Block Printing with Hand-Carved Wooden Printing Blocks

Hello everyone! I’m Judy Gula of Artistic Artifacts in Alexandria, VA, and I'm happy to represent the month of March for The Printed Fabric Bee in 2016. The focus of my posts this month will be on Block Printing for art quilts and other fiber projects.

Edited 3/22 to add:U.S. residents who leave a comment here at the Printed Fabric Bee — or at my Artistic Artifacts blog — on any of my block printing posting in March, are eligible to win a prize (see more about this at the end of this post).

Block printing is one of the most ancient forms of decorative art. We carry a very wide range of wooden printing blocks in our shop. These blocks are hand carved in India and are part of our free trade products: we are proud to be a part of the support of 40 families in India!

For my first post, I’m including a video below that was taped while I was running my on-site “pop-up” shop at the recent Art & Soul creative retreat in Portland, Oregon. The video begins with me answering a question from my audience: where do wooden printing blocks come from?, and then moves into the basics of how to block print.

While traveling around the US vending at shows and teaching, I hear many of the same questions over and over, so I am using this opportunity, below and in the video, to briefly answer the most common ones.

1. What type of wood is used?
   The wooden printing blocks are carved out of shisham wood, which is a locally grown, sustainable hard wood.
2. Will the white paint come off?
   The white marking is there to give the carvers, or as they prefer, Block Makers, visual guidance as to where to chisel and carve the wood away.
3. How do I care for wooden printing blocks?
   Do scrub them with soap and water once your printing session is over. Use a soft nail brush if necessary to get paint out of the fine lines. However, don’t let your blocks soak in the sink or a container water. I dry them face down on a dry towel.
          Know this: they will never be ‘clean’ again — embrace that! (We find them beautiful with the hints of paint and use; see photo.)
4. How can I use them?
   .... well, the answer to that is for the next blog post!

My next blog post will give you a few ideas of how to embellish your block printed fabric.

Comment to Win!

In addition to the surface design tutorials posted here on The Printed Fabric Bee blog, each month, the specified artist offers a fabulous giveaway. Simply leave a comment on at least one of the blog posts during that month to be eligible. I have selected a beautiful circle design wooden printing block, an orange foam printing mat (critical to successful block printing), and a jar of True Blue PROfab Opaque Textile Paint as my prize (see below). However...if your name is drawn and you are local to the Virginia/DC/Maryland area (or are willing to travel), you can instead choose to attend my Woodblock Printed Art Quilt class on June 11 for free!

P.S. If you would like to travel to India and meet the families who carve our wooden printing blocks, visit the Colouricious website in England to learn about the Textile Trip of a Lifetime!

Colour It Fuse It! - II

Let's get on with some fun stuff now! I showed you how to paint on the fusible web and interfacing.Here's some pictures of some other painted items:

This is one where I chose some colours based on the background fabrics.

Here's one where I painted the flowers onto the fusible. You can see in the quilt below that the transparency of the web adds interest to the quilt.

I also added fancy threads when I was fusing the painted web to the quilt. The stitching helps to keep the threads in place.

 Just to show how I placed the threads over and under the fusible before pressing them in place.

This one has lots of beads added, after the quilting.

Here's a couple of ideas for adding interest to your work as well, these work best on interfacing or stabilizer.

I've added some gold foil, stamping, and Thermofax printing!

Now here's a project that is quick and fun for you:
Gather up some of the pieces you've painted and cut them into strips. Add a few coordinating fabric strips as well.

Lay the strips over  a piece of fusible stabilizer (fusible side up) and weave the strips in and out. Pin the ends down and press the strips in place. Remember to use an applique pressing sheet or parchment paper.

Having the stabilizer underneath means that it will hold onto all the pieces!
Remove the pins and lay over a matching piece of fabric.
Stitch over top of the weaving to catch all the edges. I prefer a diagonal grid pattern, but you can choose any design you like.
Trim all the outside edges and zig zag stitch 2-3 times in a contrasting threads around all edges.

Fold over the edges to make an envelope, as shown in the photo, and stitch once more to secure.

Add a nice button and fancy thread to close the envelope.

Cute, isn't it! Easy too!
So here's the fun part, if you like these techniques I've shown you, why not leave a comment below and be part of the draw for my NEW DVD from Quilting Arts? On February 29th I'll draw a winner!
Be part of the fun and try out some of the great new ideas that I present! There's lots to choose from!

Now, if you're not a winner, there's another way to get your very own copy! You can go here and order one from Quilting Arts Store: http://www.interweavestore.com/fabric-embellishment-with-color-surface-design-and-more-dvd

Or just for you! I'm offering 10% discount for Printed Bee fans on the DVD in my Etsy shop:
http://tinyurl.com/hbvdpz2

I hope you had fun, I'd love to hear from you...sign up for my newsletter at www.susanpm.com

Colour It, Fuse It!

Hi everyone and welcome to February! I'm the next person to introduce you to the wonderful world of colour, cloth and more....
This month we'll be working with applying paint and colour to a range of fusible web and interfacing products and doing some really strange and crazy things with them.

This is not your grandmothers fusible web! Join me while I show you how to combine paint, powders and foils with a variety of fusible webs and interfacings to create texture, layering and pattern.

Learn  ways to apply metallic foil for hints of sparkly shine or areas of glitz and glimmer. After cutting, tearing and ripping some of the pieces then time will be spent on building layers of interest with collage and stitch. 

Here are some supplies you will need: 

You will need:

·         2-3 fat quarters of fabric, light to medium value with texture or subtle print. Hand dyes or batiks work well. use these as colour inspirations for the background of your art piece.

·         one fat quarter muslin for backing

·         one  yard paper backed fusible web (NOT Heat and Bond), buy a couple different varieties if they are available

·         1/2 yard each of any variety of fusible and non fusible, woven or non woven interfacings and stabilizers. Try for different weights, maybe even different colours, some are available in black and beige. Avoid the nylon tricot ones.

·         plastic to cover your table

·         paper towels

·         three 1" bristle paint brushes

·         plastic cups for water

·         primary colours (red, blue, yellow) and black of Jacquard Dye-na-Flow™ or Setacolour Silk paints. The heavier textile paints can be thinned down for use as well.

 Now I have a short little video where you'll get to see me and I'll explain a little more about the supplies and you can see the painted effects. Don't pay attention to the workshop blurb at the end, as I have a surprise for you later on this month!

https://vimeo.com/103842399

if the link doesn't open, just copy and paste into your browser

The Printed Fabric Bee Giveaway: Marks with Found Objects

It's time, once again, for another Printed Fabric Bee Giveaway! This month the Queen Bee was Leslie Tucker Jenison. Leslie's fabric theme was, "making marks with found objects". She also requested that the fabric be primarily neutrals with a "pop" of color.

In addition to making fabric for Leslie, each member of the Bee made a 6" square of fabric which you have a chance to win! Just leave a comment on this post or visit The Printed Fabric Bee Facebook page and leave a comment under the photo of the collection by June 14 and you will be eligible to win the entire collection. Imagine what you could make with 11 squares of fabulous fabrics! Leslie will be choosing a winner on June 15. Good luck!

Be sure to also stop by all the Bee members' blogs to read about how they made their contribution to this collection.

Carol R. Eaton
Jackie Lams
Lynda Heines
Gerrie Congdon
Susan Purney Mark
Deborah Boschert
Jane Davila
Lisa Chin
Lynn Krawczyk
Leslie Jenison
Judy Gula 
Julie B. Booth