My First Stamp!

I finally finished my first handmade stamp!

 I love the final outcome (the print), but I hated making it. Can't I just think of a design and voila...it appears? No? Maybe I should work on inventing teleportation first.

I ended up stabbing my fingers at least twice with the carving tool. Not cool. Minimal blood loss, but those suckers hurt for weeks afterwards.

I have so many other doodles I want to transform into stamps, but I've got to tell you, carving the linoblock sucked. That's a pretty harsh word for me, but it did suck. I'm going to try a softer material next time. Perhaps the lines will be less crisp (not that you can tell from my first attempts at carving the lino), but I'm going for a more natural look anyways, not precision.

Adventures in Printing

I've been collecting interesting shapes from nature lately. Every time I go outside in the farm fields across from my house my eyes are searching for unique shapes that I think might translate into printing. I'm brand new to printing on fabric, so every time I try my hand at it is an experience and an experiment. I was using water soluble ink for block printing, but I couldn't get it to stop bleeding or fading after heat setting. Plus the heat setting was tedious. Perhaps I'll learn more in that arena later on.

So I tried some basic fabric paint that does not require heat setting. It's thicker, but I still like it. Hey, I printed our Christmas cards with finger paints! I'm not picky.

Well I took this scrap fabric and tried some printing with some dried flowers I had on hand.

You may have seen the one on the right before. I used them for our Christmas cards. 

But the ones of the left are new. I love how it looks like a cross from fireworks and stars. 

I also love how each one comes of different. Sometimes I want to create blocks for stamps so I can create uniform designs, but there is something about how organic and original the print is when it comes to using the original material. It goes against my perfectionist nature, but I'm going with the flow. Or at least trying to!

Now what to do with this fabric? I chose a color I didn't really like in case it was a disaster. But it wasn't. So now what? Any ideas?

Stamping

Guess what I got in the mail???

I am super excited about this custom stamp I ordered from Terbear Collectibles.

Thanks so much for the excellent work. I can't wait to get the ink and fabric out!

Hotel Surprises

Another added benefit of going away for a conference? Finding insipiration in unexpected places!

I wish I had opened up my eyes to this sooner in life, but last week during my conference I couldn't stop noticing all of the patterns and details around me. In the carpet. In the wallpaper. In the napkins. In the glasses. Women's earrings and necklaces. I couldn't stop sketching.

(Don't worry I got some work done too!)

It was inspiration overload and I loved it. 

I'm even seeing new things (or things in a new way) at home.

Centerpiece Today, Printing Tomorrow

Turns out my dried wildflowers made a spooky enough centerpiece for our Halloween party this weekend. But don't worry, they'll be dipped in paints and inks soon enough.

I hope everyone had a safe and fun Halloween!

My Crabby Day Part III

So my husband brought us outside for a walk after my less than stellar afternoon. We walked along the canal path and pointed out the wonders of nature to our daughter. She was enjoying herself, despite the fact we have to fight her to do almost anything now a days. but at the apex of the walk she lost it. We wouldn't let her walk down a steep and not so stable embankment to fetch a rock to through the water, mean parents that we are. We said no and she lost it. Funny. God said no and I lost it. I hate life lessons.

I won't tell you everything is hunky dory now. It's not. I'm still a little mad. It doesn't help to have 5 months of pregnant hormones coursing through my body, but I'm still mad. And I'm okay with that. I will wait on my God. He will bring me what I need and I trust in that.

On a positive note I found these beauties during our walk. Aren't they just perfect for some printing/stamping? I can't wait!

The Inspiration is Overflowing

I can't really sew during my lunch break (1. I can't lug my sewing machine around and 2. my boss wouldn't be able to hear himself think over the roar of the antique motor). So instead I gaze over my favorite blogs and search for items on Etsy that bring me to the center again. I thought I might share with you the things I love.

Checkout Girl

Melissa Crowe at Checkout Girl recently posted about this fabulous brooch that turned into a wall hanging. There are so many embroidery hoop wall hangings out there that I absolutely adore, but this one caught my eye for being the first felted flower one I've ever seen. You can also find her at her Little Pink House etsy shop

kim e-m

Someone recently sent me an article about this etsy seller. Kim EichlerMessmer at kim e-m hand dyes her fabrics and then quilts with them. This quilt alone makes me want to dive into that art form.

Yardwork

I found Yardwork through JezzePrints. The love and yearning for stamps and design possibilities are brewing in my heart as I get into fabric printing little by little.

Garlands of Grace

I have the hardest time finding cloth head bands that I like. I am itching to purchase one from Garlands of Grace. This one makes me want to embrace a pumpkin and celebrate Fall.

Add this to my Christmas list -seriously - Mom, add this to my list.

Studio Jarrah

Well it wouldn't be a complete day unless I found something cute for my daughter as well. I love all the prints available for children and nurseries now. The color and composition of this one by Studio Jarrah has stayed with me.

Not to mention my daughter asked me this week what whales sound like. We hunted you tube for sound clips. Humpback whales are creepy sounding. Why more people don't make Halloween soundtracks from their calls, I don't know. Beluga whales on the other hand sound like a mix between pigs and a flock of tropical birds. Now we know.

Live and Learn

I finally got my fray check to work. It smells nasty and requires a light touch. Unfortunately it does not work very well on nylon. Can you see the bubbly impression it left around the edges?

Nylon has also turned out to be less than ideal for block printing with ink. Maybe I'm not implementing the heat setting portion of the program correctly, but nylon is currently out of the running.

Finally!

 There was such a cloud hanging over me. I was sitting down and doing so much sewing, but it felt like procrastinating. I was avoiding opening up the screen printing and block printing kits I had bought and my sewing pile was benefitting from it. But this past weekend I finally did it. I opened up those boxes and decided right away to not attempt the screen printing yet and not carve my own block! Instead I dug up my old stamps and just experimented with the inks and composition.

I just wanted to get my hands dirty and try it. So I did.



I have a million more ideas flowing through my head now and an impatient toddler that wants my attention. Gotta go. Enjoy!