week 4 of 52 weeks of printmaking- red onion

(Last week I decided to take down the wallpaper in my studio and paint. I love the end product, but it took all of my energy. Needless to say, it also put me a week behind. Oops.)

This week's print is based off the inside of a cut onion. I tend to like small-scale prints. But this week I wanted to play with something big. This stamp measures about 3.5 by 4 inches.

Block printing with a larger stamp can have its challenges. The rubber block needed to be mounted to a piece of plexiglass to keep it from flopping around, and I ended up using a foam brayer to apply my ink (I usually make my own stamp pad). But I love the statement it makes when its repeated-- I just might make this into a screen to do repeats on fabric yardage.

I originally planned to make a tote bag with two printed panels, but I cut the panels too small! So I opted to make a box pouch out of one of them for now.

 

It's lined with one of my favorite Cake Rock Beach prints.



And it has a simple leather handle.



Want to win it? Just leave a comment here. I'll pick a winner on Wednesday!

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This week's winner is comment #19-- Barbara! Congrats!

week 3 of 52 weeks of printmaking- river rocks

This week's experiment is another simple block print that makes me think of river rocks. Every time my family goes camping, we head to a lake or river nearby to skip stones. Some of my favorites are the ones that have striations like these lines.

It's basically just an oval with 3 lines cut through. Quick and easy. I based it off of an old sketch.

I decided to make something other than a zippered pouch this week. This drawstring pouch is from a tutorial by Svetlana at S.O.T.A.K. Handmade and is one of my favorites. The lining is from Leah Duncan's new Gramercy line. 

Life is busy! But I love taking even an hour each week to try something new to share here. 

As always, I'm sending this bag to one of you this week! Just leave a comment and I'll choose a winner at random on Thursday morning. Good luck! 

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This week's winner is Lesley! Congratulations! 

week 2 of 52 weeks of printmaking- spool block

It's week 2 of the 52 weeks of printmaking!

This week I carved out a little spool block. It's printed on canvas using an ink pad for fabric.

Once it was sewed up into the pouch, I just felt like it was a little dull. Maybe it's the soft imprint of the ink? So I added a bit of hot pink "thread" and spiced it up a bit.

It's lined with a great Suzuko Koseki sewing print! I couldn't resist.

Would you like it? Once again, I'm giving it away! Leave a comment here and I'll pick a winner on Wednesday. International and US entries are welcome.
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The winner this week is Charise! Congratulations, and thank you to everyone for your nice comments!

a challenge for the new year, and a giveaway

Last year, artist and maker Jen Hewett did something really cool that she called "52 Weeks of Printmaking." I first learned about her on Instagram and really admired her work. And I always thought her weekly printing practice was such a fun idea. She's doing a new project this year, but she handed the torch off to Nicole of Yardage Design. I decided to join in.



Time is super tight these days, so I ended up pulling an old stamp that I had carved a few months ago to do my pattern. I played with the repeat in two different ways in a burnt orange ink on linen, then sewed the panels into a simple pouch. It's lined with one of my all-time favorite floral fabrics from Hokkoh.



After I made this, I thought about how much I absolutely love making pouches. They are such a good way to showcase handprinted fabric. So I'm adding something to my challenge. Every week, I'm going to make my printed pattern into a pouch or bag and give it away to one of you! It's a good way for me to say "thank you" for the encouragement you give me, and a good way to keep motivated to make something new every week.

To win, just leave a comment here. Easy! I'll choose a winner on Wednesday morning. (International and U.S. readers, you are both welcome to enter this week. I can't ship internationally every time, but I'll try my best with smaller things!)

Happy New Year!

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Update: The giveaway is now closed! And the winner is #61, Linda! I'll email you for your address. Come back next week for another chance to win!