Making wrapping tape

I love packaging....I try and make every aspect of my packaging appealing and hand crafted - my wrapping tissue is hand printed with a large orchid and I used to tie a simple hessian string around that. Now though I want something more sophisticated than hessian string -and more reflective of my style, so Im going to use one of my lino patterns as a template for a print block - something Ive been wanting to do for years - create my own wooden print blocks - Im used to carving lino and making patterns from that but now ive found a fantatstic company in india which will emply artisans to carve your own pattern in wood.
The next step will be to use my print block to print on cotton ribbon instead of the hessian as part of the packaging - Im going to make three or four ribbon patterns - some kawaii, some ornate blooms, some geometric - which will reflect the types of patterns I print, so for example a kawaii pattern tea towel will be beautifully presented and wrapped in kawaii themed packaging, all hand made.
But first look at this massive vintage wallpaper printing block, almost a foot in length and a beast of a wooden slab, with thousands of tiny pins embedded in the wood to create the most beautiful and ornate architectural repeat pattern. This is an example of some of the finest workmanship in Maccelsfield, where they made wallpaper and fabric printing blocks that were envied the world over. Im thinking of creating a repeat on a larger piece of linen - such an intricate pattern needs a longer run than my normal tea towel size, possibly in greens and russets to suit the season.
I print with these huge blocks in a rather uncoventional way as I dont have any press or equipment (yes the studio is still work in progress and a mini building site) so I
Hand press the old fashioned way. Each massive block is inked with a small sponge and then once placed on the fabric is weighed down with weights (I often stand on the block and walk around it to distribute the ink evenly)and hey presto! carefully lift the block and the pattern has transferred beautifully. I should download some footage of me doing this but its pure comedy in reality - jumping up and down on a massive slab of wood whilst my children watch round eyed and slightly suspect of their mothers sanity.....