Gelli Plate Experiment & Star Attraction

I have had fun in the past experimenting with gelatin plate printing so when I discovered the Gelli printing plate I was pretty interested to work with it too.  The Gelli plate has a clear, soft surface.  It holds it's shape, unlike the slow (or sometimes quick) decomposition of gelatin.
I first tried printing on fabric using my usual Jacquard fabric paints.  I did not like the response of the paints to the printing plate.  I need to experiment further but the paints seemed to react to the plate.  Once dry, the paint easily peeled off of my silk, an effect I have not seen before. 
My next experiments were much more successful.  I made the prints shown here using lightweight cardstock paper shapes.  This time I used transparent and semi-transparent Liquitex Basics acrylic paints. 

Steps to Monoprinting
1. Smooth a small amount of paint with brayer on the Gelli plate.
2. Quickly arrange cardstock cut-out shapes on plate
3. Align paper over plate
4. Gently but firmly press hand all over paper.
5. Carefully lift paper and set aside.
6. Remove cutouts. Optional, place 2nd paper down to pick up ghost image (paint that remains on the plate.
7. Clean Gelli plate and brayer. (I used wetwipes.)

In other news, a new fabric design available in my shop: Star Attraction.

Fairies, Mom, & Still the Giveaway

It has been a while since I worked on a doll of any size.  Doll Street Dreamers is having a fairy swap for members.  The deadline has not yet arrived so you still have time to join and participate.
This is my Pink Fairy for the Mini Fairy swap.  She is of my own design.  Her body is cotton and she has paper wings, organza and chiffon dress and rainbow dyed mohair hair.

In other news, Spoonflower's  weekly contest is designing a floral border print.  Spoonflower suggests the design could become a skirt for mom.  If you remember my post on my chicken curtains that you won't be surprised my design, Garden Path with Onagadoris Yellow Border, includes roosters in with the flowers.  My mom always liked the bright colors that complement her dark hair and fair skin.  I think she would like this.  Please consider voting starting on Thursday, until then the Bee contest is still up.  See previous post.

Garden Path with Onagadoris Yellow Border

And lastly, my celebration giveaway on Spoonflower is still running until the end of April.  Drawing will be held May 1.  Comment with your favorite of my designs for a chance to win and favorite a design for a second chance. 

New Milestone Giveaway! And Bees!

Things have been silent here on the blog for a couple of months.  My husband had knee replacement surgery so I have been a busy bee helping him plus doing the extra the things around the house that he normally does.  Things are getting back to normal now, thankfully.
So here I am with three things.  First, I am back with another Spoonflower contest.  This week's theme is Bees.  It was difficult to decide between my designs and polling my friends resulted in a three way tie so I went with this one.  Please consider voting.

Busy Bees Blue

Here are other two designs.

Busy Bees on Lavendar

Busy Bees on Yellow Daisies

 And now for the milestone.  I have finally broken the 100 favorites barrier on Spoonflower for one of my designs.   To celebrate I am giving away three yards of fabric of any of my designs.  To be entered into the drawing, simply comment on my blog naming your favorite of my designs from my shop.  To get an extra entry favorite my design on Spoonflower.  These entries will be combined with my Facebook entries.  The drawing will be May 1st.

And for the last little giveaway.  Spoonflower is giving away a swatch of their new fabric Cotton Lawn Ultra.  Simply enter the coupon code freelawn.

A little Bee PSA

Fierce Little Rose

This week's post features more sewing for my daughter.  She is still really into pink, so, while I have other colors of this design in my shop I went with her favorites.  I made two items for her in organic cotton knit, a drop waist dress with a Peter Pan collar and scalloped skirt and a pair of pants with a tuxedo strip.  I just love this photo of her looking fierce.
For the dress I used two of my designs, Hexie Roses Deep Hues (the top) and Profusion of Roses in Reds (the skirt.)  For the accents, I used Damask Matisse Style by littlerhodydesign.
The pants have a flower button waistband and use my Hexie Roses Deep Hues design and littlerhodydesign's Damask Matisse Style for the tuxedo stripe.
 My daughter is such a fun model it provides and extra incentive to sew for her.

Spring Romance

This week I am highlighting some of my more romantic inspired fabrics.  First of all is my entry into the Steampunk Valentine contest.  It was inspired by Victorian valentines and Steampunk costumes.  I love the playfulness of Steampunk.  I even included my favorite Steampunk singer, Professor Elemental, because he has a song that just makes me so happy.  Please consider voting.  The design will be available as fabric, wallpaper or giftwrap within a month.  Let me know if you need it sooner.

These next designs are not Steampunk but they are all about the beginning of spring.  They are inspired by heart shapes, flowers and the little florets on the trees as they begin to blossom.  These fabrics are available in my Spoonflower shop.

Unveiling

OK, breaking news!  I have been working on this for a while and the kinks are still not all worked out, more collections will be added but I think it is ready to unveil....
I have a website! If you have made an item with my fabric, you may be featured in my Customer Projects page. If you have made something with my designs and would like to be added, let me know.

Little Drawers

Anyone who has moved knows that there is always a lot of set up to do in the new place.  It seems that every new space has different requirements.  In our new home it seems we need more desks.  So I have lost my sewing desk but it has been replaced with our old, and now too small dining table.  The good news is that I now have space for my cutting mat and sewing machine all in one area.  The bad news is I lost all of the drawer space of my former sewing desk.  I have a lot of little tools and pens that I prefer tucked away in drawers.  After looking into my local options, I found an older cabinet for the larger items and a little wooden drawer cabinet in a craft store for the rest. 
The little cabinet seemed to be just the perfect size for my wallpaper sample of Ghana Fantastic Floral on White Petite  from my Ghana Floral Collection and indeed I was able to wrap it in the design.  I simply removed the drawer pulls and traced around the drawer faces to get a total wrap look.  I really like the little black drawer pulls in contrast with the light and bright design.  Now my supplies will be happy!

 

Ghana Fantastic Floral on White Petite