It was so fun for me to show you another corner from our home yesterday. I'll have to clean up the books and blocks on the north side of the sun room before I show the rest. But now you know where (and why) I take almost all of my close-up photos... the room with windows and a well used wooden plank bench.
Not being able to share the bazillion things I'm working on (book stuff) has been challenging for me in so many ways. I feel like my creative soul is tucked into that pouch above and can't wait to be unzipped. So, it's with great pleasure that over the next few weeks I will be able to introduce you to at least a couple of new designs that I'm working on for the Squam Art Fair on June 5th. The art fair is on the last night of the retreat and has been an amazing experience to be a part of over the last few years. It only lasts a few hours, but is always filled with a happy swarm of enthusiastic textile-loving folks. Mostly I'll be bringing out the tried and true burlap/linen/printed items that have filled my shop in the past. I cut cut up coffee sacks until 1 am the other night! But, I'm also trying to use up my scraps in new, fun ways... I finally got around to a opening a big bag of vintage zippers that I scored at a flea market a few years ago.
And have been carving again! Hallelujah for carving stamps... makes my heart sing. I have had a yarn stamp idea for over a year and finally got to experimenting. These are the preliminary sketches with a magic marker. I often jot down ideas alongside my kids, so I just grab whatever tools they're using. Markers offer a thick line which helps to visualize the positive and negative spaces of a print. They were just right for these doodles.
In the end, I always illustrate in pencil (this one had a very poor eraser, thus the smudginess) and then flip it over and transfer it to a carving block.
The first prints of a new stamp are always a surprise and with luck- a delight!
These worked out nicely for such little stamps... so I'm printing them on fabric, too. More on that soon.
drawing yarn is harder than one might think! I recently made a flyer for my coffee shop for my weekly knitting group!
ReplyDeleteI'm happy that little feet will be arriving here soon, but oh, this was the year! The year I was GOING to go to Squam! Have a GREAT time! Someday, it will be my turn!
I want that yarn stamp on everything I own!!!! Love isn't a strong enough word!
ReplyDeleteThese are beautiful stamps, Maya!
ReplyDeleteWhat great stamps! I love these and I love that you shared the process! So inspiring!
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful. And I always feel enlightened seeing other creative processes, and this was no different.
ReplyDeleteI carved a stamp very similar to yours with the needles in it and used it to make a transparent label for the pickle jar that holds my DPNs. It's now a quite snazzy needle vase. :) I like the rather instant gratification of carving stamps, and the way I can do it in bits and pieces, which is sometimes the only way I get to do anything creative.
ReplyDeleteI love that stamp! And I like seeing your design process too. It's very inspiring.
ReplyDeleteSuch a cute stamp. I can think of several people who'd love that on a card or something. Also, that pouch is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteoh I am SO getting to your booth FIRST in line-- I love love love what you are making that pouch is heavenly! xoxox, E
ReplyDeleteWhat a great yarn ball! I adore it. What sort of ink/paint do you use to stamp with? It has a nice coverage and I haven't been able to find one I like yet. Good luck at Squam, I'm hoping to make it to the art fair as it's been a few years. I scored a garlic bag at one.
ReplyDeleteThe stamps ame out so well! you must be stoked, =) can't wait to see them on fabric x
ReplyDeleteI have a yarn ball sketch in my journal that I would love to carve someday, too. Yours is so clean and the stamp came out so crisp--I love it on the tag card!
ReplyDeleteOh I love them!!!!
ReplyDelete~ joey ~
Love the new stamps and seeing the process. Looks like fun - I've been wanting to play with the soft carving blocks for a while now.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous stamps! Have you considered making more stamps and adding the actual stamps to your shop? I bet they would be a real hit! :)
ReplyDeleteThese look so cool, Maya! Thanks for sharing a peek at some of your process, too - always inspires me to see how others go about their work. How do you hold your stamps when pressing? I recently carved a few pieces of the same thickness, and having no experience, I felt all awkward trying to position it and get a good press out of it.
ReplyDeleteHi Everyone! Here are some answers to questions:
ReplyDeleteLinen and Tulle-I use versacraft stamp pads for fabric and color box pads for paper. Do a search on Etsy for suppliers.
Seaweed and Raine- I'd love to offer stamps one day, but carving them by hand makes it an unaffordable option right now.
Jan- I use great care when lowering and positioning each stamp on the surface. Then I use several firm presses on each side, but mostly the center. I always stamp standing up for more leverage. Just takes practice and the willingness to flub a few every time:)
Love the pouch and the new stamp, Maya. is it wrong to covet a hand carved stamp? I don't think so.
ReplyDeleteI also doodle alongside my kids, the best ideas happen there amongst play. I love your ideas and can't wait for the book:)
ReplyDeleteThat's such a good idea! I love it!
ReplyDeleteLooks complicated, but I like the stamps. Makes me want to learn to knit.
ReplyDeleteJody
Love, love this stamp!! —that's it I'm going to carve something today.
ReplyDeleteLOVE your yarn stamp! I also love that first print, excitedly waiting to find out if it is as I had imagined it would be!
ReplyDeletethose are so pretty. And I also like the yarn puches you made. it looks like a very useful thing for knitters.
ReplyDeleteSo nice...
ReplyDeleteThat stamp is fabulous! I must try my hand at that....
ReplyDeletethis is such an adorable idea!
ReplyDeletethis is gorgeous! What do you make your stamps out of?
ReplyDelete