pillow talk

block carving

It was a long time ago that I carved this block to print an all over design on fabric.  Since then sewing projects took over my studio and left me no room to print.  Last week Barry had Veteran’s Day off and he helped me dig out of the mess and organize it– which left me with a clear drafting table and room to print fabric!

Add to that Pillow Week hosted over at House on Hill Road and I had a perfect use for my handprinted fabric.  Even though I didn’t get this photographed and blogged during Pillow Challenge Week, I did get it made.  That counts, right?  You should check out Erin’s pillow posts— there’s lots of information on closures and stuffing, and lovely pillows to look at.

new pillow

I printed on plain linen and am pretty happy with how it turned out.  My pattern matched up!

handprinted linen pillow

I’m wondering if I need to add something to my ink so it’s not quite so sticky next time and soaks into the fabric a little.  This went really fast, though.  I went from cutting and ironing my fabric to cleaning up my ink mess in less than an hour– printing 1/2 yard of fabric.

handprinted linen pillow, the striped side

I also made a simple striped stamp and printed a long 1/4 yd. of fabric, then cut it into triangles to make the other side.  There’s an invisible zipper in the bottom seam, so the pillow is totally reversible.

handprinted linen pillow, the flower side

I’m excited that my all over pattern repeated so well!  It’s fun when experiments work out.

9 thoughts on “pillow talk

  1. It is so beautiful. I am glad to see you are back to printing again. You make such pretty things.

  2. So pretty! I’ve found you via your birdie tutprial at rythm of the home and am enchanted with the way you raise your family and craft! Love the pillows!
    Bora from Switzerland

  3. So pretty! I’ve found you via your birdie tutprial at rythm of the home and am enchanted with the way you raise your family and craft! Love the pillows!
    Bora from Switzerland

  4. Hello, I’m from Puerto Rico and I like to do carving in linoleoum, I would like to know more about the inks you used. That pillow looks great!
    I like your blog because the crafty thing and so many kids. I’m always looking for big homeschool families, to see how you doj that.
    Happy new year and lots of blessings for your beautiful family!

  5. So beautiful!! but which is the material to make the block. Thank´s, I´m from Argentina.-

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