Scarves...Scarves....Scarves!!!

 So what have I been doing....?

...Printing lots of scarves for the upcoming Artistic Artifacts Holiday Market! The Market is this Saturday, December 3 from 10 AM - 5 PM at Artistic Artifacts.

I'll have 41 scarves...and 21 of them are brand new!

I'll also have copies of Fabric Printing at Home for sale.

If you live in the area...I hope that you'll stop by!

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!

Day 7: Fabric Printing at Home Blog Tour

Can you believe it's Day #7! I've been having such a great time reading your comments and sharing tips and projects...and there's still a week to go!

Today the Tour visits with Susan Purney Mark. After reading her bio, all I can say is, "Wow!"


As a textile artist, Susan has embarked on a life transforming journey into the world of colour, design and pattern. Working with textiles has become her method of self expression and the focus of her methods of communication.

She has studied Design, Patchwork and Embroidery with the prestigious City & Guilds Institute of London, England and has studied with internationally acclaimed teachers/quilt makers Nancy Crow, Jan Meyers Newbury, Elin Noble, Gail Harker and Ruth Issett. Susan has also been awarded two Certificates in Art and Design and Textile Design/Decoration from the Gail Harker Creative Studies Centre in Washington, USA.
 

Susan has spent the last 20 years learning, experimenting and finally teaching a variety of surface design techniques in dyeing, painting, screen printing and image transfers. Most recently she has focused on soy wax resists and has recently released an instructional DVD on many of the techniques she is currently teaching across North America. Her work is known for its use of traditional methods with contemporary design and materials.http://susanpm.blogspot.com

Stop by Susan's blog today and leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Fabric Printing at Home. Susan is also offering a piece of hand-printed fabric she designed using rolling pins! Be sure to check it out!

Valentine's Fabric Gift Wrap

In today's project, I'll show you how to make a Valentine's Day fabric gift wrap using two different fabric resist techniques. The first technique is a knotted resist (a bonus that is not covered in my book), the second technique is a wheat flour paste resist (that is covered in my book).

For the knotted resist you'll need: A flat work surface covered with plastic. I used a portable work surface which I describe how to make on page 14 in Chapter 1: Getting Started;  15" x 15" piece of Prepared for Dyeing cotton (or pre-washed white 100% cotton); two Valentine's colors in transparent fabric paint (I used fuchsia and red); Add a small amount of water to slightly dilute the paint; plastic paint containers; spoons to mix the paint; (2) 1" foam brushes; water; plant mister; iron and ironing board; optional: wipe up cloth.

1. Mist the cotton fabric so the paint can penetrate the fibers. Start at one corner and roll the fabric on the diagonal into a tube.

2. Knot the fabric in several places and paint with the fuchsia and red paint.

3. Immediately, unknot the fabric and let it dry flat. When dry, iron the fabric to remove wrinkles.

You will now add the second resist layer to the 15" x 15" piece of fabric. You will need: flat work surface covered in plastic, wheat flour; water; container to mix up the wheat flour paste; measuring cups; wire whisk; large metal spoon; plant mister; plastic spreader; masking tape; wooden skewer; paper towel; blue transparent fabric paint (add a small amount of water to dilute it); (1) 2" foam brush; paint container; extra piece of cotton or muslin fabric that is at least 15" x 15"; pressing cloth; iron and ironing board; sink; dishwashing liquid.

1. Tape the 15" painted square of fabric to the work surface.

2. Mix up the wheat flour paste resist using the recipe on page 98 in Chapter 6: Irresistible.

3.  Mist the 15" x 15" fabric with water.

4. Spoon the wheat flour paste resist onto the fabric and use the plastic spreader to spread a thin even coat over the surface.

5. Let the paste-covered fabric sit for a couple of minutes. Then use the flat end of the wooden skewer to draw into the paste. You can draw designs or write words. Occasionally, wipe the end of the skewer on a paper towel to keep it clean.

6. Let the flour paste resist dry completely. Optional: Carefully manipulate the paste-covered fabric to form small cracks.

7. Slip the extra piece of fabric under the paste-covered square. Paint with the blue transparent paint.

8. Let the paint dry completely. Set the paint following the manufacturer's instructions.

9. Remove the wheat flour paste. See page 113 in Chapter 6: Irresistible.

To wrap the fabric around a gift box, see the directions here (from Julie B Booth Surface Design News).

Today's giveaway is a a set of 3 plastic spreaders. Use these to spread paste resists on your fabric. Leave a comment for a chance to win. I will choose a winner at 11:00 PM Eastern USA time. Check tomorrow's post to see if you are the winner. Your comment also enters you in the final drawing on February 15 for a free copy of Fabric Printing at Home: Quick and Easy Fabric Design Using Fresh Produce and Found Objects. 

  
And now for the winner of yesterday's giveaway (a mini hot glue gun and glue sticks)....congratulations to Jans S ! Please email me with your contact information (threadborn@cox.net) so I can send off your prize.

Tomorrow, the Tour stops at Teri Lucas' blog. Teri is an accomplished (award winning!) machine quilter, quilting teacher and magazine editor. Thanks for Joining the Tour, Teri!
 
Be sure to visit all the stops on the Tour:
February 2: Lisa Chin
February 3: Lynn Krawczyk
February 4: Jane Davila 

February 5: Carol R. Eaton 

February 6: Judy Gula 

February 7: Susan Purney Mark 

February 8: Teri Lucas 

February 9: Jennifer Coyne Qudeen 

February 10: Deborah Boschert 

February 11: Lynda Heines 

February 12: Cheryl Sleboda 

February 13: Terri Stegmiller 

February 14: Jackie Lams

Day 17: Gifts Wrapped

I spent part of the weekend knotting and painting squares of fabric and then folding and knotting them around gifts of ceramic to give to friends.

 I decided to print up little gift tags as well and tie them on with yarn.

Tomorrow it's back to working on the samples for Issue #8 of Julie B Booth Surface Design News.

Day 7: How to Do a Furoshiki Purse Wrap

Here's one more wrap and this time I'm giving a step-by-step. This is a Secured Purse wrap and I read about it in the book, Furoshiki Fabric Wraps: Simple-Reusable-Beautiful by Pixieladies.

The design on this fabric was created by two layers of printing with a spaghetti block (see Julie B Booth Surface Design News Issue #6 for more info) and then a knotted resist.

To do this wrap, place your fabric with the painted/printed side facing up. Turn your square of fabric so that is oriented like a diamond. Think of the points as a compass with the point at the bottom being the south point.

Fold the south and north points together.

Grab the fabric about a third of the way from the east point and make an overhand knot.

Do the same thing with the west point.

Turn inside out.

Place the bowl inside.

Take the two ends and make one half of a square knot (right over left) and pull tight.

Twist the two ends.

Make a small square knot at the top to make a handle.

Pretty nifty huh?

Today, The Bead Goes On is doing a trunk show at Star's Beads. I'm bringing my camera along (and my check book, as well!).

Day 5: Furoshiki Fabric Designs -- A Start

I decided to try out a few different surface design techniques for the Furoshiki wraps. I'm posting two of the techniques I tried out yesterday and another one will be in tomorrow's post.

Some of the fabric squares are large enough that I was going to have some difficulty moving them from the table to the drying area. I decided to use a knotting technique on the largest piece. I have a tutorial post on how to do this technique here.

I didn't get a photo of the cloth before wrapping, but this technique does seem to make for a really nice wrap.

For the other, smaller piece of fabric, I started with an intentional wipe up cloth. I also have a tutorial post for this technique.

After the fabric dried, I printed a few designs on it.

This is how it looked after wrapping up one of the ceramic tea cups.

Although, I like the look of the smaller piece of fabric, as a fabric, I'm not sure it's as successful as the overall design produced by the knotted resist.

I am learning more about this everyday. Although, I have to admit, I'm not sure I really have the time to wrap all the ceramic gifts in fabric! As usual, I think I'm Wonder Woman! The pressures and obligations of this season seem to be catching up with me...