Diary form: Post Working Experience with Ink & Spindle

This is a post working experience which had happened early February/March this year.

So I was mucking around with hand screen printing after my short course with CAE sometime in Year 2009. It all went well when I was in the class. But it went all wrong when I was trying to do mine few weeks after the short course. I couldn't figure out what went wrong.

Read my old blog posts here

Few months later, I visited this fabulous local hand screen textile printing company - Ink & Spindle in Kensington. I chat about my experience with my own project and wanting to learn more. I was being offered a working experience opportunity with Ink & Spindle when I was pregnant with Peanut (way back in Y2009). But I had to turn the offer down due to the belly was growing bigger and the massive road trip traveling from VIC to WA and oversea.

I caught up with Teeg (one of the founder of Ink & Spindle) asking for another opportunity 3 years later (almost). She was lovely and offered me to come into their studio. To learn how to work on fabrics, printing etc. Due to the changes of current life arrangement (Mr Minzy has gone FT on studying in uni and PT working). We were very blessed to have one of our family gf whom we knew from church looking after Peanut while both of us busy achieving our dreams. I thought, Oh-Great!

The 1st Monday

There were butterflies in the tummy the night before I went in on 27th February. It was Mr Minzy's first day to uni. 1st day for Peanut staying at our family gf's place. I tell you, it wasn't easy to being apart from your child when you have been the key person looking after her! Weather was gloomy on that day. Heaps of rain and all that jazz. There was an intern at the studio working away when I arrived. Great! I wasn't alone! :) Brought in a homemade yogurt peach almond cake for the girls. That Monday was about to get to know each other better, familiarize everything as much as possible, planning some project, concepts.... Enjoying my lunch quietly. Having decent companion with proper adult conversations. Well needed as you can tell ;) I went home with head up high that evening. It was great to be out and about. Peanut ran towards me and gave me a big hug when I arrived home. Looks like she misses me too ;) That night 3 of us celebrated my 36th years old birthday. It was very meaningful. It feels great and a complete birthday :)

The 2nd Monday

Back to basic. Heaps of tracing and tracing.

I have been drawing heaps illustration of feather for my Happiness range. This is just one of them. It would only make sense for me to tie in these happy feathers as part of the project while I'm fulfilling this awesome working experience with I&S.

Met a new intern from France - Justine. A very lovely lady. We somehow click pretty much straightaway. It was small world. You know, she lived just up the road where I am living. Aha!

  

Justine (far left) and Lara are concentrating on their own projects at the Ink & Spindle's studio.

The 3rd Monday

Took me ages to cut all of those feathers. Finger tips are sore and not to forget, my neck! Ouch ;|

The 4th Monday

 Stencil is all carved and cut perfectly. Ready to go on the screen.

 Tada! First run hand pulled screen printing on the fabric!

More Happiness Feather's screen printing!

Hello Lara! Visit her personal blog here if desired.

The 4th & 5th Monday

Me holding my very first DIY cushion using my own hand screen printed fabric!

Sewing is not my skill but I've managed to pull it off with the girls' helps
for my first DIY cushion and the very first DIY tote bag! :) How cool is that? :)

My very first DIY tote bag using my own hand screen printed fabric of course! 

I have learn so much from both Teegs and Lara. They were great mentors and willing to help and teach.

Definitely looking forward to combine my refresh hand screen printing skill with my current work. So watch out guys! ;)

OMG!! I found another way

I knew I have been mucking around on screen printing for weeks. I also knew I have not succeed yet but I DO LOVE screen print!! Having said that, I have been doing a lot of research on different types of print, reproduction prints and etc to bring out Minzy's Insanity World. I think I have found another way to kick start my Etsy shop very soon.

YES! I found another way of appreciating my artwork!! That way is MORE of what my old professional! Just need to get the tool to develop the idea and concept behind. I am very happy :)

Silk Screen Print Test: Pulling Hair Moment

Still struggling with silk screen print testing. Eager and desperately

need to get it resolve at the soonest.

I need to get more essential tools to get it done. Feeling a bit

frustrating. Maybe duck out and have a chat with the supplier.

Might have more luck getting tips from them. Otherwise, I might

have to consider doing some refreshment course.

2nd attempt of screen printing: Not quite successful

3rd attempt is undergoing. Found a link which has a better step by step (woo baby..~) guideline. Made me realize what went wrong again. Haha. I am having fun with this screen printing. I know am a persistent/ determination person. But I have not seen myself want to get this right so bad.

I managed to get my paisley pattern printed by accident. That image you are looking at was screen filler, not fabric ink. Dub head me. LOL. It wasn't how I wanted (cuz of the mistake I made). At least it gave me a good feeling of the whole process, the time consuming.

This whole screen printing testing brings some good old memory back. It reminded me that I like to get my hands dirty. I feel alive whenever am doing all this things these days. I loving it.

Result of my first attempt screen printing: Fail

This is not funny. I knew I was eager and anxious about the whole thing. But I did not expect it to be fail. Maybe I was having too high hope the fact that it would turn out good? Hrm. Nothing wrong to be that positive. :P

So I done it wrong at the beginning at the screen filler. Now, am wondering did I not cover the screen filler enough? Cuz when I print the fabrics ink, they were like bugger all DID NOT WORK! It turned out to be all red...it just shows some of the tiny little bit of my paisley pattern. I wonder what went wrong!

And the next part is much interesting. I am having difficult to wash the screen. I knew it is not easy but I did not expect to be REALLY NOT THAT EASY. LOL! Nevermind. Minzy is just having a bit of whinge and will get back on scrubing the screen in a bit. It is now coated with detergent on both side.

I guess this is a very good exercise for me. As in going through all the mistakes and seeking for a solution to get it right. Will get back to drawing board in a bit juggling with screen washing. :)

My first screen printing...ahhHhhhhh!

I am working on my first screen printing today. I had done the first stage of drawing fluid on the screen last Thursday. And today is the day where I should apply the screen filler. Guess what I did? I left the bloody tracing paper at the back of the screen when I was doing the screen filler!!! AhhhHHhh!!

So much effort for my first attempt ...is fail??

Hrm, let me think. I remembered my screen printing teacher was telling us mistakes might create unexpected effect on the fabrics! So, will see how it goes! I think I should just leave it as it is since they said 1 layer of screen filler is sufficient unless you want to get more work up when you doing the screen washing. Hahaha!