Last week I showcased what I did on my summer vacation and a preview of “The Fields” collection of products that will be new to the shop and PCCA Gallery for this holiday season. In this week’s before the annual sale preview, I would like to showcase my new “Splatter” Collection.
Print, Pattern, Sew
is evidentous that as a quilter, I love, love, love fabric prints! The possibilities of designs seem truly endless. Every season there is another collection of prints from my favorite designers or fabric manufacturers from which to be inspired to create. However, the more I get into the fiber arts, as well as teaching, the more I want to get messy and create my own images and designs.
In 2019 I bought the book Print, Pattern Sew by prominent fabric designer, Jen Hewett. I love her hand-carved, free-form print and simple techniques. Along with the textile printing techniques and style of Karen Lewis, I felt the next wave of my work would involve getting a bit inkier. Not only did those books personally inspire me, bthey it also guided me as I planned many of my upcoming residencies.
For several years I have taught students to use foam on blocks to design and stamp some of their own images on fabric. However, for myself, I was reluctant to get so messy in my studio. I had a fear of getting ink and paint on any of my other fabrics or current projects. Besides fearing an errant splatter, I just never seemed to have enough floor or table space to spread out a project of several yards of ink and fabric.
Finally, this summer, I decided to just go for it though- albeit, outside in the driveway. With my extremely creative daughter, we decided to have fun mixing and splattering own fabric canvas in a test run of a residency class I had designed, which I also planned to call Print, Pattern, Sew in homage to the book that inspired this new journey.
Also, Print, Patterand n, Sew perfectly describes what we would do in the class! First, my students and I would work through several techniques to create own prints on fabric. Through ink splatters, cyanotype print,ing and relief spray painting, we would create a series of fabric canvases with unique print designs. In the Pattern section of the class, we would explore repetitive stamping, screen printing and weaving to make various patterns on fabric or create a fabric panel. In the Sewing portion of the class, students would be taught how to take their hand-created fabrics and make various sewn products, such as a tote bag, small pouch, notebook cover, or wall hanging.
Creating Splatters
The “Splatter” Collection is made from various screen printing and fabric inks my daughter and I mixed and dripped onto stiff white canvas fabric. The fabric holds the ink very well and does not bleed. The benefit of the canvas is also in the weight. Firm canvas is ideal for creating pouches and tote bags that hold their shape well, especially when you add the addition of a lined interior.
In addition to the screen printing ink, I also created a few pieces of splatter fabric with watered-down house paint. I especially love the ink color, which was leftover from a few home DIY projects. Will house paint work as well as paint or ink specifically made for that application? If like me, you’ve ever gotten paint on your clothes when working around the house, you know it won’t come off the fabric.
Beyond the splatter, I also wanted to explore the stamping techniques I had planned. One super hot afternoon I cornered the kids and talked them into stamping with me in my cool basement studio. Generally, my daughter is much more into art projects than my son, but they have lived with me a long time and are bother very used to my requests to get messy.
Sticky-backed fun foam and acrylic paint are an easy introductory way to work with ink on the fabric. I have used this technique many times with my residency students with wonderful results. Students find the foam easy to work with because it cuts with regular scissors very easily. Then you simply peel off the backing and apply the foam to a wooden block to act as the base for the stamp you’ve created. The only tricky part is remembering your image will be in reverse!
The “Splatter” Collection
All of that background, just to introduce a new collection to the shop. May I present to you: the “Splatter” Collection!
Using the techniques outlined above, I have created several panels of hand-inked canvas. Those pieces of fabric canvas will be turned into various tote bags, pencil pouches, “popcorn” pouches, etc. for sale at PCCA Artisan Market 2022 and in my Etsy shop! Each item will be unique because not only is the fabric 100% hand created, but the finishes to each piece were specially chosen to highlight the creativity of the ink work.
I love creating with unique fabric, fun finishes, and personal touches! I hope you will enjoy the spontaneity, vibrancy, and quirky qualities of the “Splatter” Collection as much as I do. Get them while they are available if they speak to you because I only made about a yard and a half of the canvas this go around. I know there will be more of this ink work to come, but it will surely be different and ever-evolving, and no two pieces- let alone printing runs- will be the same.
As always, thank you so much for supporting my small business and creativity! Janice
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(©2022, Janice Bailor // laruedefleurs.com)