Leah Higgins Too

As promised last time, here are the fabrics I printed.  The colours in the photos aren't totally true to the fabric but you will see how using a colour family you can get lots of fabric that goes together.

Let's start with the ones that really didn't work well as part of the family.  However when they are cut up they may work after all.

Now on to the ones that did work.  Remember the grid I drew on the scrren with straight lines.  This is how it prints.

This was a mix of torn masking tape resist and embedded items.

The next few are various screens of embedded items.

Spreading the dye with a credit card

More embedded screens

Using crumpled up plastic bags to make the pattern on the screen.

 Another masking tape and embedded items screen

And the grid again

Another colourway from the masking tape and embedded items screen

Using the drippage screens

There are some more fabrics but I they are very similar to the ones you have already seen. Most of the fabrics will be cut up and used as smaller pieces but this last one may well stay as a whole cloth.  Still thinking about that!

And finally the whole pile!

If you are interested in breakdown printing and the way Leah uses it, you can see her gallery at the Festival of Quilts at the NEC from August 1st-4th.  It is undoubtedly the best fabric, stitch and quilt show in the UK.  Don't miss it.

Thanks for joining me today
Bernice

Leah Higgins

I recently spent 5 days in Leah Higgin's studio learning about Breakdown Printing.  Leah runs some amazing 5 day workshops and she is an excellent teacher.  AND you can take her home with you in the form of her book Breakdown Your Palette.

Over the days I made various screens.  The first few on show here were made by drawing the dye onto the screen using Procion Dye mixed with Print Paste in a squeezy bottle.

 

These drippage ones were made by drawing a thick line of the dye mix and putting the screen upright so the dye dripped down the screen.

These next 3 represent the several (I lost count) screens I made by putting a layer of dye mix on the screen and then embedding bits of metal and plastic into the dye.

When the dye is completely dry you pull off the embedded bits and then it's ready to use.

On the first day I used the black dye which when it breaks down with print paste is quite a blue black.

The rest of the week I used Petrol Green and Rust Brown.   We did a 15-colour family using bucket dyeing.

Next time I'll show you the fabrics I printed using the numerous screens I made.

Thanks for joining me today
Bernice

TGIF on a Saturday #1

I recently found a new TGIF meme on This West London Life blog.   Most of us would recognise TGIF as Thank God (or Goodness) It’s Friday, but for Brené Brown it stands for Trust, Gratitude, Inspiration and Fun.   In light of my recent post Notice the small things I thought I might join in with the meme - but on a Saturday.

What things have I noticed in these areas?

Trust:
Trusting the amazing massage skills of Helena who looks after my back and removed the many aches and pains I had this week.

Gratitude:
Grateful for a loving and supportive husband

Inspiration:
Inspired by the teaching and work of Leah Higgins

(c) Leah Higgins

Fun:
Spending 5 days printing fabrics at Leah's studio (more about this in my next post).

What things have you noticed this week?

Thanks for joining me today.
Bernice