Test Results

As promised, here is the yard+ of the combination fabrics. I've a variation of color uptake here. I've two reds, two yellows, two blues, black and chartreuse. My stable pallet works for me, and this will inform how much I'll strengthen some of the weaker. Tyvek labels sewn before soda ash label the fabrics.
 

Results Trickle In

I've started to print on used linen garments, and so far, it seems okay. They are still ho-hum to me, but I've more ideas and more to go. Definitely love the intense color, one that is part of the theme color set. Rounding out this will be pants, but that's still on the printing room table.
 

Collection of Sorts

This set has been hanging in the wings a few weeks now. I moved them to the larger design wall and started to tackle the composition they demand. It's a good idea to select, then stick to that set. Makes it both difficult and easy. And I'll say again, the work is done in the printing, so I've elements to use.
 

Motif Hunting

Today was a 'day off' and we visited the San Diego Botanical Garden, which I took as a great place to collect leaf forms and ideas for printing. Any cacti proved a fine catch, and these will be a start for shapes I can use in this week's printing class. Let's see how it shakes out.

 

Hot Tip Time

Thank you to Betsey for this fabulous tip. I always complain that I'm not going to wash out the spoon just to lid my thickened dyes. And Betsey tipped me off to her husband's clever "just drill a hole" solution. Now that I'm away for a few days, this is just the perfect solution. Dyes last weeks, just do a swatch!
 

Madeline Island For You?

I've never been to Madeline Island, and am thrilled to be asked to teach there. I'll be there with a workshop "The Definitive Print". Consider coming with me, it's a small class, and we'll be able to print day and night! That's worth the trip, certainly. Here is the link:  https://www.madelineartschool.com/shop/locations/madeline-island-locations/the-definitive-print/
 

Print Train Coming Through

We should have had that soul train song track playing while the prints moved from table to clothesline, but we didn't. It was enough fun just to see what these two were cooking up. And the rest of us took notes and printed more.
 

Showing and Telling

Two days doesn't seem enough time to  grasp printing on textiles. What with the science of it all, the technical parts, and the artistic/design component. But, heck, we did it. Genesee Valley Quilt Club managed to find a room, get a group, and order a perfect printing two days. Thank you all!
 

Santa Fe Beginnings

The start of today seems so long ago. The workshop for Madelaine Island School of the Arts at Santa Fe which I call Go Big, Go Bold started and we printed many different ways. We'll be printing all week, and have so much to try out. 

Doesn't Take Long

We dove in to printing with stuff on top, stuff below, and ways to get that color scraped down. Attack the fabric from all directions! And for those who need to know, that triangular shape is a beer pong setup tool. Better used as a print tool than to play beer pong. 

 

Foreground Background

Trying to get the silhouette to stand apart from its surroundings. I've got lots of fabric to play with, and this should work. It's about 18" square here. The fabrics are printed with monoprints and rubbings. These are my 1/2 yard experiments that are just perfect to use for a small piece. 
 

More Monoprinting

Time for silk scarves, as the ones on my web site store are going to new homes. Here's a monoprint directly from my print table's plastic covering. I'll scrape some light dye and paste over to pick up more of the dye from the table. Tomorrow is reveal time. 

 

Three With Disagreements

A query from someone who bought these three fabrics was -- would they work together? Now, I can use most anything, but these three were not singing well together. I've suggested other combos by knocking out the forefront blue, and replacing the brown/natural with another. A better set for the buyer.
 

Take Two Even Larger

Helen started with about two yards of fabric --  her fabric --  which made the choice even more difficult. Deliberating which is a good pair to use could have taken us an entire afternoon and evening's break, there were so many good picks. She'll just have to return to her stash after class and pick more. 

 

Silk Silk Silk

Three new scarves are in the works, and soon I've got to get them on the website store. They are always crepe de chine silk, which is perfect for not itching. The toughest part is not keeping them for myself. The same problem I've got with my printed fabric. 
 

Getting Dotty

More experiments with a single screen. And I've stuck to the same palette here. But this would be a great big and fun quilt of the functional variety, no? I've more to do, but for now, I think I'll leave these on the design wall. 

Ta Da

It was wash day today. Seems like that new washer ($$$) did it's job and kept the whites white, and the colors at bay. I'm going to do more Black and White, for sure!
 

Dozens More

 I've added about two dozen more yards to my shop. This one is quite experimental, and I think I'll use it again I've used a dry brush with the thickened dyes. So, perhaps with combined with other techniques for this effect.