Tutorial: Screen Printed Cat Pillow

A couple of weeks ago one of my little ones walked in and said, "will you teach me to make a screen?" Now a very good mother would have done this long ago, especially since this little one has been asking to do this for months. Unfortunately I'm more of the "my studio is MY refuge" kind of mother and I don't take time out as often as I should to let them into my space. I felt the need to take time for her this time. So glad I did.

She would like to share with you her process.

She things that if she can do it so can you!

General's Carbon Sketch Pencil

Draw your picture with a carbon pencil and send it through a thermofax machine and thermal-mesh to make a screen. You can also email your image to a thermofax screen service and let someone else make the screen for you. 

Lay out your cloth on a padded print surface (mine is a layer of felt under twill) and position your screen. It's easier to handle a foam brush than a squeegee. Dip it in the paint. With one hand hold the frame, with the other press the brush across the screen. Notice how her finger is pressing the brush? You really need to squish the paint fairly hard to get the paint through to the fabric.

We made a few prints then washed and dried the screen before turning it over and making some facing the other way. We also decided to do some splatter painting over the top of the kitties just for fun. Dip an old toothbrush into the paint and run your finger over it. It makes a really fun mess!

Cut out the kitties and hold them up to the light and make sure they are aligned. Pin the cats and sew a straight stitch around them, leaving a gap about two inches wide. Use pinking shears to trim about 1/4 inch around the outside of the seam.

Stuff your pillow through the gap. I always have left over bits of batting so she tore some of those up and used them.

Squish the batting back into the pillow and stick a pin into it so that it's easier to sew.

Sew a straight stitch to close the gap.

Pose for a picture with your beautiful little creations. Carry them around and tell everyone you know that you made them yourself. Sleep with them every night.

We'll be playing with thermofax screen printing here in the studio on April 18th.

I'd love to have you join me! 

More information can be found here.

Studio Class: Thermofax Screen Printing April 18

New Studio Class
Thermofax Screen Printing

Wednesday April 18th 

11am - 2pm

$65.00 includes lunch and ALL supplies, fabric, paint, and a large framed screen to take home.

Enjoy a few hours of creative playtime with Lyric as you learn the basics of what makes a good image for a thermofax screen. You'll learn how to choose, how to edit, and how to send an image to a service provider or use your own machine.

After creating your own unique image, make a screen using Lyric's thermofax machine and learn how to prepare it for printing by taping the frame to a screen or binding it with duct tape.

Learn how to use the screens with a squeegee or as a stencil, what kind of paints to use, what kinds of fabrics, how to discharge and layer imagery.

Are you ready to PLAY!?!
Sign up now - space will be limited to 8 students.
$65.00

Fee includes ALL materials, you don't need to bring a thing!

Wear old clothes or an apron.
Wednesday April 18th 

11am - 2pm

Studio Class - Inspiration

Now THAT was fun. Last week a fantastic group of ladies drove up from the Charleston South Carolina area and spent two days playing here with me in the Studio... and dining room and sun room. We basically took over the downstairs living area. We ate chocolate, played with paint, ate more chocolate, screen printed.... you get the idea. I had so much fun that I totally forgot to take out my camera. Arggg! 

I did get inspired though - teaching a technique that I haven't taught for a very long time. Hey - as long as all of the supplies are out I might as well play. Here is a length of cloth that I dyed with heat transfer dyes. You mix up the disperse dyes which look kind of yucky and boring, play with them like paint on paper. When you turn them over and heat press them onto a synthetic fabric magic happens!

I've got the house put back together (and the kids immediately took it back apart of course!) Most of the studio stuff is put back away. I love having it all cleaned up. It stays that way for a bit since the kids don't play in here. For some reason it makes me really want to get busy with the art. As soon as my "to do" list is taken care of tomorrow I'm going to reward myself with some art time.

And now might I ask a little favor of you? If you've had a class from me would you mind posting a one or two sentence review here? I need to put together some new teaching brochures and would love to include some testimonials. I'd really, really appreciate it! Really.

Studio Classes

I have it good. I have a loving family who is supportive and patient and I get to work time with some of the most wonderful people in the world. I have a passion for creating artwork and a place in which to pursue that passion. 

The family - never complains about take-out dinners and is used to a pretty messy house. We're slowly working on getting the kids to pick up their own stuff. I have an id that particular quest will not end until their stuff moves out along with them. And I just won't talk about complaints about dinners I actually cook.

Those people I get to work with? Students! And the ideal students at that. They are there because they really want to be there. They are inquisitive, talented, and open to what they are taught.  Even if they don't admit to being any of those three things - they are. I always learn so much from them as well.

The space I have to create art in is a blessing. I'm next to the main living area so that I can hear and see what is going on with the kids. I can look out the window and see them when they are playing outside. The space perfect for me to freely create whatever my brain can put together.

In a few weeks I get to combine the last two - students - studio! (The family will be gently kept elsewhere.) Students will have the opportunity to come to my home and my studio  in Cary, North Carolina, and lean, play, and create for two days. 

Thursday April 8th: Surface Design Sampler Platter

It's truly a little taste of everything and one of the funnest classes I teach. We dip into techniques such as printing, stamp carving, stenciling, photo transfer, thermofax screen printing, and foiling! Oops! I almost forgot beadwork. Elizabeth and Ellen both took this class at the Virginia Quilt Celebration in 2008 - the fabric says it all!

Friday April 9th: The Forgotten Fabrics and Screen Printing

There are some wonderfully fun things you can do with synthetic fabrics (gasp!) Disperse dyes are completely different than Procion dyes, and totally fun to work with.

The screen printing we'll do this day is very free, fast, and fun. We'll use regular full sized screens in some very interesting and  improvisational ways.

There are still a few spots available. If you are interested in joining us please contact me at Lyric (at) pobox.com.