Hand printed wrapping paper

This is one of the items on my to-do list and has been for way too long. Now I know that I could screen print these and have had the opportunity to do so in the past but I want to print them in a different way. Either by hand with small size stamps, carved from either lino or the softer block option (so much easier to cut!) or by creating a repeat pattern from a drawing scanned to computer using photoshop. 

So my question to you is have you done this? and if so to what success?

My other question on this subject is where to get the right size paper from. I know that on average I'm looking at paper sized around 50x70cm. So where would I be able to purchase such sized paper? and where, if I wanted to get a design printed, would do this/print such a size?

Your help on this question would be much appreciated. I have thought that I could get an A3 size printer at home to do limited runs, as I don't want to print reams and reams of the same design(!) but A3 paper falls quite a long way short size-wise at 29.7x42cm and I'm guessing I'd need to stock up on inks as well!

The 52MMMC Week 5

Week 5 of the challenge.

I had such big plans really I did but I'm afraid I must apologise for this slightly less than complete 'make' as my sewing machine has gone in for a service
*sigh, it was due for one though* and so I have no machine with which to complete my item. Boo hoo......

So anyways I thought I would show you my 'make' so far.....

Out have come the pen and inks, something I haven't used in far too long but which I thought would be perfect for the 'theme' I was intending to draw.


I have been saving little bits here and there and aiming to compile a mood or inspiration board of sorts for the current, dare I say it, Autumn/Winter work happening.
I know we are all still hanging on to the thought that perhaps we will get a few more weeks, days?? of some summer sun but the change of the seasons will be upon us sometime soon. Now as much as I like to be warm I do like the rich colours that Autumn/Winter brings.

Anyhow trying not to diverse, here are a few of my snippets to show my theme.
This 'season' sees plenty of feathers and birds about and I wanted to go with gorgeous feathered owls, all seeing all knowing you know!


After a few sketchy lines in pencil to give a rough outline and idea, I set to with purple ink and pen, I don't want to be 'normal' and have a brown owl! not that there is anything wrong with that mind. Also khakis and purples are making an appearance in this seasons colours.

Perhaps my sketch is a little scary because of the 'knowing' but my owl is going to have attitude!



Now I wanted to transfer this sketch onto fabric. So after scanning the image on to the laptop, flipping the image so I can print it onto the fabric as I had originally drawn it, it was printed out onto transfer paper.


The fun bit of ironing it on to the fabric.


And voila! Sketch transferred to fabric, which is now pinned ready to wait the return of the sewing machine to finish it up into a slouchy bag, maybe even for a few decorative stitches to be added to it as well, we shall see.


I'll show you the 'finished' bag once it's complete. So please forgive me for the half post this week, I didn't like doing it but then I would have felt even more guilty if I had not posted about what I was doing! ;0 x

The 52MMMC Week 4

Well folks it's that time of week again! so I am here all ready with another post about my next make for the challenge.
Over the course of this challenge my posts will include 'makes' that I'm testing out to see whether they might be items I will want to make more of and sell, as well as things that I want to make because I never have and things that I have a go at making just because I WANT too!

This 'make' is one which I may well make more of to sell in my shop and also on my stall (by the way the next Makers Market that I'm at will be the September one, see my side bar to the left for dates!).

Having gathered bits together, fabric was cut, interlining fused and snaps inserted ready to start the stitching
(the sweet little pattern for this clutch is by Ali Foster, she also allows you to make items from her patterns to sell)


using up my hand screen printed birdy fabric (hope you like it!) I screen printed my design onto a large remnant of bright pink fabric I was given, it certainly stands out!


stitching parts


and so the end result!


a peek inside


resting in the sun........


As well as designing patterns for items myself it's always nice to follow someone else's guidelines too, it gives you new ideas and tips you can apply when making other things as well.
Let me know your verdict on this make.
Hope you've all been enjoying your weekends! ;0 x

Wish You Were Here Exhibition

Just a little post mainly pictures to show some of the prints in the
'Wish You Were Here'
exhibition at:



in Whitstable, Kent.
The exhibition runs until 3rd July 2010.
Prints are in limited runs and available to purchase.
A great chance to purchase something of a limited run and hand printed.
Below are some of the prints in the exhibition:

Andrew Hayes-Watkins


David Gratus


Karen Radford


Tracey Hart


(me - I am the only textile print - eek!)


Suki Hayes-Watkins


Lisa Jones


Trish Flynn


Cathy McTurk


I'm not sure how I feel about my piece(s) for the exhibition, I did a series of prints as opposed to a limited edition as each one of my prints is different (colours, fabric etc). I wrote the wee rhyme following the 'wish you were here' theme, screen printed it onto pieces of recycled fabric, then using snippets of fabric and my sewing machine stitched my 'post card' wording and sections as well as the little bits of bunting/garlands. I wanted my pieces to be a bit whimsical, fun and shabby. I'm not sure if I feel I have achieved this or not, but it is all about the creative experience, learning and challenging yourself to do different things.

I hope you've all been enjoying the weekend and the sun, make sure you are applying the SPF factors! enjoy ;0 x

Frame or no?

I was advised recently from a buyer at a fair I was at, that I would benefit from using purse frames instead of zips on my purses. That my stitched and printed pieces would work well with them and that they would be liable to move a lot quicker i.e. sell more!

So my question is this - what do you think? frame or zip?
All comments, thoughts and opinions welcome!

In the shop March..............

In my etsy shop this month..........

wee oval brooches/pins, with various transfer prints of my doodles, screen prints and stitching on them







Going in my etsy shop this week.............





Hope you're all having a good week so far, am off to create! ;0 x

What have you been doing lately?..........

Mostly...................... I have been making and creating ready for the upcoming fair and a few other things. So minimal words this post and more just a pics post, to show you a few of the things I've been making.

printed lavender hearts


printed lavender scented skinny leg birds


print, collage and stitch



fabric, felt balls (ooer!), bayleaves and string



new bags (bag pattern by olivetreetextiles) interpreted in my own printy, stitchy and fabric way


(this one is using the fabric I printed by hand)


new, recycled and vintage fabrics used with hand screen printing, stitchery goodness and collage by me!


Well a short but sweet post just in case you may have thought I'd fallen off the edge of the planet! I have been busy stitching away. I'm off to the Contemporary Textiles Fair 2010 this weekend at Teddington, London. Fingers crossed for it. If you're in or near the area do drop in and say hello! Hope you're all having a good week ;0 x

The Print Block

Well I have mentioned about printing and the little course I had been on in a few previous posts, so now here is my full post about it.
I did printing many years ago now and have not been able to find a course (that ran!) or facilities that I might have been able to use to do some more. So when I found out about The Print Block in Whitstable I quickly booked myself on one of their short printing courses. I have been itching to use more print combined with stitch in my work for ages and this has given me the chance to do that. So thank you Suki and Emrys for bringing The Print Block to Whitstable!



shelves filled with glorious inks to print with


screens galore that students have produced


I have always fancied one of these, although far too big for the normal household space! a drying rack, great for storing your printed bits and pieces so that they can dry without being squashed


screens in use



And finally to a few pics of snippets of work I produced over the few weeks there


combining print with stitch and fabric fragments to create one off simple tote bags



prints in the progress of being combined with snippets of fabric and larger panels as well as machine and hand stitching for fabric scarves



I had so much fun on this course and was so pleased that it ran. I was so fed up of not being able to attend a course because they didn't run due to lack of numbers. The classes at The Print Block are perfect as they are only small groups which means you will get the guidance and advice you may need much easier as well. They have recently run courses to print your own run of Christmas cards as well as wrapping paper, could you get much more handmade, personalised and perfect for Christmas!!??? So please if you live in, near or around the area and fancy printing then be sure to check them out. I'm looking at joining up to be able to use the facilities again for some more experimentation with my work, so maybe I'll see you there!! ;0 x