on paper

Before it got too warm this morning I printed two test runs of my new banksia pod inspired wallpaper design. I made a repeat for this one and used a large lino block. As you can see I tested two colours: a pale green and a pale grey. Both colours look a tiny bit different in real life but you can get the idea anyway. I deliberately carved quite lightly so that some of the texture of the block came through. This was a lot of fun and the added bonus of block printing is the clean-up is minimal including the amount of water used. More pics here.

If you're interested in learning more about how to block print your own wallpaper why not sign up for a class I'm teaching with the gorgeous women from Harvest Textiles? Come play in their lovely new studio in East Brunswick and design and print your own block printed wallpaper. You'll find all the info here.

in blue

It never ceases to amaze me what a beautiful piece of software Photoshop is. I don't even know a fraction of what it can really do for me but the fact that I can take some rough hand drawn patterns like these dashes of mine and then make a variety of repeats in different colourways like this just fills me with joy. Is that nerdy or what?

There is a birthday in our house today. If I'm organised enough there will be a Jamie chocolate tart for dessert tonight. Got to get my skates on!

dash

Swirls of dashes in repeat on paper. I'm testing the repeat before I commit it to fabric.

This recent cold weather has found me cooking and eating apple, rhubarb and pear pudding with fresh cream. I'm not sure there is anything better on a cold night. Except perhaps the pea and ham soup that was eaten before it.

And speaking of foodie things I recently had the joy of eating the best eggs benedict ever at the newly opened Aquarium Cafe, 382 High St, Northcote.

Have you seen 'I am Love' (lo sono l'amore) yet? If not, do! You won't be disappointed. It's epic, it's gorgeous, it's Italian and it has Tilda. What more can you want in a film?

repeat

The resulting print: 3 colour repeat screen print on calico of my slightly deco influenced flower motif. Do I have table envy of what after using that lovely long one again at I&S? Try as I might I can't replicate this amazing set up at home.

Thanks again to the lovely women of Harvest Textiles - the workshop was fab. There was such a lovely buzz around the studio yesterday. Very inspiring!

blossoms in repeat

Succulent blossom repeat in gorgeous blue

Succulent blossom repeat in rust red

Succulent blossom repeat in teal-grey

You might already know that I'm a bit obssessed with the weird and wacky shapes of succulent blossoms. Recently I designed a repeat pattern based on one of my favourite blossoms. I've been playing with colours and when I repair my large, but very broken screen I hope to screen print these onto fabric. Which of these three colours do you prefer?