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.