A short lesson in screen printing.

You will learn, as time goes by, that I have a bit of a thing about screen printing - at some point I will endeavour to but a pile of pictures up of how I use this technique in my own work (when I have the chance), but I thought that since I had a few moments spare last week, I would get a couple of screens up and running ready to print at home this weekend. This is something that we try to do a lot of at college, so it won't hurt to put this post up on the blog so that the newbies can get some sort of an idea as to what it's all about. If you already know, then well, too bad!

The silk screen - basically a frame with a mesh fabric stretched over it which is then coated in a light sensitive emulsion (like a piece of phot paper), which can have images exposed on to it and then ink pulled through the resulting "gaps" which are formed to produce a permanently printed image on cloth (or paper) - confused? well give it time, things will become clear.........

The darker of these screens is the coated one, the other is just to show what the mesh looks like.

My images - all copied onto acetate so that only the light can travel through the ground but not the image - this will then allow the majority of the screen to become "hardened" in order to prevent the ink to travel through - only the images will provide a gateway through which the ink may travel - I'm confusing myself now.....

The exposing unit - basically a big black box with uv light bulbs in it - a vacuum pump keeps the lid nice and tight and the exposure begins, as you can see, you place the acetates facing right side up and the place the coated screens flat on top.



Set the timer to 4 minutes and away you go......

once the timer pings, you need to race the screen to a water supply and soak each side BEFORE you turn the lights on, we have a specially darkened wash down area for this - as if by magic the images appear, and if you hold the screen up to the light once you are done rinsing, you should be able to see right through the images.

Once exposed you need to tape up the screens - as you can see, there are gaps around the coated area and if these aren't protected the ink will seep through and ruin the cloth you are printing, to do this you need gum strip and a bowl of water - it is very important though to avoid getting the excess sticky water from the saturated tape onto the exposed images, as this will "block" the screen by causing a permanent gluey barrier.



Watch out for the next installment, coming soon ......

Make do and mend or just make!

This blog business is proving to be quite hard to stay on top of, but I promised Hazel that I would do my best - so although it has been over a week I am aiming to get everything done at some point today!

So first of all, make do and mend - a top tip for you. I have had this cardi for AGES, love the colour, but hadn't worn it for a while because the collar was fraying, so I had a think and picked up some bias binding and stitched it over the top - and hey presto, good as new.

The very same day, an old friend of mine, Jo (we used to waitress together at a rather posh health farm when we were students, many moons ago)came for lunch with her little boy Charley, and although she turned up with some amazing flowers (always greatfully received), she had also been baking and presented us with these incredible cookies - I'm telling you, they were better than anything shop bought and have inspired me to locate my pinny - watch this space!!

New floor..

As well as Brighton, Arnie and I managed to fit in a trip to Judith's for lunch (my FABULOUS mother in law), a good meaty walk and a trip to the cinema - Inception - it is brilliant and you should definitely go and see it! However, we did have a trip to London planned too - you know, the Tate Modern, food and maybe some theatre, that sort of thing, but I was expecting a new floor to arrive for our bathroom and had to wait around for it, so as I waved bye, bye, to Arnie at the station, fully intending to catch him up later in the day, I went home to wait for the guys to finish - unbeknown to me that it would take 3 of them 5 hours to lay it - hence no lovely day for me.... But doesn't it look groovy.....

Arnie

It is always great to make new friends too, and when Ivan (Mr Bicknell) and I climbed Kili 5 or so years ago, Arnie was part of our team, the three of us hit it off straight away and we have managed to meet up once or twice a year ever since - impressive since he is actually American and lives in San Francisco! Fortunately many of our college trips are either to NYC or San Fran, and Arnie has business connections over here, so we are lucky! As Ivan (Mr Bicknell) was still romping around the Apls (he, I'm glad to report is now back safe and sound), it was my job to entertain - so where better on a sunny weekend than Brighton......

Arnie - his first trip to Brighton and possibly his first deck chair!!

Sadly we didn't build any sand castles - but the thought was there....!

You have to love the seagulls!

Some people will do anything for some attention!

The pier.

Not the best day for a swim - but there were some impressive waves to be seen.

All the fun of the fair.

I never had the patience, so I never did!

What would Brighton be without the seafood - of which we ate plenty, although not on the pier, but in the rather amazing Riddle & Finn's in the Lanes - if you haven't been - GO!

Well, he was a tourist, so we had to go to do the tour of the pavillion!

And just to prove that I did actually climb Kili - here is the proof - I promise that I am not quite that fat, but considering it was minus 18, I had quite a few layers on! And yes that does say 5895M and no, I didn't smile for the entire 7 days it took us to reach the top! Arnie will confirm this!

Lynda

I have got a bit of catching up to do now, after the madness of the last two weeks with all the decorating, gardening and "doing-up" of old chairs, it was time to catch-up with friends. I have 3 really fab girl friends who you have yet to meet. Lynda is the first (below)to feature and we have been friends for about 17 years - doesn't time fly! You will also soon meet Rebecca who now lives in Germany and studied at Winchester with me, she is flying over so that we can head off to Santorini for a posh and extravagant week minus the boys.... Sue is the third and my oldest pal, she lives in deepest darkest Devon, Ivan (Mr Bicknell) and I should be heading there soon... Note to all you girlies out there, as much as you might squabble with your class mates now, the really good ones will stick around, or like me, you will make your really best friends at uni and beyond. Lynda and I only live about 20 minutes away from each other, but due to our busy lives, we haven't seen each other since February half term - shame on us, missing both our birthdays and one of her daughters, so last Friday was a day of swapping presents & gossip and having a nice lunch! Many years ago she reliably informed me that she would never garden - yeah right - now the girl has a good life style allotment and a very nice garden.....I am sure that you will see a great deal more of her!   

The chair - all done!

I am loving the fact that we are having a proper summer and I can make lots of mess outside rather than inside! my chair is now all finished - here is how it took shape.....

Painting over the primer in something called something or other sidewalk...

Finished painting - now ready for distressing - despite what some might say, no I didn't just have to talk to it, i did actually have to re-sand it!

The original seat-pad.

My new hand-printed fabric ready to be sewn and staple gunned to the seat-pad.

Firmly stapled in place (don't look on the other side - It is my first time after all...).

Ta daaaaa!
Now to find somewhere to put it.....

Haircut, lunch and walkies...

So today was a nice relaxing day, starting with my first haircut in over two months! Hmm, I think it's O.K, - and btw, I'm allowed to put a poesy photo of me on the blog every so often! Sad thing is that I really am starting to look 40!

Next came lunch with Mandi and Naomi - two former students who have both just graduated - I can't believe that I forgot to take any phots - especially as they both turned up with their degree folios - DUH! Never mind, I will try to get hold of some pics for you at a later date, in the meantime though, it really was great to just catch up with a glass of wine in the sunshine!

What I haven't told you is that besides Ivan (Mr Bicknell), there is another rather lovely chap who takes up quite a lot of my time in the holidays - he has a fabulously glossy coat, big brown eyes a bit of an addiction to tennis balls and always sits when you tell him! 

This is where he has the edge on Ivan (Mr Bicknell) as he NEVER does as he is told! So without further ado - let me introduce you to Bobby - next door's beautiful labrador! 

We are very lucky to live where we do, as you will see walking the dog is quite a pleasurable experience!

Bobby - ready for action!

And ready for his close-up!

I must have walked up these steps a hundred times, but they are a killer and NEVER get any easier!

Top of the steps - known as the hanger...

Rows and rows of herbs.

In need of rain - quite nice not having to squelch through the mud though!

Heading in the right direction.

Just passing by...

A village full of lavender.

The village post box - no office, just the box.

Over the stile.

Give us our daily bread!

Home!