Monday 14 April 2014

Screen Printing with Saffron Craig...


Last week my daughter and I were lucky enough to attend a Screen Printing Workshop with Australian fabric designer, Saffron Craig. I was wanting to explore the process of screen printing and I've long admired Saffron's beautiful fabrics, so the workshop sounded perfect.



And it was!!! Saffron started the day by showing us some of her fabrics and talking about the design process. Impatient as I was to start printing, it was fascinating hearing first hand how she approaches fabric design, seeing her favourite fabrics and hearing behind the scenes info. Oh, and to be able to ask questions.

Although at times we were flat out, it was a very relaxed atmosphere. Saffron is on the left in the photo above, mixing inks for me, with my daughter Tash, from Little Ladybird, on the right.


Thanks, Saffron, for taking pics with my camera!!! Otherwise I'd have very few photos in this blog post.


I'm so glad I followed Saffron's suggestions with the colours. I happily let her mix the inks to get the colours. We were even able to keep the left over mixed inks!!! I purchased a screen and sqeegee. I'm hooked and plan to do more experimenting with screen printing at home.


Tash was most excited, on her birthday, to find out that we would be attending the screen printing workshop. Happy Birthday, Gorgeous Girl!!! I know you had a fab day, too.  Where shall we go next birthday?


There were only six of us in the group and we took over the bottom floor of Material Obsession at Drummoyne, in Sydney. Amazingly, I was surrounded by gorgeous fabric, and able leave at the end of the day without any new fabric. It was a different story when I first visited the store earlier in the year.


I'm thrilled with the design I was able to create... with help, of course. I originally wanted to print the mauve flowers, directly on top of the blue. Saffron encouraged me to offset them. I have to admit, I was skeptical as to how it would look. The end result speaks for itself. I love it!!!


Here's my finished fabric. I'm not sure what I'll do with it. I've heat set it and put it through the wash, but I really don't want to cut into it just yet. My original plan was to turn the fabric into a quilt and I may still do that. I've also been thinking of cushions, or maybe a bag. What do you think?


Fun activities always involve some sort of cleanup. 


Checking for ink left on the screen.


Tash turned photos into drawings, which she then used to create silhouettes... very creative!!!


They look stunning, especially the ones on the polka dot fabric. Tash is not sure how she'll use her prints, either, but she has several ideas.


Saffron suggested Tash put two of her prints onto my flowers. I love the effect!!! Again, not sure what they'll become, but I'm thinking maybe a canvass or a cushion.

Have you ever sewn with Saffron Craig fabrics? Late last year I made two fabric baskets using Magical Lands. And I have two more of her beautiful fabrics in my stash, just waiting for the right project.

If you are interested in learning screen printing, I can thoroughly recommend a Screen Printing Workshop with Saffron Craig. (No, I'm not being sponsored.) Although based in Sydney, she does workshops in various locations around Australia.

Thanks Mr TMW for my Christmas present! Just wondering how you'll top Saffron's workshop this Christmas?

... Pam

Edited to add: See the progress made on turning Tash's screen printing into a quilt.

36 comments:

  1. That looks like so much fun! Lucky you! And yes the silhouette prints look great over your floral. Definitely a bag and a cushion or two.

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  2. Looks like you and your daughter had so much fun, and you did some really beautiful work!

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  3. Oh how I wish I could learn to do this! Your fabric turned out so pretty. I can't wait to see what you make with it.

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  4. What a great day with a wonderful piece of unique fabric at the end of it. Spending time with your daughter too, it doesn't get much better than that Pam :)

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  5. The fabric you made is really nice. I love transforming one thing into another.

    Ta Ta Cathy the Bagg Lady

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    1. Thanks, Cathy. It's the start of a new adventure for me.

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  6. That looks like so much fun! I'd love to give screen printing a go one of these days. You created some fun fabric- can't wait to see what you do with it.

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  7. oh wow, how lucky were you! That must have been a brilliant experience. I LOVE the fabric you made. I think you should only use it in a quilt if it's going to be wholecloth, you shouldn't cut it up too much!

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  8. That looks like so much fun!!! How will you use it?

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  9. Looks like an amazing class and a fun mother-daughter day! Love your daughter's silhouettes and your flowers. Can't wait to see what you do with it! Unfortunately I have no new suggestions, but a whole cloth quilt would be cool.

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  10. New bloglovin' follower to your blog - love to make my own custom fabric too! Really like your color choices and cannot wait to see what you make with it!

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  11. This looks like so much fun!

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  12. Pam, that sounds like so much fun!

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  13. STOPPING BY FROM ANYTHING GOES MONDAY How fun !

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  14. Sounds like you two had a great time. Your daughter is beautiful! I visited her shop via your link and it is very nice. My girls and I do not get to go out, just us gals, very often but I always enjoy it very much when we do.

    I love screen printing and have dabbled quite a bit into it, using the different techniques. I have done mostly tee shirts and tea towels. You are right, clean up is messy and if you happen to get a bit of paint on your hand and then touch your project, which I am prone to do, it can ruin a project! It is great fun, nonetheless!

    The piece you made is gorgeous!

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  15. What a fun mom-daughter day you had! Truly original, beautiful fabrics...cannot wait to see what you are making with it!

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  16. Looks like such a fun day. I wouldn't want to cut into that beautiful fabric either :-p

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    1. I might just have to take a deep breath and cut, as everything I think of involves cutting!

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  17. So much about this post thrilled me - seeing you having so much fun and 'meeting' your daughter (I've popped over and checked out her website), loving your screenprinting and then discovering you were at Material Obsession. I'd love to visit the store - I met Kathy Doughty and Carolyn Davis last year when Kathy taught a class at The City Quilter, she's back again at the end of May teaching and doing a trunk show which I'm looking forward to. Looks like a fab day all round :D

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  18. My mum's MQG did this workshop a while ago. Fun to see what others create too. It really looks like fun!

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  19. This looks like such a fun day! I hope I can do a session with Saffron in the near future :)
    The fabric you have made is lovely, and how fun to do it with your daughter!

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  20. Lucky you! I adore Saffron's fabrics and have used them a few times in a quilt and also a dress for my daughter. Love that you were able to produce something so pretty by the end of the class. Can't wait to see what you do with your newly designed fabric :)

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  21. Looks like so much fun, love the prints :) thanks for sharing at Creative Mondays...

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  22. I love the designs you both came up with. I took a screen printing class in college. I loved it. I just wish I had the materials to do it at home. And space. Lots of space for my craft addictions.

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    1. Thanks, Eska. We can never have enough SPACE... LOL!!!

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  23. How exciting! This workshop does look like it was a blast! Love the end results. Can't wait to see what you make!

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  24. That looks like a lot of fun! Your fabric turned out beautiful! We did screen printing when I took a visual arts class is high school but sadly, I don't remember much of the process. Looking forward to seeing your experiments with screen printing at home!

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  25. I have always wanted to try screen printing and after seeing all the fun you had I now want to more than ever! Can't wait to see what else you make! Thanks for sharing.
    Freemotion by the River Linky Party Tuesday

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  26. I wish I can attend this classes! Im so in love with the finish products! #CreativeMondays

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  27. How fun! I've been wanting to try screen printing. Your flowers turned out awesome! Thank you for sharing this and your cute pillowcase and drawstring bag at the party. Happy Easter! Blessings ~Deborah

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  28. Lovely work ladies. I would love to try my hand at some screen printing too. Perhaps this summer I will get an opportunity to do so. :)

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  29. Wow, how fun is that! I have never done screen printing before, this looks like so much fun. I love how your fabrics turned out! :)

    Thank you for linking up to Fabric Frenzy Friday!
    -Lindsey
    Fabric Frenzy Friday

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  30. I totally want to try screen printing! I love your new fabric. Thanks for linking up to Inspire Us Thursday on The Inspired Wren.

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  31. Looks like you and your daughter had a great day, your fabric looks amazing and totally original.

    ukcitycrafter@live.co.uk

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