Lino printing

Lino printing....botanical prints and Foo dogs

Another late night lino printing, children are in bed and I have an order to complete...this time to create a range of patterns for contribution in a crafts book. The Foo dog in deep prussian blue works well so I started a repeat pattern for a yard of fabric, only got to the third lion and I ran out of ink.....so moved onto the botanical print and tried it in turquoise which looked beautiful so that will be recreated as a repeat on a larger piece of fabric too.

Back to work

So a series of patterns on larger pieces of fabric, Ill start with some ornate floral patterns, then some architectural patterns and finally some kawaii - possibly the foo dog, maneki neko cats, kokeshi dolls and a new geisha and russian doll set - some of my favourite creations on lino - and I might even hand dye the linen first in ochres or greens. Anyway this is the koko sabu orchid pattern in mustard, orange and a dash of pink.

Inspiration

I collect too much, thats definately something I must attempt greater self control with - I adore kawaii fabrics, motifs and all permutations of kawaii. Yet I also love intricate ornate indian/chinese/indonesian floral patterns, the more exotic and large scale the better, I got shivers down my spine when I spotted a gorgeous print one day in vivid lime/olive/citrus/ochre colours on a blowsy tropical orchid print....inspiring!
I do love carved indian architecture too - one day I WILL obtain one of those beautiful 10ft tall double hand carved doors that clearly cost more than an arm and a leg! What I have managed to source are beautiful carved mirrors, once painted white and distressed lightly to accentuate the carved detail they look beautiful coupled with my life size (and incredibly heavy) solid bronze buddha.

and of course my courtyard project in the garden is beginning to come to fruition - the flagstone slabs are down, the grapevine is really kicking in and the pergola is nearly finished - the specimen grapevine is planted in a giant vietnamese pot and nestled against the gorgeous brick wall which is all that is left from a incredible world war II bunker we found in the garden - it really was a house that had been untouched since the thirties..

Its been a manic week - printing non stop and now to do some plasterwork for some relief imprinting on canvas - possibly my true passion! speaking of passions the gardens coming along.. more bamboo to soften hard fencing, tree ferns to lush it out and my cycads are opening up..at last!
With warm blowsy weather Im always inspired so I finally started to print some fabric I had in mind months ago - orchids and butterflies...

Block printing a lotus pattern