Inktense Blocks

I bought myself a new 'toy', a tin of inktense blocks - they are inks in a block. You can use them dry or with water, below shows the colours both dry and wet.

I did a few quick, very quick sketches in my sketchbook.

Then I thought I would try them on fabric. I used my gel printing plate, but on the first experiment the ink was to dry to transfer to the fabric. When I applied water to the plate then drew in it with a block, it worked just fine....but I was quick.

The tortoise was a freehand drawing directly onto the fabric.

I wasn't sure about washing, so I rinsed out a sample and the inks stayed put, so it looks like they will be good for fabrics. They have inspired me to start a bigger project......

All Queens Cushion

Another cushion finished. I created the queen design quite a while ago when I was at college and I've had a inkjet transfer print of it hanging around for ages so I thought I would use it. It was inspired by queens on playing cards. I also put on beads around some of their necks.

Above is the fabric, below is the original design, quite a bit brighter.

The same design is available on a t-shirt from my zazzle shop

If you would like this design on anything else that zazzle sell just let me know and I will see how it fits - no obligation to buy.

Transfer Prints and Valentine Potato

Does a potato have a heart?

Below are some of the transfer prints I did last week, some of the photos were so bad I decided not to add them, these were the best of the bunch. Most of them were done using the gel printing plate which is normally used for acrylics but I thought I would experiment. The transfer paint separates when put on the plate but I thought I obtained some interesting effects. I used poly cotton fabric, so the results are more muted and not as bright as when a totally man made fabric is used. 

For this sample I used a fabric with a little texture.

I used a plastic fork to make the marks in the paint here.

I used a stamp in the paint here.

More than one colour was used

A whisk was used here and a stamp 

I also used stamps and texture plates to print on the fabric directly which can be seen on some of the papers below. Tip - save the used papers and paint over them so they can be used for collages and other art work.

Sewing Lady and Lace Effect fabric

Sewing Lady - Above is a digital collage made up of lace, hand embroidery and a vintage image from the book 'Women: A Pictorial Archive from Nineteenth-century Sources'

Yesterday I posted images of transfer lace, well this is the fabric that was under the lace when I transferred the colour from the paper with an iron.

Update - Fabric Samples

This is what I have done with the fabric samples so far.

This piece was cut up then stitched together. After sandwiching with some thin wadding and backing fabric I quilted them together with a decorative machine stitch.

For the boat I outlined with freehand machine embroidery, then stitched it to a sketchbook page which I had torn out. I reattached the page with hand stitches.

Another boat also outlined with machine embroidery.

I used a red thread for the freehand machine embroidery to quilt the three layers together.

This one is my favourite so far.

I have one large piece of fabric that I've not done anything with yet

Herrington Park

Mixed Media - background is painted, the images are parts of photographs printed on fabric, appliqued to the background, with additional freehand machine stitching.

The creatures were sculpted in large rocks, the girl and umbrella were part of seats, the bull rushes were near the lake - all things found in Herrington Park withPenshaw Monument in the background, which can be seen from the park too. {part of the 'Illusions of the North East' collection}

Newcastle/Gateshead on the Rocks

Another one from the 'Illusions of the North East' set. This one is fabric, digitally printed with a picture made up of photographs from around the area, and then heavily hand stitched, mainly french knots to enhance the moss on the rocks.