Getting ready for market day

Well it has certainly been a hectic few weeks.  Leading up to Petone Rotary Fair on Jackson Street this weekend, I have been desperately trying to get my myself organised.  I finally set up the trestle table last night to do a trial run of what my stall will look like.  I am pretty chuffed with the result - but that might be the tiredness talking.  There are a few sale items of stock that didn't sell last time (and I have never got around to putting on my felt shop) as well as quite a few new creations.
 

I have almost finished (final stitches tonight) a variety of clutch purses - a retro themed batch of small purses from fabrics chosen by my very dear (and retro inspired) friend Vanessa; a bunch of medium sized purses which are typical fabric choices for me (florals and brocade type designs); and some oversized clutches made from a gorgeous thick-weaved pattern that I absolutely love.  I really do like this fabric so am secretly hoping they won't sell so I can keep one all to myself.

I was also so pleased with how my screen printed cushion turned out that I made a couple more in a variety of black on white, or white on black etc.  They look lovely.  I did a few with the tree design (see burnt-to-crisp example in previous post) and with the feathers.  (I can safely say that my screen printing prowess has improved markedly with practice.)

My last venture was to screen print a few muslin baby wraps.  If there one universal truth (along with all the other universal truths) it is that mothers can't have enough wraps.  They provide warmth when required, shade when required, swaddling and privacy, as well as always being available for clean up duties (spit, vom, dribble to name but a few varieties).  The great thing about this muslin is it breathes, has a little bit of 'give' in it so not to constrictive, and it dries in no time flat. 

I tried to tone down the yellow by mixing white, which I thought might be a nice colour for some floating feathers.  It is still super bright and perhaps not my favourite result.  The tree design sitting in the middle of the baby's back when wrapped is kinda nice though.

Anyway, other than finishing off a few items, I am pulling together all those extra things one needs for market day (all the little things like price tags and signs, business cards, change, bags for purchases, cellotape & scissors, pen, chairs, weather protection for whatever happens .... and the list goes on).  It will be a relief when Saturday finally rolls around.

The core ingredients

The core ingredients for a night sewing:

Machine - check. 

Pot of tea (to distract me from wine) - check. 

Bowl of cherries (to distract me from chocolate) - check. 

TV on Demand (to distract me fullstop) -  check. 

I'm sorted.

Screen Printing at Home II

After the screen-printing "Baking Incident" my next attempt was not going to involve the oven.

I've made two modifications to the screen printing process described in a previous post:

1.) I used a clear transparency paper to cut out the design. I was a bit nervous this might be too flimsy but once taped to the screen, it works just fine. You could certainly use something thicker if you preferred, as long as it didn't make cutting out the design too difficult. The benefit is that after printing, simply wash the paint off the transparency for a second use with a different colour.

2.) I used the iron on its hottest setting to cure the paint. This was easy and clean and works well. I've washed the trial runs to ensure no issues and they came through perfectly.

I love this feather design - its simple and sweet, a bit of a dreamy with a bit of a rustic element.  I used the print to decorate a cushion and love the way it has turned out. Printed on the calico it is a real cottage feel but its still soft enough to lay your head on and sturdy enough to throw about.


Now to get my A into G: the push is on. With a bit of help I'm trying to get products together. I've done some of the purses I had hoped for, and am liking the way they are turning out.

Happy New Year

Happy 2012 (somewhat belated).  A new year begins, and goodness knows what it will bring. Hopefully many adventures, laughter and joyful times for all.

Christmas was glorious in Wellington this year - a total stunner.  And Wellingtonians, often deprived of some decent summer days, made the most of it.

We took off after Christmas to capture some "guaranteed" sun up in the Bay of Islands and then the Coromandel.  As many many others will appreciate, the fact it rained nearly every day meant it wasn't exactly the ideal summer break.  However, one has to appreciate we live in a stunning part of the world. 

However, I'm now back at home, back at work, and conscious of the date - mid Jan. Eeek.

During 2011 I set myself a task of two market stalls this year (repeating last year of having a stall at the Newtown Fair in March, but also doing the Jackson Street Fair in February).  I am now starting to wonder how I will get around to making enough products to sell at two stalls.  The Purple Palace had absorbed so much spare time in the last 6 months my usual stash of products has whittled away and I am starting from a position of being somewhat behind the 8 ball.

First thing is to replenish the purse stocks. I've opted to try a number of different sizes ranging from the small, to the usual size, and up to larger clutch sizes.  And I'm going to try my hand at producing something with my new expert screen printing skills.

Let the sewing begin!

Screen Printing at home

So I have been planning to try my hand at screen printing for a while. A few months ago I indulged in some retail therapy and bought the screen and squeegee and a pot of Permaset paint.  Its been sitting on my desk ever since and I've been desperate to find some time to give it a go.

During the last few weeks I choose a design. I traced it on to a cardboard manilla folder and using a craft knife, carefully cut out the design.

This weekend, and a few U-tube video’s later, I thought I might give it a go.

Using masking tape I attached the design to the flat side of the screen. I masking taped the rest of the screen to prevent any paint getting though.

I then turned the screen and placed on a piece of calico.

At this point you have: flat surface – fabric – stencil – screen.

 

And then for the paint application:  

• I dolloped some paint along the top seciton of the screen,
• took the squeegee,
• swipe down, up, down, and
• carefully peeled the screen away.

 Just like that – there’s paint on the fabric. How nifty!

I was delighted with the outcome.  I made three of the same and let them dry.

 

.... and then it all went wrong.  
 

The aim is to let it air dry and then 'heat cure' the paint (as per the intructions of the jar). You can use an iron or the oven. Here’s today’s lesson folks – if using the oven, do not assume that all is well.  Do not walk away and start some other chore or get distracted. When it says on the jar: 2-3 minutes, that is all!  Not 3-4 0r 4-5.  Only a short spell.  It may be that you need a lower temperature. Because otherwise .... lo and behold, your fabric will burn!

Yes, the lovely designs now have a browned aesthetic and indeed smell somewhat of caramel. You have to laugh.

Might go for the iron next time.

Paper decorations

In a blatant display of idea poaching, some easy and effective decorations were spied. “We can make those!” we cried. “Perfect for Christmas” we cried.

I had some old decorative paper lying around so choose a cream-ish paper and a Victorian red type design. I used a press to make the circles and then glued alternative designs together so they were double sided. Then a line of stitching and Bob’s ya uncle.

(Just in the interests of full disclosure – it did occur to me later that gluing the whole sheets together and then pressing out the circles might have been a more time efficient way to go – but perhaps the card would have been too thick ... yeah.)

Success and failure

As suspected - I didn't make it beyond Day 4.

I did finish the bag though - I quite like it.  Its definitely a winter bag.