easy surface design ~ work in progress

original fabric by Jane LaFazio

Remember this post, where I carved eraser stamps and stamped on fabric. 
Well, I dyed some of the fabric and created a small quilt. It's still in progress, with lots of hand stitching to come. And I need to resolve the edges. But I thought I'd give you a glimpse. 

in progress (23 inches x 10 inches ~ by Jane LaFazio

easy surface design ~ in progress

Inspired by Jenny Cochran Lee and this post on her blog, I spent an afternoon stamping fabric.


I'm going to add color to these and make something cool! I'll keep you posted.

I even did some organza to overlay

The only reason I stopped was that all my StazOn stamp pads were out of ink!
Thanks Jenny for the inspiration! 

I designed a stencil!

Created with PODS stencil, designed by Jane LaFazio

PODS stencil! designed by Jane LaFazio

I've very excited to announce that I have created a stencil design for StencilGirlProducts. I was thrilled when they asked me to create a line of stencils based on my botanical sketches and  PODS, is the first one! And you can buy it right here!

from my sketchbook, the original design that became the PODS stencil

Created with PODS stencil, designed by Jane LaFazio

I'll be playing a lot with my new stencil over the next few months. But my first experiences are here. Done with Tulip fabric spray paint from the craft store and  Luminarte spray mists.

Created with PODS stencil, designed by Jane LaFazio

These are all on fabric (my fave 200 ct muslin). 

Created with PODS stencil, designed by Jane LaFazio

Created with PODS stencil, designed by Jane LaFazio

Created with PODS stencil, designed by Jane LaFazio

I'm excited to sew something up with these!!

Created with PODS stencil, designed by Jane LaFazio

My PODS stencil with wood icing on a gesso board.

I'm also trying my stencil with wood icing (sort of like molding paste, but better.)

A series in the making! I'll be adding lots of layers of acrylic paint.

Here's a video of Mary Beth Shaw, founder/owner of StencilGirlProducts showing how to use a stencil with wood icing.



If you're a stencil lover like me, I do hope you'll purchase my PODS stencil and send me an email with your jpegs of what you've done with it. (subject line: Pods stencil) and I'll feature some of your work on an upcoming blog post.

Stencils and spray paint ~ easy fun

As you're reading this, I'm in Italy, teaching a workshop in Orvieto.

I prepared these  muslin bags for my students, to hold their watercolor supplies. Can you tell I had fun? I used Tulip Fabric Spray paint, and stencils from Stencil Girl, Artist Cellar and Interweave. 
And I really should give a shout out to my friend, Linda Blinn, who started me on the stencil spree a few years ago. She's also got a DVD, Make it Graphic on the subject.
         
I spray painted my cotton bathrobe too, to jazz it up, but it's grey and ended up looking like a paint rag. That's why you're not seeing a photo of it.
(I'm in Italy, teaching, so I've scheduled these posts while I'm traveling.)

Surface Design Tutorial with flour

Some of my flour paste resist dyed cloth

  
I think I got this recipe, originally from Jane Dunnewold. I'd been wanting to try it for a long time.

Flour Paste Resist

Mix 1 cup ordinary white flour with 1 cup cold water (not hot, or the paste will be gluey) and stir until the lumps are gone. Pour the paste over the top of your fabric. Spread it over the fabric with a squeegee. 


Make sure you haven't missed any spots. At this point, you can let the paste dry thoroughly, and it will form a simple crackle. Or, you can use a skewer to draw designs in the paste, then let dry. When the paste has dried completely, gently scrunch the fabric up, crackling the hardened paste.

Apply a coat of thinned textile or craft paint over the flour surface, working it into the cracks and let the paint dry completely.  

This is what the back of the fabric looked like when it was still wet with paint.

Wait at least 24 hours for the paint to set, and then soak the fabric in warm water until the paste dissolves. Wash in the washing machine to fully remove the paste. Dry in the dryer and press with a hot iron. Use as is, add more paint, or over-dye.
As you'll see, I did the whole process a second time for a second layer.

Cloth with one round of flour paste resist.

Here they are with just one layer of color, awaiting the
second application of flour paste resist

Stencil Girl Products "Eddy Rose" stencil.

Stencils worked great

I stamped with a potato masher

  

Wrote with the end of the brush

Let the second layer of flour paste resist dry overnight.

Second layer of flour paste resist and dye.

Let dry at least 24 hours, longer is better.

Shiva PaintStiks rubbing as first layer and one resist dye

PaintStiks only

  

first layer

I stamped with F&W Acrylic Ink, then one resist dye.

Can you spot my Eucalyptus Leaf thermofax screen?

I used transparent SetaColor and Jacquard Textile paints on white cotton muslin (that I did not wash beforehand.)

The whole process was easy, non-toxic, and fun. I'll keep you posted on what I do with the fabric. Have you done flour paste resist before?