Work Part 1

Avital Oriol

Last Wednesday, was the last Arresting Resists class. This class focused on adding layers of painting and printing to fabrics still covered with resists as well as rescuing less successful pieces from previous classes. Students had the opportunity to cut or tear freezer paper for masks, create stencils from freezer paper, make additional blocks with adhesive craft and screen print.

Here is a sampling of some of the students' work.

Avital Oriol

Avital Oriol

Betty Ford

Barbara Eisenstein

Barbara Eisenstein

Barbara Eisenstein

I will post more student samples tomorrow.

You may have noticed, that I have a Newsletter Sign Up at the top of the right column. On May 26, the first issue of Julie B Booth Surface Design News will be sent out to those of you who wish to receive it (it's free, of course!). The focus is on Kitchen Surface Design. The first issue will discuss my list of favorite tools. Subsequent issues will focus on exploring all areas of the kitchen for surface design. Those who do sign up will also receive my list of Ten Kitchen Surface Design Ideas. Hope that is enough of an enticement!

Playing in the Kitchen: Matzoh Resist Part 3

The painted, matzoh resist-covered fabrics are dry. Time to set them. The fabric paint must be set/cured so that it doesn't wash out when the matzoh resist is removed.

Setting the paint can be done a couple of ways. You can let the fabrics sit for a week and the paint will set on its own. The other way is to heat set them with an iron.

I sandwich the resist-covered fabric between two pieces of muslin to protect the iron. I iron this sandwich using the cotton fabric setting for three minutes on one side.  Then, I flip the sandwich over and iron for three minutes on the other side. The fabric paint is now set.

After I've set all the fabric samples, it's time to remove the matzoh resist. I have a plastic storage container that fits perfectly in my sink. I put the fabrics in the container and add a little bit of dishwashing liquid.

Next, I fill the container with warm water and let the fabric soak for 10 minutes.

I swoosh them around a bit to loosen up the resist.

I then pour out the dirty water. I usually have to do this a couple of times as well as rubbing the fabric to remove the very last bit of the matzoh.

Here's what the fabrics look like once the resist is removed.

To make sure they are totally clean, I put them in my washing machine at on a warm delicate setting with just a trace of soap. I dry them in a delicate cycle.

Here are the finished pieces.

Matzoh resist scratch technique over monoprint

Matzoh resist crackle technique over monoprint

Sampler of application techniques over wipe up cloth

Matzoh resist using scratch technique over white fabric

I'm starting my Arresting Resists class this week as well as my Exploring Surface Design class...a crazy back-to-back teaching arrangement. I'm sure over the course of the next several weeks I'll be sharing photos of student work, and especially resist work, with you.

Playing in the Kitchen: Matzoh Resist Part 2

After the matzoh resist-covered fabric dries completely, remove the pieces from the boards. In the case of the crackle piece, you will need to scrunch the fabric to create cracks in the resist. The paint will seep into the cracks to reach the fabric thus creating the design.

Before painting, insert a piece of muslin between the plastic film that is taped to the board and the resist-covered fabric. The muslin will absorb excess paint and help prevent it from breaching the resist.

Mix up some Pebeo Setacolor Transparent Fabric Paint. You will need the paint to be thicker than the usual dilution (which is 1 part paint to 2 parts water), I usually mix about a 1 part paint to 1.5 parts water. The paint should be about the consistency of heavy cream. This also prevents the paint from flowing under the resist (breaching).

Use a foam brush to apply the paint.

If the paint starts to pool, you can use scrap fabric or a paper towel to soak it up.

After the fabrics are painted, they will need to dry completely before setting. More about that in the next post.