our 52 week project - print and stitch part 1

As the new year began I was looking for a project to commit to, which wouldn't leave me stressing to hit deadlines, but would push me creatively. I came across the #our52weekproject on Instagram which was started by Brooklyn Haberdashery. It was just what I needed, you set your own project and the only commitment is to post an image on Instagram once a week using the hashtag. Perfect.

My project is to print and stitch into linen squares measuring 30 x 30 cm. I'm keeping it simple, I don't know how many I'll complete, I don't have a plan of how they will look. They will most likely become a quilt.

This print was stencilled using the waste you get from sticker sheets, (these were from Moo stickers) I did a tutorial for this way back here. 

I'm keeping the stitching really simple, so far just running stitch. Hand stitching into linen feels so luxurious, I'm really enjoying the time spent on this project.

More stencilling this week, introducing a second colour.

So many possibilities with this project, it's very freeing to work on this with no restrictions and no pressure. 

If you'd like to join in, find #our52weekproject and start sharing your creations.

cool colours, calm improv

I'm in love with this quilt, it seems to be very calm and soothing. It's not my usual colourway of choice, but I'm finding it very pleasing. Duck Egg blue seems to have that effect on me.

I made this up as a sample for a recent show I attended, it's improv, as you can see and I didn't labour too much over the placement of the prints and solids. Once you let go and just cut and sew, cut and sew, you begin to see your work in a slightly less 'control freak' sort of way, or at least this is how it works for me.

I used four colours of Kona cotton and a selection of my stone and duck egg blue prints. I cut the solids into strips and the prints into chunky rectangles and a few strips. I marked out on the floor (no fancy design wall here) roughly the size I wanted the quilt to be so I had somewhere to lay out my pieces after I had stitched them together. 

I then roughly laid out my blocks, of varying shape and size to create a strip which was the full width of the quilt. I joined up the blocks, adding and trimming as necessary, until I had a full width pieced together.

I repeated this process until I had enough strips for the full quilt and then joined all the strips together.

The back has a one off printed panel positioned slightly off centre. I printed this in stone and duck egg blue with the different designs overlapping and creating interesting patterns.

This is a cot sized quilt, 115cm x 125cm. At some point soon I'm hoping to take custom orders on these. 

I have a red one planned next, I'll keep you posted and I may even remember to take some progress shots!

my creative space - many, many unfinished projects

My creative space is overflowing right now, it's always the way at this time of year as I try to squeeze in as much as I can before school finishes for the summer.

These are a few of the 'in progress' projects dotted around the house right now.

I started this capelet by Leila and Ben earlier in the year, I did finish it, but it didn't fit. So one of the ladies at my local crochet group unravelled it while I wound up a giant ball of yarn whilst trying not to sob. I'm nearly finished, again, I think it'll fit this time.

A slouchy bag for summer, it was unfinished when I started this post, though I've completed it now, I'll post a picture soon(ish).

A new quilt, mixing my hand printed fabrics with some gorgeous Eclectic Elements fabric. The binding is on and this just needs hand finishing, I must admit I love this one and can't wait to finish it. 

There are many more projects lingering around, I'll be back once I've made some progress. 

GIVEAWAY DAY!

Here's a late entry into the SewMamaSew Giveaway extravaganza. 

So let gets straight to the point, the prize!

The lucky winner will recieve a bundle of samples of my Handprinted Fabric, an assortment of colours and designs in various sizes. 

These are perfect for patchwork and small handmade projects - purses, book covers, coasters etc or mix them up with other fabrics and create an original quilt.

In order to win, leave a comment telling me what colours you like to work with the most in your craft projects. 

For a second chance follow me on Facebook or Instagram and leave a second comment telling me you do so.

If you are a no reply blogger please include your email address.

I will post internationally and the giveaway is open until 11pm Friday 13th December UK time, I'll announce a winner over the weekend.

Don't forget to check out the other great giveaways at SewMamaSew.

Good luck!!

hand printed, hand quilted

I've had my head down and been beavering away lately, you know I'm not a speedy quilter, so I'm really chuffed to have finished  this one recently.

I'm really excited by this quilt, as it is my first one using fabrics I have screen printed myself. I love a juicy solid colour and thought these prints and solids really complimented each other.

I went for a simple design and used a printed square, within a solid square. I'm calling this one Juicy Cubes.

The back is strips of prints and solids on a mostly plain pale grey back.

Hand quilted in cotton perle.

I love this so much! 

There's so much more to share, I'm going to try and do a bit of a catch over then next couple of weeks. x  

wonky houses

I bought this sample pack for the Umbrella Prints Competition with plenty of time to get on and make something. Dumdeedum, roll on a couple of months and I realise I have just 3 days to think of something and make it.  

The pressure.   No ideas.   Not inspired.

In a very unprecise and unlike me fashion I set about chopping up the already small fabrics quite randomly in an attempt to make some wonky houses.

I printed some windows and doors and added a wonky roof. The seams don't all match at the corners, they lean more than I intended and I've over stuffed the tower block.

I don't think we have a winning entry here but I quite like them. I stitched them freely without worry and just enjoyed the process. That's what sewing is meant to be about, right? 

You will be able to vote for you favourite entries over here from the 1-5th June, I'm sure there will be plenty of stunners.

p.s. apologies about the quality of the photos, someone stole the sun and I had to use a flash, which wiped out the details.

Handprinted Swap III

It was so exciting waiting for the parcels from overseas to drop through the letterbox, knowing that they contain handprinted fabric from the swap.

It's amazing how different they all are.

these remind me of swirly clouds, from Charlotte 

 the slightly mad quilt lady

I love all the different clouds in this from 

Holly - bamboo bear

gorgeous keys from Carolyn  - telltale thread

Thank you swap partners! Now, what to make with them?

handprinted fabric swap III

The handprinted fabric swap, hosted by Leslie from Maze and Vale was great fun, as I thought it would be. Nothing like a deadline to get me to make a final choice and stick with a design.

I made acetate templates and printed the pebbles randomly onto the fat quarter, once dried I added the ladders over the top in a diferent colour.

Theses two are my favourite, I did them in colours to suit my swap partners and I love them. 

I think less is more, the red ones have too many circles, sorry partner! You live and learn right?!

all ready to go (they left before the deadline, just slow at posting about it)

I can hardly wait to see what will be dropping through my door, it's so exciting. 

You can see what everyone else has been up to over on flickr.

Playing along with Creative Spaces.

hand stamping fabric - tutorial

I have wrapped a few presents for crafty friends this year with handprinted fabric. I know they will love these, and I've had great fun doing it! So here's a little 'how to' if you want to do the same.

You will need:

-washed and ironed fabric to print on (yes, you have to wash it first to remove the size (coating) so you're actually printing on the fabric)

-shop bought craft stamps (I'm using clear ones with an acrylic block)

-Versacraft ink pad for printing on fabric, which are available in lots of colours

OR fabric paint and some foam / sponge / sponge roller (I used Setacolor which I got from Hobbycraft)

-old sheet or something to protect your work surface

Choose a stamp, I used mostly non Christmassy ones, so the fabric can be used all year round.

If you are using a Versacraft ink pad you should be fine using any design. 

If you are using fabric paint and the sponge method try out different stamps on a scrap of fabric first, I found the solid designs (the star) were OK but the stamps with a finer detail were a bit splodgy).

test piece, with varying results

Apply ink to your stamp, by either pressing onto your inkpad, or if you're using fabric paint, apply a little paint to your sponge and dab until you get a thin, even layer on your stamp - too much paint and you'll get a splodge. Practice on scrap fabric first.

If you get paint on your acrylic block edges, wipe it off before you print, it'll get messy otherwise.

To get a clear print, press firmly where the actual stamp is.

Now repeat in your chosen design, random, straight lines, stripes...

When you're finished allow the fabric to dry. Follow the instructions on your inkpad / fabric paint to set the inks to make your fabirc washable. I ironed these for a few minutes to set them. I've used these inks many times and found they wash very well.

Then wrap up your present and share the hand printed love.

Joining in with My Creative Space this week.

print, print, print

I am so excited, my fabrics are ready to go! WooHoo! I have enjoyed designing and planning and printing these so much, now of course I'm hoping they will actually sell. 

This is a big step for me on my journey of working once again, albeit on a very small from-the-kitchen-table sort of scale.

To celebrate getting to this point I am offering the first 3 customers who buy some fabric a free mini 'test pack' of extra fabrics, (which I admit is not put together yet, let alone photographed), you may get some imperfect samples in this. 

You can buy in my Folksy shop or my Etsy shop and keep upto date on my Facebook page, which I intend to try and update more often with offers. 

What do you think?? 

edited to add

*thanks for all your support, all three mini test packs

are now gone - happy sewing ladies!*

Hello!!

Well I didn't mean to drop out of blogland, somehow the days have just been too short lately.

Anyway, I've been playing around with some screen printing. I  got Mr to make me a couple of wooden frames and followed this tutorial to stretch the mesh. I followed Leslie from Maze & Vale's great tutorial and hand cut my designs onto paper stencils. 

I had mixed results with the paper, I did some in acetate too, which worked really well, and you get to wash them and reuse them too! 

I love these, I'm calling them hexadots, I'm going to make some larger ones too.

These raindrops were an impulse design, I like how they turned out though. 

Printing onto a vintage pillowcase, the blue raindrops are way too dark, but I love the yellow on there.

Of course I'm just showing you the good ones, there are plenty of dodgy prints that I didn't get the pressure / speed right on.

And some more circles too, because I love these! I'll be getting a screen made up so I can do more of these. 

Tell me, would you prefer to see imperfect circles as above, that have a handprinted look to them or something more perfect and regular? 

I'm hoping to get some handprinted fabrics into my shop soon, I'll keep you posted!

Playing along with My Creative Space and looking forward to a Workshop with Lola Nova on Sunday, handstitching in London Town with great company - this weekend is looking good!!

Now I have a lot of blogs to catch up on, to see what you've all doing. See you soon x