Monday, March 9, 2009

linen scarf

Happy Monday! I made a little scarf yesterday. I wanted something to transition with me into a warmer season. Linen. That was predictable. The bottom edge is trimmed with a delicate vintage crochet that was once attached to a pillowcase. I bought an entire ziplock bag filled with vintage pillowcase trims at a church sale last summer. Delicious! This was the first time I used one. I love my sweet scarf. I'll wear it proudly and happily... but I'd never give this version as a gift, and I'd certainly never sell one printed this way. Wonky... very wonky! I created it as an exercise to test out another form of printing on fabric: a hand carved stamp, textile paint, and a brayer. This is my least favorite outcome for printing. In it's favor, it is rich in texture. I just prefer a bit more predictability when I use my special fabrics.

Stenciling with freezer paper is still my favorite, but stamping with fabric stamp pads is a close second. This up-coming weekend I will be taking a two day silk-screening workshop... I'll be sure to bring some linen and my camera, so that I can report back to all of you.

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I have a happy forsythia update (see previous post) . As of Sunday afternoon, little yellow buds... the beginning of petals have emerged!
We're so excited! I'm planning on gathering cuttings for every room, now that I see that it works this early and with little special care. Yipeee! Forsythias in March! I might have to bring in some crab apple and chestnut from out front... why not have a blooming forest inside! Pin It

24 comments:

  1. The printing is beautiful! It feels very zakka, if that makes sense.

    And I love the idea of "branching" out to crab apple and chestnut.

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  2. Oh that stamping is gorgeous with the linen. What a beautiful scarf!

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  3. Real creative and interesting blog! I'd love to come back to see more!! Nice week//Eva

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  4. Hi Maya :) Like Patricia, I feel myself there'ss "something Zakka" about it ... it's simple & very charming, probably one of the definitions of Zakka, I suppose. It looks so great ! Can't wait to see more & hear more about your next weekend ! How fun ! Yeah for the branches starting to bloom !!! :) Have a great start to the new week, sweetie. Take care ! xoxo

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  5. Hi Maya!
    I like your scarf! You'll see - it will get even better the more you wear it!
    I'm a big fan of linen too, its natural drape and feel... I love it! Lately, I've been experimenting with iron-on transfers, to print some of my photographs onto linen. There was a huge surprise factor in there, too - but that was mainly because of me going too fast, too eager to see the result! The last prints were pretty satisfying, though...
    I the mean time, I'm still on the outlook for freezer paper :(

    Have fun at the silk-screening workshop!

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  6. Doesn't look wonky at all to me more wabi sabi which is really more my style. Inperfection ( wonkiness) comes naturally to me and makes me feel at ease.

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  7. Your scarf is beautiful and I think only you notice the imperfections :-)

    I crocheted a few scarfs over winter, so now I'm inspired to try a summer version.

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  8. I love that you used the word "wonky"...cracked me up when I saw it as something I would make...wear and feel the same way about giving it...like my t-shirts. I had to look up "zakka" based on ZenCrafter's comment so for those out there also curious this is what I found: "Zakka has also been described as "the art of seeing the savvy in the ordinary and mundane". "To qualify as a zakka, a product must be attractive, sensitive, and laden with subtext"

    Keep "zakka-ing" it to us Maya!!! :)

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  9. Hurray! I just cut some from my neighbor's bushes. Ours are so tiny and hers are a bit out of control. Can't wait for those yellow blossoms!

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  10. what a great scarf! I love the pillowcase trims idea... and, who wouldn't love an indoor blooming forest! I hope everything blooms beautifully for you!

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  11. Oh, Maya.....I love this beautiful scarf! Your first? You ARE amazing my friend.
    xo
    Melis

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  12. Thanks for all the scarf love! My inner critic will consider the zakka aspects of it the first time I wear it... later on today:)

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  13. I've been playing around with stamp carving and would like to buy an ink pad for textile. I just don't get how you use it when the ink pad is so small and the stamp is so big...
    You inspire me :)

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  14. I like the wonkiness. But I suppose it's a different feel that you are going for. I'd never heard of zakka, but I suppose it's that... and wabi sabi. It's all about making do with what you have and seeing the beauty in the imperfection. Conceptually it's great.

    Love the idea of stamps on fabric. The possibilities are endless.

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  15. Thanks for making me feel all springlike! Birds, linen, lightweight scarves... lovely :-)

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  16. I love your creativity! You inspired me to go to my local indie coffee shop and ask for their burlap sacks, and I made some of my own garlic and potato sacks! Thanks for the cool ideas. Next I'm going to give stamp carving a try, since yours are so amazing.

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  17. wonky = wonderful! that's what's so great about handmade (at least that is what i tell myself when something doesn't come out exactly as i have pictured it!) and i just realized that i have a forsythia bush in my front yard- its been so grey for so long i had forgotten! now, i just need to go clip myslef a few branches.

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  18. Just wanted to say you are such an inspiration to me. Its amazing how much more I am seeing things for their potential now instead of just discarding them when I think their use has passed.

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  19. Very pretty scarf, like the effect you get by printing on the fabric very much.
    Nickyx

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  20. I`ve just discovered your blog and love it. Congratulations for your creativity!

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  21. Hi there - you have been featured on Cuteable today.

    Lynsey

    http://cuteable.com/

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  22. oh, wow. i adore your linen scarf- you are so clever!

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