Creating textile prints with linocuts

 So this is what my table look like when I'm printing - lots of pots of mixed colours, lots of sponges and plenty of kitchen roll and tissues to clean messy fingers and clean around the edges of the linocuts.

As you can see, my cat Jenny likes to keep a close eye on proceedings.

I usually listen to some comedy programmes on the radio when I print - Clare in the Community on Radio 4 is a particular favourite. But today I listened to BBC1's The Voice on iplayer and I really enjoyed it, despite my slight sniffy prejudice against tv singing contests.      

These are a few of the linocuts - they are well used but as long as I clean them up well they still perform well. 

              

                

I apply the ink to the linocut quite sparingly with a small sponge with a little dabbing motion and then place the linocut on the linen and press down firmly, smoothing it over with my fingers.

 

Printing the elephants' jackets with a separate linocut.

And that's it!

spend spend spend

Forgive me, it's been too long since my last blog and I will dutifully say 34 hail bloggers.

I have spent a lot of electronic money today, all in the name of Kate Tarling Designs of course.
I am thinking about producing clocks, so have bought a clock mechanism.
I'm currently trialling a chicken decal design for mugs, and have therefore ordered more mugs. I think I may have over-cooked today's mug, the design looks a little scratchy and not very professional.
I've bought 5 metres of fabric in the Laura Ashley sale and had a lovely chat with the sales assistant about Stella and Dot jewellery - (a gold lacy cuff has caught my eye).
And finally I re-ordered some Moo business cards, which although a little dull, was nevertheless satisfying.

So now I have to sell something to justify all this expense, if only George Osbourne would give small businesses a break we might get the economy kick-started again.

Sniff Sniff Blow

I'm afraid I can't bring myself to be stoical in the face of illness. I just want to have a good old moan about how shit I feel.
My eyes ache, my nose is sore and itchy, my throat hurts and I've got tummy ache. At least my ears are better.
There, all done, just needed to get that off my chest.
What I really want to be doing is running up some cushions so I can start printing onto them. I am slightly afraid to start making them, in case it all goes wrong but I know that if I start doing it know I'll make a complete mess of it.
Anyway, the kids will be back home from school soon so no doubt they'll run around the house doing all the jobs I've felt too ill to contemplate tackling today, before tidying their bedrooms, making their dinner and looking after me.
Alternatively they may just plump down in front of the telly.

Chickens at last

At last I have something to show for all my efforts with the blasted sewing machine.

They never come out quite as I expect. Sometimes the machine seems to have a life all of it's own and it's strange when you sew freehand because you have the foot pedal jammed down so the machine is at maximum speed, yet you have to move the material really slowly. It's a bit like patting your head whilst rubbing your tummy, it doesn't come naturally.

Lou Gardiner, who creates totally beautiful designs with a sewing machine, www.lougardiner.co.uk/says she always plays music while she sews.
I think I need to try that, instead of listening to Radio 4 which maybe gives out the wrong vibe?

sewing machine hell

Today I decided to work at home, safe in the knowledge that I would be able to achieve vast amounts of work as today is Sewing Machine Day.
Yes, today I would rapidly produce many wonderful  but smaller versions of my chicken picture.
Or so I thought.
Of course it doesn't help that today is also Man Flu Day, so M is sniffing, sputtering, sighing heavily and generally putting me off in the room next door.
But I'm not blaming him. No, it's the sewing machine that is the butt of my wrath. It promises so much yet delivers so little.
In my head (that utopian world of longer legs, bigger bust, children who ask how my day has been and husbands who put their shoes away neatly in the cupboard), I could see myself happily hammering out chicken after clucking chicken, quickly building up a stock of lovely feathery cocks and hens.
But the blooming bobbin keeps jamming and the material is puckering and generally, it's not as productive a day as one could wish for.

Anyway, I will cluck off and persevere, maybe I will have something to show for al my efforts later.

Learning how to blog

The wonderful, beautiful Jemima Lumley (who is sat next to me so I have to say that) has just taught me how to blog!!!
This is my first ever posting, and I, er, have nothing else to say just yet,...watch this space.