tiny happy

I saw some really beautiful linen bedding in a homewares store a while back: it had an all-over pattern of dark yellow dots and was very expensive. Then yesterday, while organising supplies for my printing class (come along! it's this weekend) I wanted to test my fabric inks, and remembered some linen pillowcases I'd op-shopped for this very purpose. 

I stole one of the kids' pencils (with an eraser on the top) and used the rubber tip as a stamp. Voila- dotty pillowcases. Don't worry, I'll bring a handful of these pencils with me to HANDMADE. The class is actually about designing and carving your own stamps, but i'll have lots of lovely coloured fabric inks and materials for everyone to play with.

DOTTY PILLOWCASES (in case you want some specific instructions..)

* You'll need pure cotton or linen pillowcases (or cushion or duvet cover), fabric ink (I use 'versacraft' and order it on etsy), large sheet of paper, smooth tea towel or piece of fabric, pencil with eraser on the end, iron.

* Make sure your pillowcase or similar is well washed and dried. Place it on a flat surface, with a smooth piece of fabric (such as a teatowel) underneath (the slight cushion improves the print). Place paper inside the case, to prevent the ink bleeding into the back of the case.

* Use the rubber tip of the pencil to stamp in a random fashion all over your case.

* Leave somewhere warm until the ink is completely dry. Then iron it on a warm-hot setting, to fix the ink.

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