fabric prints Archives - Linda Germain

Make unique fabric for your projects

I have piles of hand printed fabric. I have actually stopped making more until I use up some of what I already have.

I have made a few quilts and now have more quilts than I can use.

I covered some bricks with hand printed cloth to use as book weights. I do use these quite a bit and I think 6 big book weights is enough for my little studio.

I used heat-n-bond to transform some of the monoprinted fabric into book cloth. The heat-n-bond is applied to the fabric then thin rice paper is stuck to the other side. This creates a barrier so the glue does not seep through the fabric. Then I covered a few artists books.

I love composition notebooks. I covered a few with the hand printed fabric.

I love bags. I am definitely a bag lady. And yet surprisingly I have only stitched up one little shoulder bag. I think a big beach bag may be my next project.

If you are wanting to make some unique hand printed fabric, then check out the workshop, Monoprinted Fabric.

I am offering a 25% discount on this class for the next few weeks. It is a comprehensive class with 12 different techniques for gelatin printing on fabric.

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Circle back to the woods

fabric prints, foam plate printmaking, inspiration, mark making tools / Linda Germain / August 12, 2021

I stopped walking in the woods for the last few weeks, because I found a tick attached to my neck and I had stayed on the trail.

But today, I went back to my old trail in the woods by the lake and was so supported by the energy of the place. I had let that little bug, fear and frustration stop me from going on my “healing” walks.

I shared the trail with a big dear and a quiet blue heron and plenty of shadows.

I bring that good energy back to the studio and get more done.

I always find tools and inspiration in the woods. Different seasons offer different tools. Currently I am looking for strong twigs and weeds to use in the soft plate relief class, starting soon.

This is a low tech way to make relief style plates without needing to carve your design. You can use the process to print on paper or fabric.

Check out the details on the printmaking workshop page. And start collecting tools and inspiration!

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Happy accidents and pulling that last print

fabric prints, inspiration / Linda Germain / May 24, 2021

I find the many times the last print of the day, when I am warmed up, and not over thinking things is my favorite print of the day.

Some reasons for this maybe:

is that the inner critic is not so active at that time.
the ink is just right
your mark making tools are primed.

So I encourage you to take advantage of that time and pull that one more print.

If you would like to have some happy accidents with gelatin printing on fabric, now is the time to do it. The Monoprinting Fabric online workshop starts June 2, 2021.

You have time to gather your supplies and join the class.

We will explore 10 different techniques. Read all the details on the printmaking workshop page.

Let’s make some happy accidents.

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What I learned from printing lots of fabric with gelatin plate

fabric prints / Linda Germain / May 20, 2021

I have been playing with gelatin printing on fabric for several years. I have a big pile of monoprints.

The pieces are just waiting for a project.

1 – Print in a similar color scheme and even if the marks are different the fabrics can be coordinated.

2 – Use the same kind of fabric and then the small printed pieces can be sewn together for a bigger project.

3 – Try to make fabrics with light to dark impressions. They will combine for a stronger design.

4 – I like to use the “passage of time” method to set my inks. I have tried ironing and dryer heat setting, but my most reliable method is to just wait a few months to a year to wash the fabric.

If you are interested in learning more about monoprinting fabric with the gelatin plate, then check out the details on the workshop page. This online class starts soon.

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Top 3 supplies for monoprinting on fabric

fabric prints / Linda Germain / May 13, 2021

1 – I think that the most important supply is nice old 100 % cotton sheets from the thrift store.

These high quality old sheets:

Create a freedom to explore, because they are not precious
are pre-shrunk and ready to print on
usually absorb ink/paint nicely

2 – A spongey brayer that fits your print size. I like this 2″ soft foam brayer with a smooth surface (red handle) that I found at hobby lobby. I like this size because I work small and textured. The speedball soft rubber brayers work too.

3 – Ink or paint that stays workable and is compatible with your project and fabric. I did a blog post on my experience, but it is best to experiment on your own.

Other supplies, stencils, mark making tools and the gelatin plate.

If you are interested in joining us in the online printmaking class, Monoprinting Fabric, then read the details on the workshop page.

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