Kaleidoscope Block Printing

Finally, my first piece of printed fabric!!! Remember I said that one of my newest sources of inspiration was my kaleidoscope? Well I designed a repeating pattern based on the reflected geometric shapes and turned it into a printing block! The printing block was made from 5mm thick foam sheets cut to shape and glued onto a block of wood. I used my new Permaset Aqua fabric inks to mix up a lovely teal green colour to compliment the natural tones of the linen union basecloth.

From Block Printing March 2011

And here it is! The finished article. I decided to make the fabric into a tablecloth runner for my purple coffee table. I hemmed the tablecloth with one of my fancy decorative stitches on my sewing machine that I have never used before. I think the purple contrasting thread colour finishes it nicely.

From Block Printing March 2011

There were a few things that I think I would do differently next time. I mounted the foam block print on a piece of wood but this meant it was extremely difficult to see where I was lining up the pattern match, so I will keep a look out for some transparent Perspex to mount the foam on next time. Also I used a foam roller to apply the ink to the block. This meant that as well as coating the top of the foam, I also coated the sides of the foam and the wood backing. When I was printing, there were a lot of places where the ink from the edge of the wood got onto the fabric and the print did not have nice crisp edges. To solve this I think I will invest in a rubber brayer or two, so less ink gets where it is not supposed to.

From Block Printing March 2011

I'm pretty happy with the outcome for my first try and I am definately doing this again, it was so much fun!

New Year, New Materials, New Inspiration

I was spoiled this Christmas for amazing books and craft supplies. My list of books included Van Gogh, Hockney, Munch and Henry Moore's Sheep Sketchbook art reference books, Clare Youngs' Scandinavian Needlecraft and Rachel Allen "Bake". I have already baked the St. Stephen's Day "Christmas Pudding" muffins from the Rachel Allen book which were delicious!

I also got a set of Permaset Aqua fabric inks which I am so excited about! I have wanted to have a go at printing my own fabric for a while and now I am one step closer to being able to do it. I think I will try block printing first but I really want to get myself set up to do screenprinting.

Last but not least I got a free motion embroidery / quilting foot that I am dying to use! I have wanted to have a go at free motion machine embroidery for a while now and when it was featured on the latest series of Kirstie's Homemade Home that was it... I had to have one!! It will also come in very handy when I finally finish my first patchwork quilt.

While I was at my Mum's house for Christmas, I found my old kaleidoscope from when I was a kid. I'm not sure that I fully appreciated this toy as a child but I am absolutely mesmerised by it now! Everytime you turn it a brand new, never before seen pattern emerges in front of your eyes... This is my new favourite source of inspiration for pattern design. I also discovered I can take pictures through the eyepiece!!! I might make this into a feature... "Kaleidoscope Pattern of the Week".

From Kaleidoscope

No excuses for lack of crafts this year!! Plenty of materials and inspiration sources to keep me busy. I think I might start a pattern design inspriation sketch book (another New Years Resolution!)