African Market Basket

My sincere apologies for neglecting you.  A quick update is in order.  I mentioned that the kuba pattern I hand printed was for a charity event. I was super excited to find out that the African basket containing the tablecloth (the fabric was sewn into a tablecloth) went for close to $300 in the silent auction. Yay!  I did not get a chance to take a picture of the finished presentation but I received the image above the other day which gives you an idea of the finished tablecloth along with the basket.  Speaking of the African basket, I have one of these baskets myself and LOVE it.  My MIL brought it back for me from a farmer's market in North Carolina. Right now it functions to corral my magazine overflow but I intend to take it to the farmer’s market this summer.  Beautiful and functional.  Win!

soooo many stacks and baskets full of magazines hidden behind the table and chair

Happy Humpty Hump Day!

kisses,  mrs. V

Kuba Cloth Progress

After trying my hand on a few fabric projects, here and here, I can appreciate why hand blocked fabrics are sooo expensive.  This is a very time consuming endeavor but one that I very much enjoy.  So I made significant progress yesterday on my kuba-inspired cloth but my back officially hates me.   Let me back up for a minute and answer a few queries on my process.  I draw an image on my block, usually a linoleum covered wood block; carve out the image; if printing on fabric then I spend some time figuring out my pattern – which involves sketchy math, wonky measuring, and copious amounts of wine; the actual printing part is tedious because I re-ink my block for each impression.  For this particular project, I used two blocks to create my pattern and did a simple linear repeat.  I could have done both images on one bigger block but I didn’t have one on hand so I used two small scraps of linoleum.

And here is where printing on fabric gets sporty.  My original intent was to create a simple rectangular border as this printed fabric will be turned into a table cloth.  But then I accidentally screwed up my own pattern and had to switch gears.  Next, I planned on an all over pattern, alternating my 1-2 pattern for each row.  For instance, row 1 is a 1-2 order.  Then row 2 in a 2-1 order.  So I carried on in that fashion printing all my 1-2 rows first, doing this to allow for dry time.  But then I realized that an all over pattern, while awesome, would take me FOREVER.  Plus, my ‘client’ came by yesterday to watch some of the progress and declared that she loved it as is – no alternating rows necessary.  So stripes it is – which works because it looks sort of like an African version of the Greek key in this manner.  Thumbs up.  But I still love the idea of the all over pattern and plan on doing it for myself and making some pillows.

I’m off to give my lower back a break!

kisses,  mrs. V

My Take on Kuba Cloth

I was asked to create an African inspired cloth for a charity event.  This cloth will be turned into a tablecloth to be included in an artisan basket filled with such goodies as a turned wooden bowl, live edge wooden cutting board, and some bottles of vino.  I decided to do a loose interpretation on Kuba cloth.  I took the scale down a bit and now I am in the process of printing - a long and messy but worthwhile process.  Will share more pics when it is complete.

kisses,  mrs. V   

Tales From the Projects - the Blockprinting Continues

I’m told that a sure sign of insanity is doing the same thing over and over while expecting a different result.  And yet every morning I run to the window in hopes that Spring has truly arrived only to have my dreams dashed again and again when welcomed by freezing temps and SNOW again.  Middle finger groundhog.  Longest winter ever.  Beginning of Spring my ass.  I am getting downright cranky.  Any semblance of handling this extra long cold spell with grace is long gone.  In true koo koo fashion, I am consumed in my own endless loop.  Lots of drawing, carving, and printing.  And repeat.  Thankfully, in this case, I am getting the desired result.  This is my latest fabric run.  The siren in ultramarine.

It’s an endless Groundhog’s Day around here.  How about where you are?

All photos and layouts by mrs. V

kisses,  mrs. V

Tales From the Projects - A Blockprinting Update

As promised, a progress report of sorts.  I can now report that the printing portion of my fabric test run is complete.  The process went smoother than anticipated and I am pleasantly surprised with the results.  As is typical with blockprinting, there is variation between each impression but I like the imperfectness of it.  Truly reflects that it was done by hand.  Of course I couldn’t leave it at that.  Me?  Never.  I had to take it one step further and fancy it up.  So I added another step to this multi-step situation by hand painting some metallic gold detailing.

It is taking FOREVER but I super love it. The mr. likes it better without the metallic dots.  Dumb.  Who doesn't love a little turquoise and gold action?  What do you think?  Do you like the gold detail or do you like the dragon nekkid?

All photos and layouts by mrs. V

kisses,  mrs. V

Tales From the Projects - Blockprinting Fabric

This is what I typically do when I can’t find something.  Or in this case, when I can’t find something that I can afford.  I make it.  Here is a little snippet of a trial run for yet another one of my lofty ideas.  This little project combines two of my deep loves – block printing and textiles.  Well, actually three loves because everyone knows of my obsession with chinoiserie.  Drawing and carving the block is the easy part.  Squaring the fabric and laying out the pattern is another story.  Will keep you posted as it progresses.

All photos and layouts by mrs. V

kisses,  mrs. V

Tales From the Projects - Sneak Peak

A Sneaky Piet and a Few Thoughts on RHONJ

If I didn’t have Pieti the Piet Monster sneaking about all the time getting into everything, I would be doing more with this…

For now, I am sneaking moments to do a little here and a little there with it.  Here’s hoping the reality is greater than the sum of my vision.

In other news, is anyone watching RHONJ?  Is there anyone more bonkers than Teresa?  Talk about Hekyll and Jyde.  She is an even more prolific storyteller than Stephen King who has purportedly written more than 55 novels.  And I won’t even get into her abuse of the English language.  Her de facto response when being called on the carpet for her misbehaviors is to accuse the accuser of being crazy insane.  Pot and kettle.

 

Andy, more Rosie, please, if you want me to keep watching this trash.  Because watching Caroline call her daughter a butter beast and then watching her other ‘good looking’ (eeeewwww) offspring order pizza in front of said butter beast is just plain mean and boring.

kisses, mrs. V