Feb 28th

Here is a quick snapshot of one of the bird hampers (on the left) ready for grommets and handles.

 It will be listed in my shop with the second exotic bird hamper -(see below-half printed so work in progress) as a pair.

And some custom orders drying on the rails:

And before I forget - even though we are in the midst of a bitter winter, something lovely came in the post today (albeit dragged and carried by a rather flustered courier from the van to my door)

I unwrapped the top to check this beauty (though not looking her best at the moment)

In just a couple of months this dicksonia tree fern will start to unfurl the most exquisite fronds - I will probably pot this specimen as I want to add to my patio area - looking somewhat bare (by my standards)

rather than the established fernery further down in my garden of around twenty odd tree ferns. I really couldnt resist it :)
I checked on some om my other specimens that they were enduring this long bitter winter - all seemed fine - this is an australian 5ft grass tree

The end result...

So following on from my previous post I had decided to re-think the type of patterns I was combining for the new bird lay-out and opted for an ornate repeat tjap instead of large blowsy florals.

I decided one of the birds should feature as an overlap over this ornate repeat but the reality with block printing is that you have to think a bit laterally when mixing two patterns together that need to overlap.

First of all I printed one of the birds in black ink and nipped down to my local stationary shop to have it laminated - (therefore wipeable) before cutting the outline out.

 You`ll soon see why in the next step.

Then I block printed some panels of the indigo linen destined for a hamper with the onate repeat flower tjap with the laminate of the bird firmly stuck on the top of the linen (with a bit of sticky tape on the back) in the middle of the tjap print area.

 Before carrying on repeating the floral over the top of the bird - creating an outline area where the ink would go whilst still following the repeat pattern.

This is what it looked likeonce the laminate bird was gently eased off.

The laminate was covered in thick white ink by the end of this -which washed off easily.

Finally I printed the first bird - very carefully onto the overlap space left underneath the laminate area

And then the second bird to complete the pattern. I loved the result - worth the gamble.

I also printed some smaller linen panels  using only one bird for smaller pods.

Testing a pattern

I havent blogged for a few days now but Ive been busy.
Testing a new pattern out and testing my patience at the same time..
I have been trying to create a new pattern using my new set of bird tjaps. It turned out to be quite a frustrating process. I picked two floral/branch tjaps to combine with the birds and started inking and block printing the patterns to see how best to mix them up.

Im limited to working within a set size frame as ultimately the pattern will be for a hamper and I block print linen panels I already pre -cut to size for each hamper spec prior to construction. The pattern must fit within these boundries or else you find the centre point (or most engaging point of the pattern) doesnt sit properly on the front and sides of the hamper when constructed.

Unfortunately it just wasnt happening - the chrysanthemum floral was too large in scale and over shadowed the birds which were the intended focus.
Despite cutting the pattern into individual parts and re-constructing various lay-outs I finally threw the towel in - late at night and fairly tired and grumpy to boot.

This is the down side of testing inner creativity - when it just doesnt flow. I have a  number of floral tjaps but to use them it would mean they have to work with and compliment such an ornate pair of birds within a pattern.

The next day however as I gazed at these formidable cockerels I decided to throw the rule book out and work an ornate and complex background reminiscent of rain and petals behind the birds. This is the tjap I chose - it will work as a repeat and it will mean tricky printing methods - overlapping some fabric or paper over the part I want the birds to appear on in the midst of this repeat.

So - tommorrow I will trial print this - it could be  disaster or a triumph. Hmmmm...

Test prints

I couldnt resist trying a test print with the parakeet block - my three year old decided she liked the sweet birdie so I test printed it on a cotton drawstring bag for her.
I often include a free gift with orders so I printed some more as these will be ideal.

I had a small batch of ecru and indigo linen sat waiting patiently for these birds to arrive and whilst the parakeet was inked up it was a good opportunity to combine a small tjap with the block and make a flowing pattern. Keep an eye out for these new additions.

I get distracted easily :) And the bird pair tjaps are incredibly distracting - Im itching to ink up a new series of patterns for them. However I do have to be disciplined and ensure the work I have in progress doesnt get interrupted. The fabric for my clutches is a priority and custom orders are always coming in so I will reign my enthusiasm in. sigh.....

Beautiful Birds

The long wait is over.....my eagerly anticipated parcel is here - thank you so much Susan :)
She knows how much the precious items carefully  packed in this box mean.

A pair of bird tjaps.....exquisite in detail and composition. I hold them for ages, marvelling at the mirror image they form and already picking out some wallpaper blocks with blowsy floral pattern to mix with these birds.
I shall have to ink up a new set of patterns for these.....so keep an eye out ove rthe next few day.

And then the beautiful parakeet......tucked into the bottom of the box.

Birds are one of my favourite themes and these additions mean I can create two new patterns based on them. It made my week :)

Feb 13th

Here are the last set of pods I was printing yesterday - I really wanted to complete the new batch of work for my shop stock before I now focus my time and energy on  finishing the printing  for a new range of fabric for my clutches which are now well in progress.

I love the Koi fish pod, my favourite out of the four patterns, difficult as it was to choose - which do you like?

Over the next couple of weeks I will blog about the fabric I am printing for my clutches - mostly large exotic blooms such as chrysanthemums and orchids with a batch of the highly ornate wallpaper patterns for high impact.
And finally a big thank you to the talented and incredibly lovely Antigone (from AntypaperTrail on Etsy) who blogged about my work here -http://antypapertrail.tumblr.com/post/42991970659/papatotoro

Blue and more blue

So it snowed again this morning....and it was icy blue white snow -so it put me in the mood to create a little batch of work based on my favourite colour combo - blue on pure white - reminiscent of my Japanese bowls stacked high in an array of patterns and sizes.
Thing is..it takes absolutely ages to wash the ink out and 15 minutes printing usually entails 20mins rinsing and scrubbing. humph.

But oh I love the end result!

Boxes to tick

I have a number of boxes to tick - ie get more sleep- fit in another 15 hours in the average day - and take a long holiday this summer. So hopefully one out of three isnt too bad :)

After a focused effort of sewing and fitting leather handles I finally got the next few batches of mini pods out -

Im halfway through sewing a large hamper printed with my giant lino sheet of cherry blossom on the most seductive dusky blush pink linen..... that will be tommorrow along with the hot pink fuschia lino pattern I printed yesterday.

Feburary chill

Its blustery and cold at the moment, we`re at the peak of good old fashioned Feburary weather - cold - bitterly cold, sometimes wet, sometimes sunny......sigh.

I decided to focus on finishing the basic set of new hampers I am stocking in my Etsy shop at the moment before the new clutch range kicks in. Hopefully this will coincide with my new website which will be more user friendly to UK buyers.
I have a couple of lino patterns that will become medium sized hampers (Im creating tiered pricing within my  range to enable more of my work to be affordable across the board hence more of the small to medium sizes) - this one I printed today and I love the vibrant fuschia - it really gives a bright pop of colour to counter-act the sobering cold winter outside - for me at least!

And in case I havent posted the completed indigo hampers I showed being printed here are a few pictures  of the finished items-

Definately Baron is my favourite...