new photos

So i made a light box for taking some new photos for Etsy, and it worked out pretty well.  I had the issue of having to wait until there was sun (ha!) in order to take pictures.... so... 

I got 4 full-spectrum light bulbs,  built a little box from foam core, and the most important part-- read the instruction manual for my camera.  It turns out, that you can change the setting for the type of lighting conditions. (seems so obvious- doesn't it?)

Anyway- that did the trick-    

(this is a picture of my new paisley zipper pouch)

New Cloth Goods

Here are some pictures of some of the new items my lovely reps have been showing:

The pillows are printed on linen and the button pouches are printed on hemp/cotton and have a little hand made button.  (buttons are so fun to make!)

new bags

My lovely sales rep in California, Ginger, was requesting some different types of bags, so here are some new ones that will be available in stores and in my etsy shop. I really like the square bag- such a nice size - don't know why it took this long to make one like this...!

thinking...

I am dreaming of "passive income" After days spent solely on printing on paper and cloth I find myself dreaming of someone else doing all the printing! Don't get me wrong- I am grateful and seriously overjoyed to be doing the job I do, but I think I need to branch out a bit and set my designs free into the world. So-I'm beginning to look into licensing some of my designs- do you know anything about licensing? who and what? How about this- anyone who gives me info on licensing in the "comments" section will receive a free gift (perhaps a lavender sachet, or a little bag...). Anyway I need to stay small and expand at the same time, if you know what I mean.

More houses

I made some new prints of little houses. Then a pillow-one side is a silkscreened big red house, and the other side is block printed little houses. I have also been thinking of new designs for sachets for my reps to sell, so I thought the little house would make a good one. I'm trying to make more household item- hence the pillows! I think I'll make a few other colors and then introduce them in my Etsy shop. I have a million ideas on this house thing (it all started with my barn carving from last year, remember? then continued with my "Italian village" a few months ago). So stay tuned! I think I have more ideas than I have time! I'm sure I am not alone!

enjoying summer

hi all! as you know, it's hard to be inside in front of the computer when it's beautiful and summery outside. Here is a bit of what I've been doing: -picking blueberries -trying to keep coyotes away -weeding -weeding -weeding (haha) -sewing -getting another (the 3rd!) card order from Anthropologie -woo hoo!

The sticks and stones project

Well, I'm not sure if my other project (lily aimes) wasn't working, or it just morphed into this... So for now-- my inspiration is sticks and stones and here is what I've done so far (and some pics of stones too!)

Blockprinting on Fabric

I don't talk about it much, but blockprinting on fabric is pretty hard. I have been trying different methods of printing on fabric for years, and attempting to find "the secret" by scouring the net and the libraries. What ink is best? What printing material is best? What fabric is best? Does anyone know?

Here are a few blockprinters to check out and see what you think.

-Galbraith and Paul how in the world do they do such huge runs of fabric? and what the heck are they using for their block print? -Make It she talks about this difficult subject extensively on her wonderful blog-and has some beautiful examples.

-Tobias and the angel in england, does india style wood block printing on vintage fabrics (among other things) -Jesse Breytenbach-does beautiful blockprinting on fabric tape. (I think you mentioned her, Kylie, a few posts back) -Folly Cove Designers from the 50's I think- I have studied the website at length to see how they get such clean designs, I saw an old article that shows them stepping on linoleum (without the block attached), but now I guess the descendants use a giant press. -Art Goodies It seems that she does single images on cloth with a press, but definately worth looking at (beautiful). -Elle Deco mag did a nice little write-up on blockprinting last dec. with some helpful tidbits.

so this is what I do- I use screenprinting ink and with a little sponge brush I tap the ink onto my blocks (rubber carved blocks) I use linen, or hemp, or cotton on a hard surface (though I have read about using a soft surface, it may depend on the hardness of your block...) and I push, don't rock, the block onto the fabric, and there you have it my "secret" until I can figure out something that works better-- and can print a bigger area at a time!

More and More!

I silkscreened a couple more fabrics today- Shona-I haven't forgotten that I am overdue with your fabric. In truth, the excuse I have is not because I have been busy - though I have- nor that it was Easter/my mom's birthday: My real excuse is that I was waiting for this awesome hemp/cotton muslin to arrive in the mail from Dharma Trading! It has such a great texture- I think you will love it as I do (when you finally do get it)! For those of you who are NOT Shona- Shona of LaLa Dex Press and I are going to do a project together- so stay tuned!! I have mentioned that I am doing the National Stationery Show in May ?- well I am getting stressed now- luckily my mom is coming down from WA to help me- When I get stressed I don't really seem like it, except sometimes- like now- I get a rash on my face- it's hideous- like elephant girl. R is nice enough to tell me that I'm still pretty and you can't really notice it but uugh (I think his eyesight is going...) anyway good thing I'm too busy to go anywhere!! Good news is I am getting alot done and the rash clears up within a couple of days!! Hope you all are well-

My busy weekend

I did a ton of printing and sewing this weekend! Also did more to get my booth ready for The National Stationery Show. I decided to organize my booth by seasons- as that's how I think of the art as I make it- of course lots of things cross over- but if a pommegranate is ripe in the winter time shoudn't it be under the winter category- of course! I printed in greys this weekend- I learned that it's easiest to print by color, I know, it seems obvious, but I didn't always do it that way. OH and check out the first button I ever "made" - Probably most people know about the little blank buttons you buy at the yardage shop, then cover with your own fabric- but this was my first time. I really think it's cute- I used the center of one of my sunflower fabric prints so it looks polkadotted- It's very exciting- you should try it! I am drawn to cups lately- and so I seem to see them everywhere- check out these cups from artist Anji Allen and also the great coffee cup from A Little Hut. I took a picture envisioning my cup fabric as an apron, and I made ONE coaster- since it wasn't real "work" I couldn't take the time to make more.... I am a very difficult boss!! You can look on my flickr page for more pics! Better get back to work befor I get fired!

New Work

I have been working on some new silkscreen patterns based on my blockprints and drawings- I am really happy with the ferns and the mushrooms- I think I'll print the mushrooms in grey too- still working on perfecting my silkscreening skills.... I've also been coming up with new card designs- really inspired by the little hoot owls- I like that you can use a card like that for almost any occasion!

From Martha Stewart February 2005

I think these little potholders are adorable- I would like to think that I will make them.... we'll see. Also look at that little strawberry pincusion, isn't that the cutest!

stuffed and smelly

These images may look familiar.... I used my silkscreens and blockprints and printed them on muslin, sewed them up then stuffed them with batting and lavender. I think they would make cute tags for a package-you can write on the back- and then they could be used as a sachet to make your clothes smell good. I plan to make many more, and print matching wrapping paper. I think it would be so cute all wrapped up together... I put individual pictures of each one on my flickr site, if you are interested.

you guys are great!

Thank you for the understanding and kind comments from yesterday. I really (really) appreciated them, and they did make me smile and feel better. So back to the happier land of elves and mushrooms (elves like a little extraneous ink- they would not have it any other way). (I like them and haven't packed them up from xmas). The mushrooms are a silkscreen (for fabric) that I was testing on some paper and I just liked how it looked, though it needs a little more work. I'll show you when it's ready for fabric. Thanks again!!!

Studio and a Secret

Since you asked (Eliana)... Here is a picture of a little part of my studio. I love it and it's huge and it's warm and heated with radiant heat. I feel so lucky. (thanks, Rick!!!) And the coasters, well they're for Eliana too. I can't keep a secret. Since I only sent you ONE coaster (I know it's strange) I made you four more, they don't really match the other one -a snowcouple-but I think you will like them. They are my designs silkscreened on felt, with little felt pieces sewn on for accent. Now if I get them sent that will be the real surprise. I'm not one in that group of (seemingly) organised bloggers who have all their packages wrapped, cards sent and cookies baked on time- For me Christmas ends when the last gift has been given, so sometimes it can last into July-heck or even all the way until the following Christmas!

Little pencil bag

Well, I finally switched over to the other version of blogger, so nice and oh the features! Do you remember the blockprinted curtains I made for my kitchen? (yes?) well here is a little pencil bag I made from the same material. I was working without a pattern, so it could use a few professional touches, but I think it's pretty cute. I'm hoping to come up with about 4 more designs and make little book covers too to take to the stationery show with me in April. Naturally I'll have to have someone else sew them....