Playing around - simple DIY printing

The last couple of weeks have been frantically busy,  both work and home/family-wise. I also succumbed to a sinus infection which put me out of action for a few days, after which, rushing to get everything done  I felt I was meeting myself coming  backwards. But - the mindfulness/gratitude strategy is slowly sinking in. Instead of panicking (my usual strategy) I realised I needed to take things a bit more steadily and further playtime was necessary! In place of stitching today I decided to have some fun with paint.

This is so good for me - I really don't do messy - and I find it hard to play and push back  my neat and tidy comfort zone! (Himself  says I  am Monica from 'Friends!') Sadly he's not wrong,  I do tend to work in a detailed and controlled way,  so loosening up play times aren't natural to  me, but I'm learning!

I was very impressed with my friend Alison's Gelli Plate for mono printing. I didn't think I'd really use one enough to warrant buying my own,  but  it did inspire me to try a few DIY printy things,  without spending a lot of money.

First I picked some leaves from the garden,  sloshed a mix of Artist's watercolour paints on the back and pressed them onto watercolour paper - using a kitchen towel.

This was really fun!  I tried a few more watercolour prints in my journal on cartridge paper. (These are St Petersburg White Nights watercolour paints which I love.)

Then I got out my fabric scrap bag and tried using acrylic paint onto calico. First I tried some Jacquard Textile paint. I really like how these buddleia leaf prints turned out.

 Flushed with success -  I made up a rough plate using a piece of mat board with some acetate stuck on it  - to see if it would work. I didn't have a brayer, so used a natural sponge to apply the paint (just cheap acrylic craft paint to which  I added some fabric painting medium.(All very high tech!)

Pretty rough and ready, but it worked ok!

I don't have any stamps, so I drew into the paint using a rubber tipped art tool,  then laid fabric scraps over the design and lightly rubbed. These are the results:

 


Not too bad for a first attempt,  and these are much more free and expressive than how I normally work.  I think I may try a thick silicon mat for a base,  as it will have more spring and flex - and get a proper brayer! Anyone got any tips or suggestions for other DIY/recycled tools and equipment to share -  or more fun ways to play with printing?

I'm going to take some of these prints and see how I can develop them a bit more too.x

Thread-doodling

Sometimes I know I need to loosen up and let go of things.
Here's an idea to get your embroidery Muse dancing and clapping - and  help use up all those bits of  leftover thread.

Take a small, simple shape.

Here's a bunny, 'cos it's spring! Transfer it to your fabric. (If you're a new stitcher, check out the hints tab to find how to do this.)

Gather together a range of threads- whatever colours you like. Mine were are a mix of Anchor and DMC stranded cottons from my odds and ends box -  I fancied very bright and cheery. 

Thread up some needles, (I used 2 strands of thread and size 7 or 8 needle in a 5" hoop) - and doodle away! Just  stitch as if you are scribbling on your phone pad,  make squiggles if you  like! It doesn't need to  be at all precise and the stitch length can vary -  just  have fun!

I started with back stitch,  making spiral 'roses' in  pinks and greens, literally splodged around the shape, and a few yellow lazy daisies. Then I filled in wherever I felt like it, with chain stitch, Chinese and bullion knots, and kept adding different colours. 

  

Use it as a 'pick up and put down' project.

You could do any stitches you know and enjoy; the idea is to just to free yourself up - no pressure.

I finally added a bit of text for fun. 

 I found this  exercise really theraputic - just like playing with art supplies. Hope some of you  find it useful too. Now - I need to  go and do the same thing for my painting:) x

Happy Friday!

How has your week been? Mine was busy and hectic, and we've had worrying family news. In today's world, it's so easy to forget to be grateful for all the things we do have.

In my quest to  be more mindful , I'm a member of Action for Happiness, So today I'm  unofficially linking up with Shell's regular Hoppy Friday  post because yesterday was  the UN's International Day of Happiness 2014! 

Pharrell Williams joined up  with the UN Foundation to ask people around the world to submit footage of them being happy: singing, dancing, playing or doing whatever makes them feel jolly.


One of the most popular and moving videos of the campaign is  from the Philippines. People are dancing amidst the rubble that still exists after 2013's Typhoon Haiyan, the deadliest recorded typhoon in that country.  It's a wonderful  reminder of how resilient human beings  can be.

So if you're not having the greatest week, I hope this makes you smile. If you  are, that's wonderful, please enjoy some more Happy right now!x

'Turned out Nice Again....'

If you're British and of a certain age  - you'll know what that means! I'm not that old, (honest!) but I was brought up in a house of film lovers. Anyway, I digress, again. It's been sunny,  and windy, but not wet!  Things are really drying up at last. My garden plants are so happy,  especially my beautiful hellebores, which are my pride and joy!

 So pretty,  they really herald the spring for me.

 The quince is also rather stunning this year -  I love the colour and the bees like it too!

 The Kerria flowers add a wonderful splash of gold - and more bee noms.

 The weeping crab apple tree is almost ready to burst into blossom.

 Forsythiablossom -  just like a drop of golden sun.

 Rosemary flowers -  how stunning are these tiny things- like miniature orchids.

 Things are looking fabulous up in Kings Weston Woods too - golden treasure everywhere!

Bird song is filling the woodland and this Great Tit very kindly obliged with a 'beak open' pose. (Well after several minutes of me running madly around the tree trying to get a shot of it!) Hope it's lovely wherever you are.x

Embroidery on dark fabric.

So this week we've come from this beautiful warm spring weather:

 Thanks to David Martyn,  KWAG Chair and photographer extraordinaire, for this image taken last weekend 

 To this, taken from my window this morning. Dense fog and cold all week! If you  look hard you can just see the cherry blossom peering through the gloom.

 On the plus side my shelf finally got out put up. My little art mannequin is jumping for joy! I found some pretty scroll brackets perfect for hanging my treasures,  so now Starr's  wonderful gift and my guardian angel are right on hand to inspire me as I work!

I've designed one series of 8 British wildflowers and one of 8 native birds for two of the ladies in my stitchery class. These will be made up into cushions, interspersed with fabric squares. I'm really pleased how the designs came out - especially the birds for Wendy. She wanted them to be realistic, but also achievable for her as a relatively new stitcher; so  I suggested she did them in (blue) redwork.  So for fun, I quickly stitched up the thrush yesterday on a black background, using Valdani variegated  threads (6 and 3 stranded cottons).   I  like the effect and I think I'll try and take it a bit further

I 'm in a hurry so I gave up after three tries to remove all the filaments from the shot! The only problem with black cotton fabric....x