…to go to work every day!
I thought I might miss the companionship more than anything else but the phone seems to be ringing constantly and the days just race by. I’m having a whale of a time. No serious housework managed as yet although I have been doing a fair bit of home baking – a bit of a novelty at the moment which I am sure will soon wear off. :)
And what else have I been up to?
I have been frantically trying to get prepared for the Fashion, Embroidery and Stitch Show at the NEC later this month, details here. I will be teaching free workshops, with all materials provided, organised by Kim Thittichai and alongside some really wonderful artists. This is what we will be creating in my workshop:
Details of all the workshops are on the ICHF website here. Unfortunately, my name does not appear under the list of demonstrators either on the website or in the leaflet as thanks once again to AOL a number of emails went astray and not only did I miss the deadline date it was by a complete stroke of luck that I didn’t miss out on the whole thing altogether! (I really must get around to changing my service provider especially as I noticed recently that my monthly charge went up by £2.31 a few months back and I was not informed – I am sure that isn’t allowed.)
Anyway, I shall be there from Thursday March 24th through to Sunday March 27th from 9.30 to 5.30 (5.00 on Sunday).
I am also really excited about this technique I have been working on, so simple yet very effective. A really rusty, distressed surface created using a layering technique. I shall be taking some of these samples with me to the NEC if you would like a closer look. Hope to see you there.
I wanted to do some transfer printing with disperse dyes through a thermofax screen.
I thickened the dye with a disperse dye thickener, screened it onto copy paper and it worked a treat. Left it to dry until the next day. All looking good so far. Then I ironed the print on to Lutradur. And ironed it and ironed it and ironed it – and absolutely nothing happened – except the copy paper started to turn brown with the heat from the iron!
I must admit I have had the disperse dyes and thickener for at least 7 years, possibly longer. Do they have a shelf life? Can anyone throw any light on this for me please?
16 comments:
Sorry, can't help with the disperse dye problem Lynda, I've barely ever used them myself. Did you try them out on some polyester fabric too? I still don't know which day I'm coming to the NEC, either Thursday or Saturday, but I will definitely come and see you. :)
I can't help either but someone will surely come up with a useful comment. I love those little notebook covers and your 'rusty' samples. Have a great time at the NEC - I'm sure your students will.
I wish I were close enough to take your book class.
I wish I could be there, but unfortunately, I am not. I love the little booklets you have made and would like to know how you did the rusty things.
thanks for sharing.
I'm coming to the NEC, so hopefully I'll manage to get booked in to see you, if not I'll pop round to the stand to see both you and Kim. Really looking forward to the show as I had a great time last year!
Had you ever had success with this batch of dyes before? I once ordered from Dharma and the red did not work at all. I let them know and they sent some different red. Seems there is something that is similarly named and occasionally picked up by mistake. I don't know what "the wrong stuff" is called, but if you've never used this group of dyes before as transfer dyes - perhaps they are not the right stuff?
I'll be at the NEC on Thursday so will come and say hello. Not sure why your dyes aren't working.
Well I've done transfer printing & I've used a thermofax screen, but never the two together, sounds very interesting. You haven't changed to a different iron have you? Some just don't seem to be hot enough. I think dyes last quite a long time, I don't know about the thickener though. Have you tried them the normal way just to make sure they still work ok? Good luck & I hope you have an enjoyable time at the NEC
It is good to have you back, Lynda. I have missed your textures and colors! Welcome Back!
Lynda, I've never done any thermofax printing with actual disperse dye thickener, but I did do a few experiments (not printing, but brushing and stuff like that) using Golden screenprinting gel and also Colourcraft pigment binder and they worked (I mixed the dyes into the various binders). I haven't tried sodium alginate but the lady at Rainbow Silks seemed to think it might work as well. I'll have a look on my blog to see if I recorded any of this at the time and post the links here! I suppose the issue really is to use a thickener that will also be okay to be heated without scorching, melting or giving off horrible fumes.
Sometimes I find that transfer dyes take ages to print - just when you are about to give up ironing, they start to go. You do need a very hot iron and yes, it is possible to scorch everything else before they print off! Maybe I've been using old dyes as well, maybe that's it?
Call Viv Art Van Go she'll know
what is wrong I am sure.
I really love your new distress technique. Thanks for sharing your pics. xx
for your beautiful works of a PRIZE from me on my blog.
Maybe Lutrador isn't the right material? I've used transfer paints a lot and never tried them on Lutrador.
Hi Lynda
I have always put the design straight onto Lutrador ( not onto paper first) Then heat set with a hair dryer when the Lutrador is dry. Works well.
Best wishes
Maggie
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