Project 5 - Printing and Painting on fabric

As a repeatable pattern, I felt that the honeycomb would be easier to achieve - but only as a stepping stone to giving me the confidence and abilities to use more complicated images. However it was actually more challenging than I thought it would be.

I will be trying to fine tune the pattern today - turning it into a repeatable pattern, using a program very similar to Illustrator.

I spent Saturday afternoon carving a print of the honeybee from the original sketch. This was intended as a print cut to break up the honeycomb pattern in places. It printed very differently on paper using printer's ink, a much heavier and intense image, even when there was less ink on the block.

Using a very thin fabric with a satin sheen to it produced a much lighter print of the bee, giving it more texture. If you look at the black stripes, you can see a slightly 'hairy' effect which was not part of the block cut, unlike the cross hatching on the thorax. This was not evident on the paper print but seemed to be entirely a side effect of the fabric paint on the sheen.

It's here!!

My parcel has arrived! My course materials for Textiles 1 - A Creative Approach has arrived at my husband's office in Qatar!

I had to get it sent there because this country seems to run on P.O Boxes. We don't have postmen, we have Aramex, DHL or Fedex equivalents, so giving our house address could have resulted in it being delivered 3 countries over. 

Anyway, it's at the office, with the husband. I'm sat at home, waiting...........and waiting. He was kind enough to send me a photo of my box of delights but I'm starting to fidget. 

I'll post tomorrow when I've opened it! I'm so excited, can you tell?

Amanda