From Sewing reels to fabric!

This was my favourite technique learnt at my textiles evening class - using photo sensitive emulsion to screen print.
I had to find an image to use on my screen. Now I wanted the fabric to be me so there was no chance of just using an Internet or book image so I went around my house taking loads of photos to be used as an image. This was my favourite:


I then decided to try out some text so typed up a bit of textiles related wording.
Then it was onto the screen:


Prepping up my fabric ready to go!


Then screen printing madly with a range of colours and I absolutely love the result!!


A close up shot of a piece that I then made into something. Check in tomorrow to see the results!

Sharing ideas and inspiration over a lovely cup of tea!

That's what I did today - and it was lovely!
I met up with my friend Catherine from Red Daisy, catching up on our crafting ventures and sharing lots of ideas plus being amazed by her enviable craft room and the lovely hand made chickens!
Thanks for a lovely day!

And just because I can't post without a picture here are some of my lovely, and yes pink gerberas.




P.S Thanks for all the lovely kind words about the sewing box makeover!

Presenting the new restyled - refashioned sewing box!

Well it's finished - and I'm really pleased with it!
It may not be to every ones taste but it needed to have a little bit of pink in there somewhere!


After taking it apart completely, sanding it down, priming it, spray painting it, trying to put it back together in one go and then lining the compartment it was all worth it. It's been a learning curve!
This is also the first time that I've used spray paint - I'm normally a paint and paint brush kind of girl but now I'm a total convert and can see an addiction forming!
It's definitely worth paying the extra for the can of primer but the UK weather does not help when you're trying to spray paint and the wind is blowing and it's threatening rain!!
Now all I need to do is fill it with all my sewing bits and bobs!


Photos are not of great quality as it is so dull here at the moment! More photos over on flickr!

Finding a treasure!

I've wanted something for a long time.
I'd been busy looking but no luck.
Then I could not believe my eyes when I came across one a few weeks ago!
My lovely new sewing box!


I had been searching for one of these for a while. I have lots and lots of storage boxes for all my crafting items, but I just wanted one of these and when I went into a Charity shop and spied this I could not believe my eyes. I looked at it first glance and thought it was in fairly good condition but needed a little bit of work, so I carried on around the shop. BUT THEN someone else started looking at it, feeling slightly nauseous, heart pounding I rushed over and picked it up quickly! (Lesson learned in Charity shops if you see something you like don't be indecisive like me - pick it up straight away!)
Now it did not have a price on it so I went to ask and thought if they ask some stupid price then I'll keep on looking. But no can you guess how much?
£3!!!
Yes £3 - can you believe it!
So I'm busy fixing it up, its a little bit rickety and needs some TLC and I hope to have it finished by tonight - so photos tomorrow!

Over printing

I did not get as much time as I would have liked over printing onto fabric and seeing what great effects it can lead to - this was my problem as once I had completed a first print that I really liked I did not want to change it!!

I did however overprint onto the piece that had the join lines. I tore up strips of paper as a kind of stencil and placed these randomly on the fabric and then printed over the top. I am really pleased with the results and now just need to get some inspiration and ideas as to what to do with the fabric!
Any thoughts?

Screen printing update

Just after Christmas I started an evening class exploring a range of textile printing methods. Now I did say that I would post about this regularly but that never happened!
So a bit of a catch up....
This was my second attempt at printing on a large scale. I seem to enjoy printing on metres of fabric rather than just a small square!!
I learnt my lesson the first time around when I used a small screen and got join lines on the fabric.


So after rethinking my design, cutting loads more paper stencils, getting organised and hey presto - I was really happy with how this turned out in terms of the design and the colour!





Lots more tomorrow!

Rewind

Over the past few months everything has been a little hectic and now the hols are here I feel that I can rewind and catch up!
Today was jobs around the house (not too exciting but it is pouring with rain outside!)

There are lots of things planned, an every growing "to do" list and several things to post about that happened months ago. So to start....

*Introducing a new blog*
When I started this blog it was a way to connect with other like minded people whether that be related to sewing, baking or home decor. It was another means of inspiration directing me towards beautiful blogs and links that have been great inspiration some what like an online resource journal. Sometimes I'm good at blogging other times I'm not - that's life!
One of my initial concerns was that no one would find my blog, and what do I really have to say that's interesting! Well there were no worries there - I have had great emails from people all over the world telling me about what they do, where to buy things, links to great tutorials and even fabric swaps!
So to all you newbies out there don't worry and to help out a fellow friend I would like to introduce a new blog RED DAISY. Red Daisy has just started and there are already great photos of screen printing, handmade items and some new fabric flowers so please pop on over and check it out!

Yay! The hols are here!!

Today is the first day of the school holidays! For any other teachers out there this is bliss!
Friday felt a bit like the fab advert for Mastercard - just love it!



So what did I do today?
Ummmmmmmm......
I went into work to sort out cupboards!
Lots of non work related things planned though!

Not long to go!!

Sorry for the absence around here!
School summer holidays are in 2 weeks and it's all a little manic around here at the moment. Plus the weather has been boiling in the UK over the last week that it was too hot to do anything!
I will probably be missing in action for the next couple of weeks and then should get back to some normality!
I have so many lovely fabrics and lots of projects that I want to get done over the summer hols!
Talking of lovely fabrics - look at this lot!!




This was my lovely giveaway parcel that I received from Pink Penguin!!
If you have not discovered this fab site you must pop on over and visit and say I sent you!!
Have fun for now!