Block Printing on Fabric

Between illustration projects I've been having so much fun the last few weeks carving and stamping on fabric. It's been so nice making physical objects again! They have always been a part of my practice, but after taking most of this last year to focus on my illustration work I realized that making things is actually also part of my wellbeing as a person.

I haven't printed since college (I actually majored in fine art printmaking; lithography, engraving etc.), but recently the truly hand made and imperfect has been so appealing to me. Not to get too deep into it but it's all tied up in the total exhaustion I've been feeling the last few years with with mass appeal consumerism and the feeling I need to keep up with that in my industry (if you can call it that). It's a bit self imposed maybe the the pressure is there.
Anyway I am over it. I like small batch, I like different and creative.



I've had soo many ideas since I started lino cutting again of things I want to make. I need an outlet for this type of work and I'm considering opening another wing of my shop (or maybe opening a different one?) for printed home goods. Really I see it as nice balance for my illustration work and a way to rejuvenate my creative juices when I'm feeling burnt out in one area.






In case you want to know I'm using these carving blocks, and this ink. The brayers I already had, I believe they are Speedball as well.

Lately

I've been feeling bad about not updating this blog, but I just haven't felt very motivated to do so most of the summer. A lot of it has to do with not feeling like sitting on the computer editing photos. I do want to keep posting here about various things I'm up to, I do need to remember to take more photos when I'm actually out and about doing things though.
Well, here is a short recap of some things from the last few weeks anyway:


These were some of my favorite things in late July/August:
• Arnica cream for my poor tired muscles after running.
• Rosewater for my face.
• Figs (amazingly like jam inside!)
• A new tea from one of my favorite tea companies. This tea has lavender and bergamot together, it's like it was made for me.
• I read all of Willa Cather's Prairie Trilogy this summer. I would describe all as very moving, this was my favorite.


I had a show at one of my favorite galleries here in town. It was a nice break from my other illustration work. Also, while it was hot I finally got some shave ice, sadly only once but I could eat it every day if that food cart was nearer my house.


I've been eating very well, mostly vegetables, but I always try to find time for baking. I finally found a good biscuit recipe. These are another thing I could eat every day, but it's probably better to only have them on the weekends


It was too hot for this for a few months but the weather turned cooler recently and it immediately made me want to make stock.



I went on several hikes to waterfalls, because that's the best place to hike when it's hot.


I didn't get to pick any lavender myself this summer, but lucky for me my friends picked me some!


I finally made my own soy wax candles, hooray! I can't wait to fill my apartment with affordable candles this Fall.

I told myself when I started this blog that I wouldn't keep it up if I didn't feel like it, so I might take breaks here but I'm feeling a little more inspired lately so I'm going to try and get back into a posting routine.

DIY Beauty

I mentioned in my last post about getting more into DIY products. I've definitely gone though DIY beauty phases in the past, this latest round of DIY excitement has to do with the general life simplification I've been attempting lately. It also has to do with the desire to be more self reliant which may sound weird but let me explain. Maybe I spend too much time online, but lately I've been more and more annoyed at constantly being sold things, so I get a sort of perverse pleasure in not buying. I like the idea of just getting an $8 jar of coconut oil and using it for everything, it's a honestly freeing feeling! Writing it down like this it makes me sound like kind of a crank, but I know other people are feeling this way too so if you are hopefully you get what I'm trying to say! That said I am far from only using coconut oil for everything, I'm minimal but not that minimal and I'm far too excited to make all these DIY recipes! Also, I want to say that this is just my personal thing, you do you, and if that means you love buying skin care products that's great!

Anyway, this is kind a silly preamble to more posts to come because as of right now I haven't been making much of anything! I'm trying to use up what I have & not be wasteful. I have a list going of what I want to make though, here is what I'm most excited about:

• Whipped boy butter (like this one)
• rosewater toner (like this)
• Mixing a new face oil with argon oil, rosehip oil and frankincense EO.
• An oil cleanser with olive oil, safflower oil and sweet almond oil.
• a rose lip balm
• scented bath salt scrub with lavender EO and a TBD carrier oil
• Lavender pillow spray

I also want to try making some soy candles. So many ideas!