Thursday, February 10, 2011

printing + misprinting

I am very happy to be back in the studio and printing again after a lovely break over January. I find screen printing very relaxing. In fact, I think you have to be relaxed to do it well. The few times I've been distracted, cranky, or anxious and then tried to print ... disaster! You need to flow, so that the ink can flow too - even pressure, even speed.


However, mistakes still happen even when you are as relaxed as can be. Like this one from the other day - I was a bit heavy-handed with the flooding between prints, so the next print had a little ink bleeding in places ...


I don't make too many mistakes these days, but I'm a perfectionist, so if a print doesn't meet the high standards of the Quality Assurance Department (me), it goes in the "misprint" pile. Some of you may have been recipients of a misprint when you've ordered from my shop. This happens occasionally when I have misprints fit for giving away, especially to those who have placed a large order, or to people I know might just like them. I much prefer to give them away than do nothing with them at all.

More creativity over at Kootoyoo!

19 comments:

Rie said...

The prints look great - good job!

Unknown said...

I love that little splash of ink. I totally thought it had been done on purpose. Love your work!

Margaret said...

That little splodge looks so cute .. surely an inspiration for a new fabric range? A close friend always used to say, "there are never any problems only opportunities".

lamina@do a bit said...

It's so so true that you have to be relaxed!! Last week I was doing a repeat pattern and got a little impatient and rushed things...and Uh Oh!! I even told myself not to rush as things might go wrong.. hmmm live and learn... hopefully :) Miss prints can look quite cool too!

Unknown said...

It's nice to know that I'm not the only one out there that has the 'occasional' misprint!

Michelle said...

Maybe one day you could make a quilt of your misprints! It would look pretty good!

Kirsty said...

Love the idea of the misprint gift. Just a lovely "steak knife" Nic.

Catherine said...

that ink splash is quite cute, really!

Shell said...

He he... Like your 'misprint' just for fun. It always happens when you are in a hurry too. I was making a stuffie the other day and it wan't until it was together that I realised that I missed blanket stitching the belly patch. Grrr!

mel @ loved handmade said...

I love those pears, and the splash looks like it's meant to be there!

seabreezequilts said...

I agree with Mel love the pears and I did think the splash was part of the pattern lol. Like the texture of the thick paint too.

june at noon said...

I like the idea of including some misprints. Someone can surely use them somehow, with all that craftiness out there!

flowerpress said...

Your misprint looks pretty too :-)

teddybearswednesday said...

well I can't see the miss in the missprint, it looks gorgeous to me xo

Vic said...

Love the pears, and the blue!

melissa said...

I love the 'splodge'!!

Naturally Carol said...

i thought it was a 'designed' splodge of ink too! i think you should develop that designed splodge.

sue said...

Well it is great to maintain high standards! I agree though that it looks pretty darn good to me - but you have to be happy with your work especially when you are sending it out into the world ... makes me itch to get some screens happening though!

Bigprint Little said...

I love a good splodge too! -reminding us that it is lovingly made by hand. A bit like the 'ugly' fruit we are seeing in the fruit/veg markets that have tiny imperfections due to shortages from floods/cyclones. I think they're just lovely :)